MizzRibbon

I was looking at my local trading post the other day and was amazed at how many people in my hometown are selling their horses. I was even more blown away at how cheap they are selling them. It seems the rise in the cost of feed has people less able or less willing to keep the horses they have been known to raise for years. Is this something that is going on everywhere?

Stabilo

It's probably the costs of feed, but also the difficulty spending time with the horse if you have to drive for twenty minutes to reach it.

purplefdu

Hay has gone through the roof over the past five or so years. As has gas and grain and other things our horses need. Many people only have a horse as a "hobby" or "something to do" and aren't true horse lovers and thus instead of taking their stereo to the pawn shop they sell their horse and tack and equipment.

SaddleSore

It really is unfortunate, but I do understand why people sell them. And honestly I would prefer to hear of a horse being given away for free than being neglected.

Derbygirl

That's very true. If you cannot give a horse the proper care with adequate living conditions then by all means let someone who can have it. My uncle was telling me about a beautiful horse he saw go through the market the other day that sold for only $35! That sounds unbelievable that someone would let a horse go for that price, but if you can no longer afford to care for it you don't need to keep it.

Jewel

While a lot of people are selling their horses because they can't afford to keep them, many also need the money they get from the sell to pay other expenses. For me the best case scenario for both me and my horse would be to find him a home with somone who really wanted him. The only payment required would be the assurance that he was going to a home where he was well cared for. Of course, this would only be an option for someone who was not needing the money to cover other expenses.

indianpony

If you ever want to lose faith in the human race go to an auction. You will shortly realize why anything below perfect should be gelded and how simple things like putting up with idiots riding you without freaking out is the best thing you can ever teach your horses. Even well broke, pedigreed animals go for $200-300 each. Plenty go for $100 or under. People take them to auction and don't care what they are sold for and suddenly the scary man in the corner is snatching them up for $100 or under and shipping them across the border to a slaughter house.

SaddleSore

Yes, there can be the hopes of sales for the capital it can raise. But in this market, with things as they are I don't think that horses would be a good way to go about it.

marge

There are many people that will have a horse, realize how much time needs put into the animal then turn around and sell it. Though I think its kind of wrong to say that those with a horse for a hobby are not horse lovers, I know many that are.