Thoughts on Texas Sport Horse Auction

[ljshorses]

I have asked similiar questions but not really got a lot of response. I would love to get something of quality started here in the East. A way that reputable breeders can screen buyers and sell offspring from weanling to under saddle and broodmares. I know that auctions in U.S. have such a negative vibe but it works in Europe and benefits quality breeders and brings many youngsters together for buyers to view at same time. I would love to see the one in Texas to spur more and I do realize all the fears we all have concerning auctions, but I think if properly managed it might be a great way for us to become even more competitive with Europe. What's everyone's thoughts on this?

[ridergal63]

As someone who recently purchased horses from the virginia
sport horse auction, i think it is a good thing to pursue. I am
always amazed when I read threads on the forums that they
often become so negative and sometimes mean spirited. I
know that the sales have not been great this year, but we
must realize the economy is getter better and we must all
learn to walk before we run. I have bought horses in auctions
here and abroad and I think there is no reason at all why
american auctions can't work if they follow the european
set up. I think all horses should be vetted and have x-rays
done before they are put through the sales. I know this
is expensive, but I do think people are more willing to bid
on horses they know don't have any major problems. Also,
the venues in europe seem to be more festive. Food and
drink adds to the desire to bid higher. I also think you have
enough horses in your area to make it work. I don't know
that we would have enough nice warmbloods to have a really
good sale where i live in the southeast.

[ljshorses]

I totally agree with you Lisa about having the pre-vetting and radiographs done before entering and love the idea to make it more festive. Actually, I have been giving this some real thought lately and since I am an avid "giver" to cancer research (lost my first husband to cancer), I was thinking that it might be interesting to have it tied to a benefit. In other words, yes the auction house gets a piece, the seller gets his piece but why can't we have a certain amount go to the buyer's charity of choice ? For example, say the horse was auctioned for $10,000. Say the auction house gets $1,000 (covers auctoneer and use and insurance of facility...in my case what about the use of Fair Hill), seller gets $8,000 and the charity get $1,000? Obviously the amounts can be changed around, but this is just an example.

Also, alongside the horse auction, a silent auction to benefit a charity say, breast cancer, could go on simultaneously. People who come early to a set time for horse pre-viewing could also view the donated items for the charity auction. The food and soda could be finger foods catered by a local resteraunt again to benefit the charity. Alcohol could be purchased and either some or all of that purchase could benefit the charity as well.

I know there is quite a few things to consider such as advertising fees etc... but what do some breeders think of this idea? Having a charity involved could also help lift some of the negative shadow off of the auction.

Another thing that bothers many breeders is not knowing where their offspring will end up. I would think we should have a full disclosure of both buyer and seller so horses could be kept track of. Of course name changes do occur but if all horses that were entered in the sale also had a lifetime USEF number that might help with future tracking of the sale horse.

[Piatt Farms]

I think that's a great idea. Expecially tying in an outside cause that people outside the intimate horse world can get behind.
I have a number of family members who have fought and luckily won the battle with cancer. I'm in a decision making mood today so....If you do an auction tied to the cause I'll put one of my 2010 foals in it. I also have some friends that specialize in the marketing and advertising fields that would probably be willing to donate some time and energy to the cause. They can help with banners, graphics, helping putting together advertising for newspapers, merchandising, etc...

Who else wants to hop on the bandwagon here?
We are a diverse group of multi-talented horse people with our finger on the pulse of the equine industry....I haven't been on the forum long but I've been surprised by the number of big names that are on here. If any group of experienced horse people could come together to set a trend on how we think things should be done, it would be this one.

[YankeeLawyer]

As someone who has been involved with organizing several charity events and, specifically, auctions for charity, I think trying to combine one with a horse auction is not a great idea for several reasons. If run alongside a horse auction, the charity would be competing for dollars with the horse sellers (e.g., people may not want to bid thousands on an auction item AND spend $$$ on a horse). If instead a portion of the proceeds of each horse was to go to charity, you might find that buyers resent paying a premium for the horse in order to give an extra 1K or whatever to charity. I also do not think tying a horse sale to a charity even will significantly improve attendance.

