[AlbertWang]

Have you been to the sale barn lately? Registered quarter horse colts are sellling for less than $150, filly colts less than $175. The entire riding horse market has busted. Drafters seem to be back in demand.

Like it or not, the killer market (some of the meat goes to europe) supports the prices in the rest of the horse industry. Well meaning but misguided efforts to shut down the killer trade will make matters much worse, with more horses being put down and stock being turned loose to run on public land.

[Mamzelle]

re: The entire riding horse market has busted.)))

The states that have some liability protections for riding stable owners do better with their horses. As it is, few kids are taking riding lessons anymore unless they're debutantes at Foxcroft. When I was younger, lots of suburban neighborhoods had their stable.

Another nice thing the lawyer gang has done for us.

[HairOfTheDog]

The horse market is a nebulous thing, and also very local. What you say is not true in my area. But regardless of local ups and downs the same horse will sell for $500 to $5000 depending on what clientelly he is ~put~ in front of. If you are talking to a trail rider he is worth $1000... If you are talking to a competitor, $5000. Horse worth depends on the quality of the wall his advertisement hangs on.

I have a pony that would bring $200 at an auction, and $6000 to a pony clubber, if I knew any.

[oldironsides]

New Holland Pa on Mondays used to be the place to dump unwanted horses. I went a few times and watched. It was not a good place to be if you have horses and like them.
The killer buyers were there. I think the biggest problem is in the shipping of the animals to their death. It is pretty bad. Shoving them into crowded trailers and having the weaker ones fall and be stomped by scared and frenzied others is ugly.