5. Auctions and Sales
If you want a reliable horse that has proved his ability, look into a ranch-horse auction. Typically held in Western states, such auctions are great sources for people eager to take home a well-trained working horse.
"Buyers may be looking for a good trail horse or a ranch horse they can do everything on. These are going to be the most broke horses you can find," says Dale Segraves, co-owner of Segraves & Associates, the auction company that handles the San Antonio Ranch Gelding Show and Sale each year. Fifty-eight geldings were consigned to this year's sale, which was held in February.
Buyers appreciate the fact that all geldings entered in the sale are judged on their ability to perform general ranch work. This ranch horse competition takes place the morning of the auction, so buyers can see how the horses perform prior to bidding.
While last year's sale topper brought $25,000, Segraves says the average price is about $8,000. Most geldings are in the 10-and-under age range, although a few may be 11 or 12. The majority are Quarter Horses, but buyers will also find some Paints.
Another popular ranch gelding sale is the Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale, held in Red Bluff, California. The sale was established in 1942 by area ranchers and now attracts about 50,000 people each year. In addition to quality ranch-broke geldings, the sale also offers saddle mules and features a trade show.
The Lazy K Ranch's 26th annual Pick-A-Colt Day Sale will be held on June 6, 2009. Approximately 80 Quarter Horse and Paint Horse foals will be offered, including bloodlines of Colonel Freckles, Doc O' Lena, Gay Bar King, Hollywood Dun It, Peppy San Badger, and Shining Spark. Buyers will be able to view the horses' photos and breeding information online, then have the option of purchasing online on the day of the sale.
Another large sale, especially attractive to those in the market for a smooth-gaited trail horse, is the World Fox Trotting Horse Sale, owned and operated by Ralph VanKirk. There are two sales: One is held every March and October at the Boone County Fairgrounds in Columbia, Missouri; the other is held every June and September at the McNail Multipurpose Indoor Arena in Lebanon, Missouri.
The sales are open to all registered and grade breeds. Gaited breeds include Missouri Fox Trotters, Tennessee Walking Horses/Spotted Saddle Horses, and Racking Horses. The sale also includes Quarter Horses and mules.
Auction companies offer some soundness guarantees as specified in their respective catalogs, but be sure to get a prepurchase exam.
6. Trail-Horse Outfitters
Some of the finest trail horses literally earn their keep taking riders down the trail. Outfitters rely on solid trail horses to make a living, so finding outfitters willing to sell their best horses can be a challenge, but it is possible.
"If an outfitter has a good trail horse, he'll make more money taking people up and down the mountain than just cashing him out," says Tim Doud, owner of Bliss Creek Outfitters and Diamond Creek Mules in Cody, Wyoming. "If someone wants to buy a trail horse from me, there's no way I'm going to sell my best horse."
He feels strongly that once a horse has put in many years of work, it deserves a good retirement, instead of being sold late in life for a questionable future. He prefers to retire his old horses to pasture and feels it's his responsibility to care for them the rest of their natural lives.
That said, if you're interesting in a horse owned by an outfitting company, it doesn't hurt to ask if he's available for purchase.
Doud also breeds saddle mules, both for his own use and to sell to select clients. He says shoppers should be cautious of a seller who's urging them to make a decision. "Beware of someone who's pushing you to buy," says Doud. "Anyone who's a reputable seller or breeder won't try to sell you the animal. He'll show you the horse or mule and tell you about him, but won't try to make you buy on that first visit. I want people to think about it, because I want to make sure my animals go to a good place."
People routinely ask Doud if he has a 3- or 4-year-old "bombproof" trail horse for sale. He tells them no horse is ever 100 percent bombproof and even the really good ones need years of experience to get trail-savvy. That's where a reputable outfitter can help.
"I can make someone a good trail horse by putting that horse in my string and using him for a year or two," says Doud, noting that a number of outfitters offer this service for a fee. "I can put 100 miles on a horse every week. That can get a horse safe under saddle and advance him even further along just by the number of miles and the people I'm putting on him. It's like accelerated training without wearing the horse down."
If you go this route, get all details in writing, and deal only with a reputable, trustworthy outfitter who takes excellent care of his or her stock.
