Welcome!
Be careful buying at auction. Too often folks are getting shed of problem horses, and it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of bidding, and YOU end up with the problem. You most often get what you pay for.
This said, I would imagine that with the high price of hay, and rising cost of feed, there may be some sellers with some nice horses just trying to get themselves out of the financial pressures of too many horses to feed.
If you are close to western NC, come visit! We love to talk minis!
Lisa