Price of Horseflesh at Auction - An FYI

[Marli]

Just an FYI-

As many of you know, I'm on the Advisory Board for the Exceller fund. We have many contacts and I've recently had a conversation about the sale at New Holland today from a *very* reliable source (attends every New Holland sale).

A representative from a Canadian Slaughterplant was in attendance as they're not getting enough slaughter horses for process. This directly resulted in the price of 'meat horses' being driven up today, selling for $500-$650.

There were many horses sold today at New Holland that will be going to slaughter. As any FYI- for anyone considering selling a horse privately, to any individual, you may want to reconsider the normal $500 as the lowest - to keep out of meat mans range. They're looking for horses!

[Inyureye]

Creepy.

But good to know.

[StealingKat]

I wonder why they are not getting enough horses in Canada. It is my understanding that the PMU farms are closing down and there are tons of horses available... I'm really baffled by this one. Are the PMU rescues inflating numbers or?? Good information to know though.

[Marli]

Believe me, I couldn't understand either. I knew just before X-mas (around the Holidays) that the slaughterplant *slows* down, but the statement made by the rep., was that they're just not getting enough. I'm not sure if Cavel in Illinois is making an impact - competition, but none-the-less, the prices were high today for 'meat horses' (and there were a good portion of ottbs that sold )

[Intrinsic Worth]

I worked for the representative office for PMU and while Premarin is going out of favor with doctors, most of the ranchers have websites advertising their horses for sale. Go to www.naeric.org for more info.

[StealingKat]

That is really sad Shannon is correct though. I live so far away from a facility that I don't have to see the horrors. Not that I know it doesnt exist it is just that I have not witnessed it. I have also not seen a feedlot...naive I guess....So sad...

[madelyn]

Thanks for the heads up Marli, I guess I'll hit the sale near me next week.

[Kirsten]

It sickens me that slaughter plants still exist here in Canada. The fact that these plants drive the price of horses itself is a shame. The fact that the OTTBs fate ends up in the hands of these cruel places is a shame.

It would be a perfect world where breeders and owners could line up a prospective list of buyers for their OTTB's in the chance that their runners didnt make it competively on the track so that they had peace of mind knowing that horse they raised had a loving home to go to if it just wasnt fast enough.

The offloading of PMU ranches in itself i dont think has helped us canadian horse people. You used to be able to purchase a well broke and sane horse for 3000 and up. Now with the flood of the PMU foals and mares the market up here is dreadful. A good young prospect has certainly lost its value due to the fact the PMU foals are sold at a lesser value than our own bred and raised stock.

Being a tb fan of racing and retired tbs i choose not to purchase one as i do have a friend who races and will patiently wait til one of her stock is retired off the track to help her out with a good home at whatever price she sees fit.

I have a limit of how many horses i own and can handle here at right now im at it. Wish i had the resources to do something to assist these OTTBs find great homes at reasonable rates where i could give gaurantees that they were safe from slaughter.
Kirsten

[Kirsten]

OOps forgot to mention i have done something to help!

Last year while looking for a tb mare to breed to I met someone who had rescued a mare who was for sale. I say rescue as her price was 300 dollars. This new owner had no room at her place for this mare and sought out someone who could take her and shelter her for 2 years.

The shelter is me! If cat was not bought she would definetely be headed for sale barn and probably slaughter. Being a young mare with some disability due to a very bad knee she required a smaller herd for safety.

After getting to know Cat i cant think of what her fate may have been if her new owner hadnt of bought her. She is a total sweetheart and im sure im gonna be shedding a few tears to let her go back next year. But at least i know i have given her a second chance and she is enjoying her retired life at my place. Cross my fingers she will be having a baby here in May.
I have always believed that a horse who gives to humans deserves to be treated well for life. That is why my first horse Mickey a Qh who i have owned since the age of 15 is still here and living out his days as i promised. Mickey is now 31 years old and my promise is still good although very soon i have to assist him to greener pastures due to his health.

[susanh]

I have a standardbred that was being auctioned at the Kitchener market (Ontario), she was sent in under the slaughter section. A rescue in Ontario outbid the meatman and I ended up fostering, then adopting her. Prices were real low then, due to the influx of PMU's. Everyday, I am glad I did. Here's my question: I see alot of horses for sales by trainers in the States, through Exceller and Canter. I recently saw a mare I really liked but before I could organize transport and paperwork for the border, she sold...is there a site for trainers selling horses coming off the track in Canada, i.e. Fort Erie, or Woodbine. I am looking for a new horse, not in a rush, just waiting for the right horse to come along, that we can give some time to and retrain as a pleasure, possible light showing horse. I have one OTTB that I have learned to admire so much. At first I thought he was such a moron as this guy can be abit of a handful in the barn, but he is all pro in a show ring. This guy's attitude so impresses me, that I have decided that if I can find healthy OTTB's, that is where I want to go. Everybody wants a warmblood to show, but I have really learned to respect this breed. So if anyone knows a website, please let me know. Thanks in advance.

