Cranbury Auction- Higher End Stock

[Tenmover21]

Long story made short, my horse is semi-retired and leased out to a family to trail ride occasionally. I have been playing with the idea of purchasing something to bring along and enjoy, possibly for resale down the road. I am not opposed to something that isn’t broke, but I am looking to stay around $10K and for any type of quality I know I am looking at a yearling maybe two year old and the thought of hoping and praying it doesn’t get hurt before I even get a chance to sit on it is less enticing. So looking at other options…

Cranbury has been posting videos of better and better quality animals. I actually went a few months back, and there were some gorgeous warmbloods and crosses going for $25K+. Now I am not naive when it comes to the wheeling and dealing of horse auctions. I know that most that end up there are there for some sort of reason and that you take the risk and gamble when you buy. I am interested in feedback from those who have recently been to Cranbury, what the average prices were, and if anyone is familiar with any of sellers. Looks like the just built a new facility, and I appreciate that they are trying to clean things up and get higher quality buyers in.

[findeight]

Not familiar with this auction but years ago used to go to one with friends to pick up a few projects. It IS possible to get a decent horse at an auction but you MUST have inside information on the better lots offered and let somebody experienced in buying at auctions go with you.

There are many other auctions then this one, maybe a little further away. Often billed as Sporthorse Auctions, they have a few headliners and many others that don’t command such interest. Or prices. Don’t assume a fancy name for an auction means higher prices for everything, on the flip side, never assume a really nice horse will go dirt cheap at a lower level auction, word gets out. Often they have the horses available for public inspection before the sale, and they sell before they ever walk in the ring (auction gets their cut).

If interested in persuing buying at auction, there is much to learn before jumping in. Including losing the notion all auctions are last stop before the killers. Many are not and simply the way many horses are bought and sold in rural areas where distances are greater. They remove delusional owners from the equation and buyers go by observation and experience instead of PPEs costing more then the horse.

That said, IME they work better for ranch type using and pleasure horses then they work to find something intended as a show hunter. And really good consignments are no secret, there will be some serious bidding. But it’s fun to get into that culture and mentally bid as well as develop new contacts if you really intend to add auctions to your search for new horses.

Oh, and be sure you have a plan B if it does not work out, including consigning it back to resell. Works best to gamble on auction stock if you have the chops to sell it on or have some property and aren’t one barely able to afford a single horse in a boarding barn and keep forever and ever.

[vxf111]

I recently saw a surprisingly nice horse listed as being available in an upcoming Cranberry auction (I think 12/30?) Had recently showed at Princeton. Imported warmblood, good size and good age. I am suspicious. I think something has to be wrong. Yes, they get horses there that are not one-foot-in-the-grave or going for meat prices but I do not understand why anyone would consign a going high end show horse to them except that they wanted to completely wash their hands of the horse for some reason. And that reason COULD be nefarious. Could be non-nefarious but I personally am leery.

[fordtraktor]

I think it usually has to do with the horses either having a soundness issue or having some sort of behavior problem. I would not go there for a higher-end horse.

I have bought from a reputable online auction though – acquired a lovely KWPN filly a few years ago that way. I would only consider young stock though, like weanlings/yearlings. She wasn’t exactly cheap, either.

OP, with your budget I would look at a nice OTTB from someone like Jessica Redman or Pat Dale. You could get a super one in your price range and start riding it immediately. Plus, they are reputable and MUCH less of a risk than an auction! Not even comparable. Both have sourced multiple very successful horses.

[scrbear11]

The price is going to get run up on the nicer horses. I expect the KWPN gelding to go for about $30k - $40k. An almost 20 year old Oldenburg went through a few months ago. He was purchased back by his old owner for $18k.

[amb]

@vxf111

II do not understand why anyone would consign a going high end show horse to them except that they wanted to completely wash their hands of the horse for some reason.

They can be very sure that tomorrow they will have a check in their wallet and they won’t own a horse. If it’s high-end enough the horse will be a known quantity to the buyers anyway. No sales/training board bill, no “I’ll think about it and get back to you” screwing around, no no-shows, no paperwork that doesn’t come through, no ridiculous offers. If I’m there to buy, there’s no bizzarroland sales agreement, no impossible-to-schedule sellers, no waiting for somebody to get over their highly unrealistic starting price. Either way at the end of the day it’s “here’s your cash” and “here’s your new horse”.