Regarding the Texas auction, I think it is really a shame that there are 2 auctions being run in Texas on the very same day. Although they are within driving distance of each other and the second is scheduled to start in the afternoon - presumably after the first has concluded - I think it is a mistake to have them on the same day.

[Blue Star]

I have also managed/coordinated several charity events and agree that to tie a fund raiser with the auction might not make the most of either....BUT...with that said, I would believe that a related equine charity/cause might make a better "fit"....like something related to saving rescue horses or retraining OTTBs....and donations need to be entirely voluntary to defeat the resentment referenced. If you require a donation and mandate the amount, it's not a true donation. There are so many worthy causes out there and so much need....we are all being asked to "give" and then "given again" everywhere we turn. When dollars are limited, folks should be able to give when and where they see fit without pressure, guilt or mandates. So create the opportunity....and let people choose...at least that is MY donation!

[ljshorses]

Never thought of tying in with a charity as causing a negative reaction. Well, it was just a thought to help get it off the ground. Love to hear more is ideas etc...

[Blue Star]

Not negative...just advising caution and alternate ideas...it is NEVER a bad idea to want to collect money for needy causes...but in this economy, one needs to be really smart and efficient about it. :yes:

[ne1]

i think you need to be really smart and efficient in the auction first before adding ways to siphon off funds.

i have bought and sold horses at auction here as well as in europe too and it is still much too different of a culture here than europe to expect success.

i've seen nona's sale garner over $100k for current gp horses and super jumping youngsters, but those same sales no-sale 70%+ of the entries, and the prevetting is prohibitively expensive.

the most recent sale whose results i am aware of was that in new mexico at horses unlimited which i believe managed to sell about 5 of 40+ horses. i posted about a well bred 5 or 6yo argentinus daughter jumping under saddle well which was bid up to $3k before no-sale.

watch the tx results carefully before diving into that game here. i agree with yl that the tx scheduling appears downright ignorant and self-defeating. i have no connection so no idea how that happened.

people will turn up and drink your drink but the money stays in their wallets. there is great suspicion here that if its on an auction there is a problem with it, and also it doesn't fit well with the american culture of trainers sales commissions.

in europe it is closer to the ideal you articulate..... the product is prepared and all understand the auction to be the trusted place to bring that product to sell..... and even then in the current climate the no-sales have been higher in europe this year.

nice idea. won't work..... yet. we do see the ky pony sales gaining some ground, so i don't think its without hope. there's just a long way to go in people's perceptions before the horses get a fair shake and a fair price.

ne1

[YankeeLawyer]

I am actually starting to think that auctions are counterproductive. I personally would not put any of mine in an auction for a number of reasons, including the fact that I would not want to read the postmortem on this board following any lackluster sales results where 50 "experts" who never bothered to leave their keyboards to actually see the sale are suddenly all doom and gloom on the market and proclaiming the auction is a reliable indicator of fair market value. No thanks.

[ne1]

hey yl, i agree, and hope my post didn't qualify under the description you listed. i've bought several horses at annie's sales in nm in the past and the mare i mentioned looks fabulous to me. auction failure is not an indicator of market value here, and we are finding the higher end sales market alive and well. whatever doom and gloom may exist is not limited to, but neither helped by american sport horse auctions.

october hill have put a great deal into the marketing of their sale. it will be interesting to see the results.

[YankeeLawyer]

hey yl, i agree, and hope my post didn't qualify under the description you listed. .

No no, not you (or any others on this thread)! I was referring more specifically to threads such as those that followed the Virginia sporthorse auction in Lexington this past summer (and to a lesser extent, the one held more recently at Morven Park).

[luvs2ridewbs]

Maybe there needs to be an auction liked with a horse show like the Pony Finals auction does. Say a hunter/jumper auction at Syracuse after the last indoor show. Maybe a dressage auction at Dressage at Devon etc. It creates a way for sellers to sell the ones they need to after the show season is over and buyers to buy the ones they need for next year.

[ljshorses]

Maybe there needs to be an auction liked with a horse show like the Pony Finals auction does. Say a hunter/jumper auction at Syracuse after the last indoor show. Maybe a dressage auction at Dressage at Devon etc. It creates a way for sellers to sell the ones they need to after the show season is over and buyers to buy the ones they need for next year.

That sounds like a good idea.