London Auction Barn

Ted and I like to go to the London Auction Barn every so often on the second Saturday of the month.  I use the word, "like" with reservations.  

We do like to see what kind of deals we can find on horse tack.  

   

These pure wool show blankets for $40 each were our best find so far!
 A steal compared to the current online price of $130 for the exact blanket. 

We also regularly buy snaps, clips, buckets, crops, halters, bits, and bridles.  We've gotten some great merchandise for less then we would have ever been able to find it elsewhere.  

Tack sale in progress. 

It's fun to watch the crowd.  See who buys what each month.  Get a bit of the flavor of our local culture.  Meet up with some of our friends who also attend regularly. 

We have learned to bring our own cushions since these
wooden bleachers are butt and back busters!
I must confess that one time we stayed for 12 full hours.
That's because we are crazy.  

It's even more fun to watch the auctioneers.  Hear what they say about certain items.  Chuckle at the exaggerated sales pitches.  Marvel that some people fall for them.

 "Looks like a Billy Cook!"  "Two for one money!"
"Made by the Amish!" 

What we don't like is when the tack sale is over and the horse auction starts.  We usually leave at this point. But sometimes we stay,  if only to allow ourselves to feel a bit of righteous anger.

Most of the horses are malnourished, neglected or injured.  All of them are treated poorly. Many go to slaughter.

We are not angry about horse slaughter or the human consumption of horse meat per se.  We don't consider either of these things to be inherently immoral in and of itself.

We are angry about inhumanity, the irresponsible breeding of horribly inadequate animals, the starvation of animals and the gross lack of respect for them as living creatures.  All of these things can be seen in spades at the horse auction.  It is heartbreaking.

This pretty palomino and all of his pen mates went to the
slaughter buyer for about $250 each.
That's a pretty high price comparatively.  They were fat. 

Went to slaughter. 

It's not rocket science to practice simple decency and responsibility with regard to your animals.

• If you have animals, don't breed them unless they are exceptional individuals and you have a plan, a purpose and a market for the ones you produce.  Educate yourself about what an exceptional animal is.  Your might be just ordinary. 
• Feed your animals! Provide them with basic care to keep them healthy.  If you can't feed them for some reason, sell them (or for goodness sake, give them away or have them euthanized) before they become emaciated. 
• Treat your animals with respect, gentleness and kindness.  Recognize that they do feel fear and pain and do your best to avoid causing it. 

And to all the young men who handle the horses at the action - What are you so angry about?  Try a little kindness once in awhile.  You might start to feel better about yourself.  

On a happy note, one of the times Ted did stay for the horse action, (I went home to feed animals.), he came home with this cutie!  What a surprise!

Johnnie, registered miniature horse, purchased at the
London Auction Barn for $100.
Currently employed as a petting zoo pony and soon
to learn driving and lead line.
Beloved family pet and hay eater.