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Auctions are great places to purchase horses and livestock as well as a multitude of other farm animals, equipment, and machinery. However, it is very important to understand what you are getting yourself into before deciding to do so, especially in regards to the purchase of a living animal such as a horse.
The first thing you’re going to want to do is to find out not only where the auctions are, but specifically where horses may be auctioned. There are several ways to do this. One is to use Wisconsin Auctions’ auction search page using the keyword “horse”. Depending on whether or not there are any horses listed on the site at the time of search, you may get a list of results. Read through the results for details. Other ways to find horse sales is to read through the various horse magazines that are readily available at most bookstores, or subscribe to one online. Horse sales are also usually performed at some point at horse shows. You can also call a local rancher and ask them for their advice as to where to go to find a good horse auction. Make sure you show up to the location of the auction plenty early. Find out when the horses to be auctioned will be arriving, where they are coming from, and take notice of how the current owners treat the horses post-arrival. It’s also not a bad idea to bring a veterinarian with you, being that they are typically well informed and are good judges of the health of particular horses. You see, you can’t rely on the current owners to report any ailments the horse may have prior to the auction being that they are attempting to receive top dollar for the horse. If you can’t get a vet to go with you, find a trainer. Anyone with more experience than you is going to be an asset to the purchase. It is quite likely that whoever you bring, whether it be a vet or a trainer, is going to want some money for their time (don’t worry about this, it’s well worth it). Once you’ve found some horses that you believe you may be interested in, make another loop of the sales area and speak with each of the owners individually. Ask any questions you may have, especially those pertaining to bloodlines. Once you believe you’ve found the horse that you want, it’s time to closely observe the horse’s behavior. Pay close attention to the way the horse moves and the way it reacts to it’s surroundings. This will give you a preliminary idea of the horse’s disposition at the very least. If the horse is not too young, it is worth a shot asking the owner if you may ride the horse as well. This will give you an even better idea of how the horse will be once it comes home with you. As is with all auctions, it’s important to set a bidding limit. This is basically the maximum amount that you are willing to spend on the horse that you choose. It’s very important to stay at or under this limit because as we all know, it’s easy to get carried away in a bidding war at the auction. This way you are making a hopefully wise, informed, and profitable purchase. It’s also a good idea to let the bids “settle” a bit before jumping in on the action. Often times the asking price will come down several times before the bidding even starts. It doesn’t make sense to pay more on an opening bid than what you would have had to pay if no one is bidding against you. Once the bidding is closed, you’ll want to get your check or payment method prepared so it goes quick and easy. With most horse auctions, it’s typical that they would ask for a 10% down payment as well as the sales commission which goes to the auctioneer. Once this is squared away, you’re ready to leave with your brand new horse. |
