What I learned fromNew Holland Auction- Where have all the Morgans Gone?
I think before taking you through auction, I should take you through a bit of the culture of the Amish. The Amish are tied heavily to that auction and are often judged harshly for doing so. Maybe a better understanding of why it exists will help in reaching out to find solutions instead of sitting back and judging.
I had never been to that area of PA before this trip North.As I drove through what was a beautiful countryside, I saw lots of farmhouses, most Amish owned. There were buggies parked out front, clothes drying on the lines, children playing in the yards…mostly girls…the boys were putting up fence posts or other work that needed doing…life on the farm. There was a weird sense of calm and peace…happy to live a much simpler life and by simpler means.
There were horses pulling buggies up and down the hilly PA roads. Of the ones I saw, more looked happy doing their job. As the day wore on some looked more like the beginner runners who had just gotten about ¾ of the way on a 26k in a winter coat, and the reality how far they had to go before arriving at their destination. Sweating, nostrils flaring as they reach the peak of the hill, winter coat thick on a warm day, I admit it was hard to watch. I couldn’t help but wonder things like, “Does the cart have brakes or is it pushing them down those hills?”, “Is there a cool down period?”, “How much do they actually take care of the horse?” I was at that time, driving to meet with a man, an Amish trainer, who would helpful in answering those questions and much more.
I met John. John, my now Amish friend, and trainer of a friend’s ponies, is passionate about one thing…MORGANS. He LOVES the breed. I learned a lot in a short time from this man, and he is very concerned for the breed and wants to help. Here are some facts:
1. Most Amish care quite a bit about their animals and their horses. Horses are considered a vehicle/tool as the Amish do not drive motorized vehicles. The horse is the motor that drives their primary mode of transportation, the buggy. Most care for their horses as part of the family and are very attached to them. It’s the care that is different than our ways and standards. We may not agree on them, but it does not mean they give theirs with less love or what they believe to be correct care. The care is what is known to give or taught by others, so is it education on other ways to do this that is needed?
2. John admitted that it’s just always been the way. Their only option was and his to “bring them to New Holland” or some other local auction. Looking at it from their perspective it really is. They don’t drive, therefore no horse trailers. Horses traded are driven one last time to auction and his replacement driven home, or delivered and picked up by brokers. The brokers, as the Amish are often judged harshly. The trade may be undesirable, but it exists because it fills a need. All of us earn a living, in one way or another by filling a need. If the horse is no longer able to do his job, what do you do? For the Amish they become an expense with no return. An expense most cannot afford to carry when they have a family to feed and need another horse. So what can they do? The only thing currently available…drive them to New Holland or a surrounding auction OR sell them to a broker that will give them cash on the spot. It’s a sad fact but it is a reality. That does not mean it is an easy task for them to have to part with an animal they have put time and care into (meeting everyone’s standards or not) and the rest of the family has bonded with. Most are torn by not knowing where they will end up or what their fate will be.
3. John said that due to the poor economy resulting in a glut of unwanted horses on the market, for the Amish a horse that is 14yrs or older is not worth the purchase no matter how good he or she drives. The “magic resalable age” is now 7-10. This has created a growing problem of Morgans being run through without their papers. If the broker comes to pick up the horse, and the horse is 14yrs or older, and the Amish have supplied their papers he will get less money than for an unregistered “younger” horse. Even if the seller is honest, if the broker is not, he will withhold the papers and send the horse through as a 7-10yr old horse. This is now a growing concern in rescuing our Morgans. In the past we could rely on trusted folks to alert us when a Morgan came through. Now we must have knowledgable eyes at the auctions, and take the risk when a “mystery Morgan” comes through. When no one is there,they are lost.
4. With regard to registering their Morgans, for the Amish it comes down to cost versus benefit. It is expensive, especially when they have to transfer more than one or register and DNA test parents and foals. It’s not necessarily that they don’t want to but they may derive no benefit from it. Yes, from our perspective the horse should have more value with papers. But they are not seeking to show the horse, and there are not many mainstream Morgan buyers at New Holland or other Amish attended auctions. And now that it may be more valuable to sell the horse without papers, there is even less reason. And the young and untrained, papers or not, are slaughter prospects as well. For people who live off their land and livestock, cash is scarce, and not lightly spent.
As in every group there are good and bad actors. Not every “English” person or trainer is ethical in the treatment of their horses. Not every Amish person is bad to their animals. The care might not be what is “our standard”but that doesn’t make them bad. We pass on what we are taught and what we know.Could this all boil down to helping educate? Our world is filled with a millionways of sharing new information and ideas. Their culture and way of life is filled with traditional ways of doing things, and little access to new ideas,with their technology and mobility restrictions. Most Amish truly do love their horses and animals. But a trainer like John is an exception, and his ability to share his ideas is restricted to the small community that surrounds him. John is very proud of his horses and the care he gives them, and he has every right to be. Every horse he took out, with the exception of one, he had since birth and trained. All of them were sound, solid, in great shape and their legs in excellent condition. Apparently, there is a kind way to “leg up”correctly for road work. He took care to his horses needs.
