I wasn't going to add my two cents to this thread, but I have too. This was such a disappointing sale for the sellers. I felt so bad for the one consigner from Ventura farm who brought ten stunning horses, he was so helpful prior to and during the sale, and all were so beautifully groomed, beautifully presented, offered with professional photos which were provided, mares selling exposed to top bred stallions, and still it wasn't enough for bidders to hardly bid. Such a phenominal opportunity for people to take advantage of and people missed the boat, and the ones that did sell were steals. All we ever seem to hear is that there are never good quality horses available at auction and here they were right in front of our face, and people didn't take advantage of it. I wasn't there to buy as I am not in the market right now, but boy I sure wish I would have been. There were alot of nice horses that sold for little money and many that just went home. Very frusterating for these people that try to bring a good sale to people and get slapped in the face.
Like any sale there were 3 classes of horses, High quality, mid quality, and low quality. This was the worst sale in the 4 year history of the sale as far as prices. It is by far the nicest horse sale facility I have every attended where public auctions are held. The I 90 Expo Center is a great place. Each horse has its own individual box stall, in a fully enclosed barn. There is a large indoor arena where you can show your horses, drive them, warm them up, etc. The sale ring is very large with great seating area, A cafe and concession stand with great food. The sales managment and owners of the facility are so friendly, and walked around and met the people at the sale and introduced themselves, I met both the manager of the sale and the owner of the facility. I was just very impressed at what a nice facility the Expo Center is.
I really don't know what more people can do to sell their horses and what more people want. It really has me doubting whether or not I even want to breed quality miniature horses any more after seeing the trend of this sale. When horses that are ungroomed, unbathed, untrimmed hooves, with poor bloodlines, worms in their belly, etc. can walk in a sale ring and bring twice the money of a horse that is professionally presented and bred to the hilt, there is a problem. The junk sure seems to sell, and sure seems to be what everyone wants to pay for. They would rather buy ten $300.00 horses than one $3,000.00 horse.....doesn't make much sense to me.
So I don't know where the trend is heading. All I know is the Midwest has some of the nicest horses in the industry, and if the midwest doesn't start supporting each other, we will never turn this trend around. I wish I had the answers. There were some great horses presented to they buyers at that sale.....the buyers were just asleep and the few that woke up and took advantage of the situation really got their money's worth an then some! Will keep our fingers crossed that the trend turns around!