Renowned in the trail-horse world for innovation and high standards for 10 years running, the Great American Trail Horse Sale pioneered the concept of combining the fun of a trail-horse competition with an auction.
This sale is for you if you’re looking for a trained, tried-and-true trail horse. It’s held every February inside the spacious Anderson Coliseum at the Virginia Horse Center in Lexington.
The sale’s unique setup allows prospective buyers to evaluate the sale horses in a trail-like environment. It draws sellers with top-quality, finished trail mounts from a wide geographic range. Trail horses and mules of all breeds are welcome.
The event’s owner, Jackie Turnbull of Turnbull Equine Productions in Peachland, North Carolina, takes seriously the mission of ensuring only high-quality trail horses are in the sale.
Additionally, she provides seminars to increase the chances of prospective buyers finding horses that fit their skill level and needs. The one-day event is free to the public.
To find out about the 2010 sale held last February, I spoke with Carol Lueder, who owns Fair Chase, Inc. (www.fchase.net), which specializes in sporting books. She attends the sale both as a vendor and trail-horse enthusiast.
“The number of horses was way down, but I think the attendance was even up from previous years,” reported Lueder. “Obviously, the whole concept is terrific. I think this tends to be a middle- to upper-age crowd that wants to get back into horses. They see a way to buy a horse that’s demonstrated to be quiet and accustomed to a variety of different experiences.”
Lueder noticed a decline in the number of flashier horses this year, although she said the high standards of training remained equal to years past.
“Breed meant nothing,” Lueder said. “Whether they were grade horses or papered horses meant nothing. If they were pretty and quiet, they brought a tremendous amount of money. Buyers wanted a horse that had easy gaits and trail experience. If the buyers didn’t have experience, they wanted a horse that could take care of them.
“This is a good way to take a look at a bunch of horses that have demonstrated their quietness and their ability to encounter different situations,” Lueder continued. “If I was a consigner, I’d certainly demonstrate my horse. [This sale has] real obstacles, real-life situations, things you’d encounter on a trail ride.
“I mean, everybody’s got to go to the bathroom sometime [a reference to the outhouse in the competition], and everybody’s going to have a campfire, and everybody’s going to have some close brush, a little bit of water to walk through.
“It’s as close as you can simulate the outdoors in a controlled ring environment and gives the prospective buyer the opportunity to see how the horses react to each obstacle.”
For more on the Great American Trail Horse Sale, see “One Great Sale!” The Trail Rider, June ’10.
For more information on the Great American Trail Horse Sale, contact Jackie Turnbull, Turnbull Equine Productions, (704) 272-7418 or (704) 690-1915; ga.trailhorse@gmail.com; www.greatamericantrailhorsesale.com.