[Kirsten]

Hi Susan, If you know any owners of tbs who race nearby you may be able to get a " in" with them to talk with the trainer. Sometimes trainers know of horses that are under their care and will be for sale. That is one good way to start. My friend has done that is the past to give someone she knows a find for horses.

I have attached some websites which are good for Ontarians to find tbs from off track. I look at them often to see what is going on with the ex racers. (im just horse crazy when it comes to tbs)

heres some to try
http://www.cthsont.com/websalehorses.htm
http://www.freewebs.com/laughton/index.htm
http://www.phase2thoroughbreds.com/about.html
http://www.castlepeakfarm.com/new_page_2.htm
http://www.thoroughbredsonly.com/

Another very good website is owned By Barb Hutcheson. She is the trainer . I cant find her link at the moment but i recommend her. SHe was very helpful last year when i was seeking a tb mare and gave me a name of a gentleman in Ontario who had horses for sale when i had posted on a site for horse wanted. Search out Hutcheson training you may find her link.
Good luck and if i hear of anything my way ill try to let you know!

[wilf]

Hi there I have been reading todays busy thread and fortunately it is very close to me as I race in Ontario and have several horses each year that need other careers in fact last summer I gave away 2 geldings, both sound and one mare in foal. You have to come to Fort Erie at the right time to find what you want and of course you have to be lucky. Of course I could have made a few hundred by selling the geldings at auction but they were in need of a friend not a bullet.You should make one trip in the summer as a feeler then come back in the fall with your trailer. My other opinion concerns meat auctions such as New Holland where I visited while racing at Penn National . I am not so much disgusted by what happens to the dead horse whether it goes for dog food or human consumption as I feel that is a red herring; however having been to New Holland I was furious at the way these poor creatures were herded around and packed together like cattle. Here we have little ponies , somebodys pet at one time jammed into corrals with large beat up sour horses at the end of their tether.Couple that with the sight of worn out Amish workhorses waiting for a quick end to a hard used life and its not a pretty sight.The only joy was to see those beautiful Belgian Mules for sale, certainly a treat. Its been several years since I have been up in that country and I would like to think that practices have improved as far as treatment in handling and shipping of these unfortunate souls and if they have I am sure it is due in no small measure to the concern and vigilance of several members of this message board. Never Stop Trying......Wilf.

[valerie]

I had thought that the prices were being driven up due to the fact that a lot of those types of horses were now going south of the border. I don't remember where I heard this but I was told this about 3 or 4 weeks ago that this was starting to happen. Maybe someone can check that out.

[southcitytan]

valerie,
If you mean south of the canadian border then yes. We have received 3 70+ shipments of PMU mares from canada in the past 2-3 months. This is just at one local auction here in Texas.

http://www.greatwesternhorses.com

It is a terrible little place that has been around forever. I have to say though that I went to watch and I can't really say the kill buyer was there on PMU night. There were lots of "rescue" folks there driving up the price. Lots of people in the horse market that bought a bunch of 14+ yo unregistered draft mares that were not halter broke.... Of course the price of the non "rescue" horses stayed pretty low....as far as I'm concerened any horse that goes through there is on its last chance so they're all rescues. Starting in March I'll usually head up there and make sure none of the tb's from SHRP are getting dumped there.

[susanh]

I have to wade in here on this issue, though I have avoided it for a long time. By horses going "South of the Border", do you mean horses going into the States from Canada, or horses going into Mexico from the States? I am assuming that everyone is aware that they slaughter horses in Mexico. Year 2000 stats from the US, indicate that Canada slaughtered 60,900 horses while Mexico slaughtered 626,000. So far in 2005, the US has shipped 334 horses (as of Jan27) to Mexico. I am not pointing fingers-we (US, Canada, Mexico) all slaughter animals, yet it seems to get mentioned all the time that these poor horses are shipped to Canada for their ultimate demise. I'd personally like to see horse slaughter ended in Canada. I think these animals deserve more than they get. We have to remember that others are doing it also. The Chinese slaughtered well over a million horses in 2000. Don't think that has changed much since then. Regarding horse meat prices, if it's cheaper to slaughter elsewhere, then horses will go there, and prices will go up here. That's just economics- supply and demand. Personally don't like it. I've got a lame standardbred I mentioned above, a PMU filly, an appy mare with HYPP and heaves and she has just capped a hock-(no resale value there), an OTTB who is marvelous, and a paint pony who is just too cranky for me to foist on anyone else. Would like to say I have a whole herd of expensive horses, but I don't. I have a group of mostly unwanted horses, all of whom enrich my life immensely, as I hope I do theirs, and I will do my little part to support alternatives to slaughter and I would actively support any campaign to ban slaughter here in Canada. At the very least it should be more humane- we think we are the greatest inhabitants on earth- look at what we do to these animals for a few bucks!