One of my most favorite horses (an OTTB-turned-timber-horse with a notable graded stakes record fallen on hard times) came from New Holland, and another (“of unrecorded breeding”, as they say) came from Unadilla. Not for the faint of heart, but no regrets.

[findeight]

Sometimes they are horses seized for non payment or confiscated for liquidation of assets consigned by non horse people who need to convert the assets to cash within a short time frame inspired by court order. Sometimes horses sold out of these situations privately end up being resold at public auctions as well when that private sale falls through. So sometimes decent horses do end up here…but they aren’t a secret and will bid up.

[vxf111]

@amb

They can be very sure that tomorrow they will have a check in their wallet and they won’t own a horse. If it’s high-end enough the horse will be a known quantity to the buyers anyway. No sales/training board bill, no “I’ll think about it and get back to you” screwing around, no no-shows, no paperwork that doesn’t come through, no ridiculous offers. If I’m there to buy, there’s no bizzarroland sales agreement, no impossible-to-schedule sellers, no waiting for somebody to get over their highly unrealistic starting price. Either way at the end of the day it’s “here’s your cash” and “here’s your new horse”.

One of my most favorite horses (an OTTB-turned-timber-horse with a notable graded stakes record fallen on hard times) came from New Holland, and another (“of unrecorded breeding”, as they say) came from Unadilla. Not for the faint of heart, but no regrets.

But the same is true at a NON-low end auction. I get why people consign horses to auctions. I don’t get why someone would send a going show horse to Cranberry.

[Xctrygirl]

I asked a friend who shows regularly if she knew the owner of this horse and why he would sell through Cranbury. She said she does know him, he does take decent care of his horses and odd though it may be to the rest of us he sells through the auction to get his selling done quicker. And apparently he’s done this before and made quick money.

We can presume nefarious reasons until the cows come home but given our own published fears (in posts above) I think this guy may be onto something. Not that I would ever do the same but the wallets tend to get looser when there’s a fear that a non deserving horse could meet a bad end. I think the posts above are right… horse will be sold and I bet for decent bucks.

And people likely go to take a shot that they’ll get the 10k bargain. Forgetting of course that you absolutely should quarantine anything that sets foot on that property for at least a month.

Em

[SnicklefritzG]

If you think about what it costs to board a horse in some places in PA/NJ, selling it at an auction may make sense for some sellers. Set training board at $1500/month conservatively, then add on expenses for shoeing, routine vet work (shots, etc.), getting the horse to shows to get it seen, and you could easily be looking at $2k/month. Then add on a 10-15% commission if you have a trainer involved to help you well the horse, plus potentially months of waiting for the right buyer.

[findeight]

High end auctions can get their share of delusional sellers setting delusional reserves on their sale consignments too. Turns into much ado about nothing and seller goes home with their horse ( and pays a fee to the auction for the pass out/no sale). Going to an auction where sellers are there to sell, period, is less complicated if you have the stomach for it.

Out West, auctions are more common and not looked down on to the same extent. It’s too dam far to drive around vast open spaces looking for working horses and if you need to buy or sell, you go to an auction. It can be far more practical and businesslike then too many private sales these days.

[fordtraktor]

Also, I am sure it could make sense for something with bad X-rays that is otherwise sound now. Most of us in the horse business have had one of those and you can hardly give them away. Auction would probably give you comparable or better money but it will catch up with the buyer later most likely.

i would proceed with a LOT of caution. I am not at all against diamonds in the rough but 95% of the reasons nice horses get sent to auction are not good. As Dirty Harry says, do you feel lucky?

i would only do it if the horse was very cheap and I could afford to care for it or would euthanize if if I guessed wrong.

[Xctrygirl]

This horse is actually selling with xrays and it appears (I could be wrong) that they can send the rads to your vet for review before the actual sale date.

This is what the ad actually says. I can see his USEF record online too. They have done reserves here before. So not a total risk.

