The Amish trade a lot too, which is probably how some of these horses come into their hands. They might not ever intend to use them for themselves.
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The Amish view horses as a commodity, and a tool. Yes, pretty is nice- sometimes- and fast is great, if you are looking for a āboyās horseā, but if isnāt useful, or if someone offers you money for it- itās gone. I knew an Amish man who had a horse heād owned since the gelding was a three year old. At 17, he wasnāt all that sound. He told me he planned to take him to New Holland, and I asked him if he didnāt feel he owed the horse something better after dragging his family around safely all of those years. He looked me dead in the eye and said whatever the horse would bring was money he could spend on his childrenās needs. End of story.
There are a lot of Amish horse dealers. As in born Amish, and even more dealers to sell to the Amish.
And the step below the Amish would be the meat buyers. That isnāt to say that they arenāt often one and the same.:mad:
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Someone I work with has bought horses from the amish and had a lot of negative things to say about where some of their horses end upā¦
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Mainly agree with ASB Stars.
The Amish (Mennonites around here) view animals as means to an end, and tend not to develope an emotional attachment. Most care for the animals adequately , same as you would do maintenance on a car or tractor, and I think that is a fair comparison. Horses allow them to travel, do work but are not a hobby. When horse is not able to do the job, they are passed on just as we would sell a car. Most Mennonites do not mistreat their animals, and they are fed, groomed, shod and get basic vet care, but they do not feel it is a good use of capitol to do expensive treatment, rehab or retirement.
Of course there are always exceptions both positive and negative. The plain people are shrewd business people , and around here are not above using their āhonest old fashionedā reputation to make a buck off the gullible. Think puppy mills, āold fashioned home bakingā using mixes and frozen products, sub par cheese and sausages that donāt follow health regulations etc. There are also breeders around here who imported Dutch Harness Horses and are producing some fancy young crossbreds with nice movement for dressage. Also some locals who breed beautiful Belgians for sale.
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What is with the Amish and the Dutch Harness Horses? I picked up an issue of the DHH magazine at Equine Affaire and it looks like a lot of breeders are Amish? Some of these horses sell for really high prices at the auctions.
Itās $$$. Plain and simple.
Horses are a crop for the Amish, just as puppies are for some. Initially, they were buying stallions that were not approved in Europe, and trying to get them approved here. A few had success at this, and they are now breeders.
The ones with a bit of seed money simply buy approved stallions.
Agreed. I think the idea of āex-Amish horseā is like calling all Thoroughbreds āOTTBsā ā some are just TBs, some never made it as far as a sale, let alone the track. Some washed out in training, some raced forever, etc. There are big differences.
An āex-Amish horseā - as in one that they used for driving until it broke down - is unlikely to be a young or sound horse. Maybe youāll pull one from a kill pen. But an Amish or Mennonite horse could be bred by them, sold or traded by them, and never used as a buggy horse. They might have been bought off the harness track and then moved on for one reason or another (got a deal, or horse was unsuitable)ā¦.etc.
I donāt live in the heart of Amish or Mennonite country but it is a growing community in Central NY. Iāve never seen a dun horse used before, or really, anything other than bay or black.
But it seems like the majority of the buyers at the auctions are other Amish. I have also seen photos where it appears an Amish man is on the lead with the horse at either a show or a keuring? Plenty of horse show photos for both mares, foals and stallions. Are the Amish competing them? I read an article about one of the Amish- breds being exported to Holland.
The Amish will compete- and they buy and sell. Youāll see a bunch of Amish buying ASBs at the Robertson Sale in KY, which is held several times a year. Those who deal buy a bunch- and, youāll see some who are just buying a horse for themselves.
Theyāve learned to maximize the benefit of their investment through approvals. The Amish can be deft businessmen, just like the English.
We had a guy up here who was a slick as they come. He ran a major sale up here, but his illegal activities caught up with him- he got tossed from the sale. I was talking to an Amish blacksmith, and I said, āyou know, if he was English, heād be in a three piece suit on Wall Street!ā The blacksmith replied dryly, āIf he was English, heād be in jail.ā :lol:
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A friend on mine as a 20yo well-bred buckskin Morgan mare (by Sunup Neptune) who was an Amish horse for a while. The mare is quiet and good to work around and is a good driving horse. She uses her for pleasure driving with a CDE carriage. The mare is not so great for riding though, happier in harness, so is almost always driven instead. She likes taking friends along (like me!) so driving works for her.
He looks more like a little quarterhorse and that brand looks like a ranch one. Is it a hat?
Iām not that experienced at reading brands, but I thought maybe flying, tumbling house? Someone on another site thought it might be upside down Y, lazy Y. I know a lot of Amish surnames begin with a āYā. Another reason for this post! Lol!
