i was told bidding would start at fair market value, for most of the horses that would be 5k. the no reserve means that they will be sold to the highest bidder. a reserve means that the seller has the option to sell or not. if the higher end stallions do not bring what they are looking to get the seller reserves the right to sell or not to sell.
They will not be disclosing the starting bid prices until a few minutes before the horse comes out…
allessandra??? i have my eye on her!!
comments? opinions?
Liking those owners less and less.
I’m excited about the auction tomorrow. I’ve had two of the horses vetted, one of the two year olds came up with some OCDs. I’ll have to be a bit careful about that one as the surgery is ± $3000. There are some really nice horses going up for sale. I do worry about some of the older broodmares but I think there has been a lot of interest and most should find homes.
Good luck tomorrow people…keep us posted!
[QUOTE=bellaalexander;6461690]
i was told bidding would start at fair market value, for most of the horses that would be 5k. the no reserve means that they will be sold to the highest bidder. a reserve means that the seller has the option to sell or not. if the higher end stallions do not bring what they are looking to get the seller reserves the right to sell or not to sell.
They will not be disclosing the starting bid prices until a few minutes before the horse comes out…[/QUOTE]
I understand how auctions work as I have attended numerous auctions for both my business and personal needs. I have never seen an auctioneer that would announce the amount of the minimum bid prior to the actual item being auctioned with no reserve. This is very strange to me, especially days before the auction.
As far as the $5,000 minimum bid being the fair market value? Why would you bid above the $5,000 and pay more than the fair market value on all of the young horses? I want to see all of the horses placed in good homes. It appears to me the owners are looking to sell the horses above what they even state is fair market value. Greed.
[QUOTE=bellaalexander;6461514]
I have also been lurking on this thread! From what i understand, this is not a dispersal sale due to lack of money. They are just downsizing, and this is the easiest way to sell all of the things that have been accumlated. I spoke with the auction house and i was told that bidding would start at 5k for the youngstock inculding the young horses that are undersaddle. The older mares and ponies bidding would start at 1k. The three very nice stallions, bidding will start at an undisclosed higher amount and they have reserves.
I could not get a clear answer about the horses that do not sell. The auction house said they would be returned to the seller/ owner. Not sure what that means for those animals.
Anyone else with the same info?[/QUOTE]
According to their own words on FB
“Highlife Farms Thanks Kari! Hope to see you!
I’m retiring. Need to spend time with my family in Virginia beach. I’ve missed to many occasions already! Time is flying!
Thursday at 11:16pm via mobile”
So certainly sounds like an auction to disperse not out of financial needs. Its terrible if in fact it is just an easy way to sell their personal horses via mass exodus that they are not releasing vet records.
They are also yammering on about some horse sale drama on their FB page. Almost sounds like they enjoy the attention drama creates. Why else bother to carry on about it on FB. A simple no horses will be sold before Sat would suffice.
"Highlife Farms
Good morning! I wanted to repost in case anyone coming to the auction missed this from last night! Very important auction info!
So, apparently someone (yes you) is claiming they have purchased 6 of our best horses BEFORE the auction this weekend, in the hopes of keeping quality, true horse professionals from showing up and getting a great horse, and trying to get the farm in trouble calling the auction company. That is not the case, and this person is obviously running a dirty, low down scam. Exactly the kind of person that gives the horse business a bad name and ruins it for the rest. Thanks.
The fact of the matter is that we cannot sell ANYTHING until the sale on Saturday. You should show up if you want a world class horse!!! Enough said!"
The property looks quite “worn”; fencing chewed and broken, pastures down to dirt, landscaping not kept up etc. Big horse sale attempted two years ago, not much sold. No breeding in two years. Not much else done w/ horses. Sounds to me like a $$ issue. I would be tired from taking care of this place, but if they were on a plan to downsize, there were lots of things that could have been done differently.
I think that the entire situation is sad. I have also been to auctions in Europe that seemed to be put together much more professionally than this.
I am curious about what will happen to the horses that are not sold by auction. Will they be offered again at the end of the auction? or will hl keep them?
How many horses are being auctioned?
[QUOTE=bellaalexander;6462375]
I think that the entire situation is sad. I have also been to auctions in Europe that seemed to be put together much more professionally than this.
I am curious about what will happen to the horses that are not sold by auction. Will they be offered again at the end of the auction? or will hl keep them?
How many horses are being auctioned?[/QUOTE]
According to earlier posts, those not sold will remain property of Highlife. (and likely be sold later…) Wonder where they will go as the farm needs to be vacated pretty quickly.
The headcount for tonight is 44 I think.
ok thanks!
If they aren’t keeping their “World class” horses then they certainly aren’t interested in feeding the ones that don’t sell today.
Could be an illness issue that has precipitated this. Or they just got bored, and decided to auction the whole kit and kaboodle at once and have done with it.
If you go to the online auction site, all horses are listed in the order they will be auctioned with a blurp about them. ALL of the listings say “nominal starting bid $500”. that includes the stallions.
So it will be interesting to see what the starting bids actually are.
Fingers crossed for the horses, the owners…well not so much!
Help. How can I watch it online?
anyone watching?
1.76 million total for the farm, sold in 7 lots, buyers choice style.
Yes. All property done.
Horses start at 7pm
Horse go in two minutes
They are about to start with the minis. Amazing.