John also shared a recently bought registered Morgan gelding called Rocky. He was 14 yrs old and had Noble Flaire lines! Yes, that 14yr oldt hat was not working quiet as well driving or sold because he was now thought to be too old. Well let me tell you this horse is an “new to the show world” amateur or youth’s “dream horse”!! He was in great shape! Rides and drives and has a show record! There are plenty of mainstream Morgan owners reselling this quality of Morgan for $5k - $15k. He is not necessarily a $15k horse now but there is no reason why John cannot expect toget $5k for him now, and in a mainstream Morgan trainer’s hands, could make this horse a $15k horse! There needs to be a way to share these horses back to the mainstream Morgan section as talk at convention proved there to be a market for entry level show horses. If not, they risk being lost at auctions like New Holland and he becomes just another old slaughter prospect. If the Amish had a way to market back these horses to us, there would be less showing up at auctions like New Holland. It is up to us, the mainstream Morgan community to find these ways. Our breed can no longer afford to allow these individuals to be lost.
More useable Morgans are lost to slaughter every year than new foals are born. The law of diminishing numbers is relentless. Despite several years of concerted effort by several Morgan rescue groups, we know that there are many more auctions than those we have identified and attend. The number of Morgan lovers getting involved is increasing. The numbers of saves is increasing, but so are the numbers at auctions. It is probable that the number of usable Morgans that are lost every year is close to the number of foals registered. This coupled with natural death attrition, paints a bleak picture.
Monday morning as we got up at the hotel in New Holland the parking lot across the street was full of empty horse trailers. We knew where they had been the night before and where they were headed this morning. This made New Holland pretty easy to find.
As you enter the parking lot there are rows and rows of stock type trailers. It is a sad feeling, stock trailers associated with slaughter. It’s a big building, with pens in the back. That’s when you see the cows. They are not being treated with the kindest of hands. The pig, sheep and goat pens are even worse.
There is a lot of hustle. You enter with the horse or horses at the back and register. They are given two tags on each hip. You can tell the horses who are new to this from the horses who are veterans. The new, it’s unknown. They are afraid, wondering what is going on and why they are here. What is it? What’s going on? You can hear their eyes scream it. The veterans,much more used to the hustle, the hope is gone. They know where they are and why they are here. Some human has given up on them again or some you can almost hear them say, ugh…another auction. Rows and rows of horses tied next to each other. Some so given up and lost they almost just wish they could die. They young so lost and scared they completely don’t know what to expect or understand what is going on…what lies ahead. Calling for help.
You can get there early and walk through…see the horses who will be run through…mark the numbers you want to watch…but there is no one to talk to. No one to get information on the horses that are here…tied…waiting.
We go up stairs and register…given a card with a number to bid. It is getting crowded now. Bleachers filling up but there are still less buyers than there are horses running through. There is a long narrow pipe fenceshoot. Lots of rough looking men in cowboy hats, mixed in with Amish boys, line the fence. These I’m told are all the brokers. Waiting for the auction to roll.What deals can be made this week? Or will we work to fill a truck? What are the chances.
As we take another walk around the back I notice a pen ofhorses. Just like your told…all clustered in…no water just all mixed together.There was one constantly moving the group, biting and attacking the others. These were a wild and scared group probably run in from the pasture. No handling. Probably a breeder who let things get out of hand and now what…cut down by going to auction? So undeserving. This was the first group to be sent through.
The auction starts and half of that group is sorted and shuffled down the chute. Made to move…mostly scared and not understanding what’s going on. It all happens so fast…the auctioneer starts and you can’teven tell who’s bidding. The highest bidder wins and gets to choose. They can take one or all from the group, but the choice horse is pulled and bidding continues until all from the group are sold. Going through this way there is not much hope they went to good hands. This happened three sets of that group and probably all went to kill buyers.
Then horses start being led in and again it’s SO fast…youdon’t even have time to look, be aware of where the bidding is at and they are sold. No info…just something like “9yr old mare sold as is…signed papers”…no info, no breed, by the time they come in they are sold….it is that fast. I was floored. What chance is this?
Then the riding horses come in, the ones with more info,even some led in with more info…but again this happens very fast and if you want to beat the kill buyer you have to act. If you are asking someone to act for you, you have to trust their eye and who you send…there is NO time to think…NO time to relay info….NO time for anything but bid. Nancy and Cindy who attend to bid for many people should be given a lot of credit for what they do.You have to understand they are posting photos to try and share more info about what goes on at this auction and many like it. By the time the photo is posted the horse is sold. That is not the time to say you’ll take it. By that time youare probably looking at a back door deal with the broker and you should expect to pay more than what the horse sold through auction to get it out of the brokers hands. Most would be willing to sell and most don’t ask for much of a markup. They are not the bad guys. Don’t get me wrong there are bad brokers, but many want to help. Do not expect that you will get anywhere with them with unkind words and attacks. It was the broker that gave us the opportunity to purchase one mare before being run through auction and another who bid against a known kill buyer to keep one safe and really just asked for his bid priceback plus $50. Probably that just went toward gas. Brokers are not the enemy.They are there because there is a need to fulfill.
