In the previous post, I wrote a bit about the Waverly Midwest Horse Auction held in Waverly, Iowa last weekend. One of the best parts of this particular sale is being there to watch all the horses and carts warm up outside the sales barn. It is a bee hive of activity that is likely as near to the feel of a city during the real horse power days as most of us will ever experience. Horses, both ridden and driven, going every which way but all finding their way through.
I was good and kept my bidder number inside the pocket. There were only a couple of times that my fingers started to twitch. Just a nod to the ringmen, one nod and the ponies would be mine mine mine! Ahem, sorry. Had a manic moment of pony induced madness there.
If he isn’t careful, I’m going to send Banderas, the mischievous Hackney pony, to Amish Pony Boot Camp and turn 3 elementary age Amish kids loose on him. He’d be broke to drive in no time. Enough with these multi-season training projects of mine. With no TV and an unlimited supply of energetic youth, he’d be through his foolishness in no time. I have started to whisper the words: Amish Camp in his ear at feeding time.
One of the high selling ponies was a dead broke 4 year old pony that had spent the summer as a training project. The kids put on quite the show with this pretty pinto pony: he rode, he drove, he did tricks, kids crawled all over him, he was driven to school. He’d been there done that and was really beyond getting too excited about any mischief from the toddler crowd. Adorable. He looked like Stormy from the Marguerite Henry series. He brought a really good price of $1050. More than many of the draft horses the day before.
No pictures of that pony, but here are a few outtakes from the warm up ring.
A pretty 3 or 4 year old Hackney/Morgan cross. Broke to ride and drive.
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A pair of spotted Missouri Foxtrotters. Horses, harnesses and surrey all were auctioned as the owner was getting out of the horse business entirely.
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And last but not least, Banderas’ potential future trainers.
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The title of this post is the text message I sent DH while I was in Iowa at the horse sale. Is it wrong to torture your husband?
October 14, 2008 at 4:47 am |
Not a thing wrong with torturing your husband a bit-heehee. Mine doesn’t even twitch anymore-I think I have burned him up mentally when it comes to the horses.
Beautiful photos. Love the one of Bandera’s future trainers.
October 17, 2008 at 9:54 am |
Banderas’ future trainers are very cute. Good for you, keeping that number in your pocket. I am not sure I could trust myself. Imagine the financial rack & ruin of coming home with a matched pair of Missouri Foxtrotters and a nice carriage…domestic World War III commence!
October 25, 2008 at 1:13 am |
I have to say, as the owner of a youngster who was started at “Amish boot camp” I am very happy with his attitude. Nothing like a bunch of kids and some strong-handed discipline to make a horse kind and respectful. And they kept my pony in a tie stall, so he also has patience!
I went to an Amish horse auctions one time and it was really cool. All the horses looked good and they were, for the most part, well behaved and quiet. I also got a number and had a heck of a time keeping it in my pocket.