#2
“E AMELUSINA R 62” Imported 8yr KWPN Gelding, 17.1h. This is another one of the highlights of the sale. “Rupert” is papered, microchipped, has a passport and will be sold with x rays and a vet report. He also has a lifetime USEF and is very well bred. He has been shown all summer and fall and is still show fit. Has shown successfully through the 1.30m and schooled 1.40m. Most recently he was 4th in the $5,000 1.25m Woodedge Mini Prix in November. He has a sweet disposition in the barn and is very easy to live with. He is the most honest horse you will ever ride to the fences and has absolutely no stop. This gelding is the perfect age and has a tremendous amount of potential. He sells sound December 30th to the best home.

Em

[skip99]

Was involved with a sale with the owner of that horse several years back, I think he was still a junior at that point or had just aged out (his father was involved in the sale). Seemed nice enough and the horse seemed as advertised though didn’t work out for the new owners in the long run. I know that he recently had his own FB page for his LLC, but now it is gone. Looks like he mostly sells through this auction which I find interesting. He is a pro (or was advertising as such recently), has his own barn iirc, and has been involved in buying/selling for several years now. He seems to be a good rider. Just wanted to add some info for those discussing the cost of board and training being a factor for this horse being in an auction.

[rockonxox]

There was some talk on a forum that the Spanish horse (#1) has been in the sale as various other breeds in the past. You’ve just got to be careful! There is a Facebook group that you can watch the auction on. I watched some older videos from this year and last as I’ve honestly never seen an auction take place. A lot of people I know go to them out here and find decent western horses, but I don’t know many english riders who have gone to them (at least not in my area). I would suggest to the OP to find that Facebook group (if you look at Cranbury’s facebook they have it listed in the advert of all the horses coming up to auction – I believe it is called “Horse Angels”) to get a feel for how things work there, what price ranges, what types of horses, etc you’ll be coming across.

[enjoytheride]

You can put a reserve on your horse as well so you make sure you get as much money as you want. My local kill sale gets nice horses because it’s tempting to sell your horse with no muss no fuss and they often have a reserve. It’s common for a $40 horse to sell before a $2500 horse. Chances are he will stay sound and the drugs will keep him quiet until he goes through the ring as well. Most of the children’s camp and trail riding ranch strings went straight to slaughter.

Cranbury is very active on Facebook and people know that they can get more money for their horses since so many people want to “rescue.”

[SnicklefritzG]

@enjoytheride

You can put a reserve on your horse as well so you make sure you get as much money as you want. My local kill sale gets nice horses because it’s tempting to sell your horse with no muss no fuss and they often have a reserve. It’s common for a $40 horse to sell before a $2500 horse. Chances are he will stay sound and the drugs will keep him quiet until he goes through the ring as well. Most of the children’s camp and trail riding ranch strings went straight to slaughter.

Cranbury is very active on Facebook and people know that they can get more money for their horses since so many people want to “rescue.”

I’ve heard that as well. Is that really true? If so, it’s disgusting. Aren’t there dude ranch type places that can use horses outside of the summer months?

[enjoytheride]

It is true. There are so many horses out there that it doesn’t make sense to feed them all winter. Camps keep the nicest horses, like the guide horses,and dump the rest then buy again in the spring. Some dude ranch places do winter them over, and some people hit the fall sales to pick up a dude horse as a packer.

[SnicklefritzG]

@enjoytheride

It is true. There are so many horses out there that it doesn’t make sense to feed them all winter. Camps keep the nicest horses, like the guide horses,and dump the rest then buy again in the spring. Some dude ranch places do winter them over, and some people hit the fall sales to pick up a dude horse as a packer.

How can those people live with themselves for basically throwing the horses out when they are no longer needed?

[Miss_Woodford]

#12 the Welsh pony (Quantico), #14 the WP paint (Legend in a Tux) and #104 (Oh So Gifted) should go for good money.
The big Clydesdale stallion they have might be the high-seller. Though he’s gotten passed around quite a bit it seems.

#23 might be the most inbred horse I’ve ever seen :eek:
https://scontent.fric1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/24993088_1533297773392840_763349639811965177_n.jpg?oh=618140eb6301e5855fe137ad007e6055&oe=5AC26F7A

If I were there and had money for a new horse I’d pick up #68 the “smoothmouth” TB mare. She’s probably broken down but just looks like a sweetheart.