Now before you all jump all over that statement, its true,some are not nice. They do not have the best interest of the horse at heart.They are there to see what they can move or see what will ship…plain and simple, but again only there because the need to fulfill a service is.
Auction of this type is not giving your horse the best opportunity to find a loving home. Their chances greatly reduced especially if they have never been in this type of atmosphere, away from home, never been handled, sent with no info, sent through injured or lame, and worst off…sent through with a signed papers. This means they can be bought to ship direct to slaughter. It is sad to see the horses go through who have given so many years of good service, marks to prove, and their thanks is to be run through auction only to end up with a broker, one who may try and sell them for higher at the next auction or fill the load.
On this particular Monday therewere quite a few loads of horses, riding horses came in from different brokers. These where trail horses, people’s pleasure horses, playday/barrel horses. The trail horses came in from those places that offer the rides. They use them and then ship them off to auction to pick up new horses. You may want to think twice before supporting this kind of service. Apparently it is quite the norm. One was a pleasure show horse being sent through cause her owner was dying of cancer. Her hooves were still blacked from a show. Another horse came in the arena and you could see it's definitely a strange environment...you could see it right on the horse's face...he was totally scared. Headed down a long chute surrounded by people...strangers...not sure what he should be doing...except what he thought he knew he was supposed to do...he immediately thought he was at a barrel race.They start them in a chute to gain speed. He wanted to bolt and the rider was scared. He looked like he was going to flip over on her and everyone was commenting to send him down the pike...he doesn't deserve the chance...there's something wrong with him. I had to turn and speak up for the horse. There was nothing wrong with him...he's trying to do the only job he knows how. He's wound up to be a barrel horse and she's not letting him do it. He is set up to fail and I'm really sad for this horse cause he has no chance. People see that,he had no opportunity to show his true talent and they think there is something wrong with him. There is nothing wrong with him...bad training...sent into astrange situation...uncared for...he is set up to fail. Many horses were put in this same scenario in this setting. It’s wrong.
Having horses that have been run through auction, the statement “there’s a reason they end up at auction” angered me. Now seeing for myself, it angers me more. Mom’s with babies, pregnant mares, older horses, young stallions, yearlings, 2 yr olds, ponies, minis galore, the lame, the weak, the pleasure horses that have given their all to young and old alike and the “newness” has worn off….it is not their fault they end up there. Horses cannot speak for themselves, so I will speak for them. Horses are a commitment and a responsibility. It is not their choice to have a foal. It is not their choice to stop showing. It is not their choice to not be given another job. I did not see any that came through that day that did not have something left to give someone. Or deserved better than a retirement somewhere green and happy where they could live out their days. To watch as they are led in, hard working horses, you could feel the questions in their heads. “Why are we here?” “We worked hard.” “Did nothing wrong.” “Why are they leaving us here, with strangers. Strangers who don’t know us and poke at us.” “We don’t understand.” Yes, you make think these voices of a crazy person.But I assure you I can hear their silent cries. I will continue to be their voice…their voice until one more person hears them too. One more person feels again. One more person.
So yes New Holland is the sad place you hear about. It is quick. There is hardly time to bid on some, the least with hope left. But it is set up that way. Horses run through quick with no information. Horses probably in the broker system for awhile…only to be sent to another auction…at least no the truck…maybe not this time. There are more brokers than homes in the audience often. The young, the scared…all set up to fail in front of the crowd. The mares bred and the mares with newborns at their sides. But New Holland can also be that place you find a light,a diamond in the rough. Your dream horse. Your connection. There are too manyhorses and at times so overwhelming. But if we can put the light of hope back into one more horse…one at a time…then maybe that will spread.
Horses are aspecial gift to us we should not take for granted. We have to find a way to come together and care enough without continually finding blame in others. That serves no one. We have to care before it’s to late. Before they are all gone.There was no one person or thing to blame. New Holland exists to fill a need;there are too many unwanted horses and no where else to take them.
If the Amish had a way to resell their horses…not auction…would the horses have a better chanceand not show up at New Holland?
If breeders where responsible…did not breed just for the sake of having babies…would less come through New Holland?
If there were not places that offered trail rides or we supported these venues less….would less come through New Holland?
If we started getting off the computer and reaching out to our neighbors, would we find out ahead of time they needed to sell their horses, and could help them…would less come through New Holland?
If people were informed buyers of horses, knew the commitment, understood what was involved before rushing to purchase…would less come through New Holland?
If people understood that a horse is a partner and not an expected machine or tool….would more horses then be understood…given a chance…would then less come through New Holland?
Questions to ponder.
This will not be my last visit. I was invited to go back for a June 14th Mel’s Sale. I hope together we can find ways to continue to bridge gaps…help more horses.
Help continue to be the voice of hope. Help be part of the solution.
Colleen Saint Loup
Founder Morgan Safenet