Conference noted::equitation

    Who do we call to find out about these free horses? I know a friend who
    would be interested in getting a horse but can't swing both the
    purchase price and the board. (It's amazing what you can buy with
    Baybanks overdraft!)
    		Cindy
    

    
    
    
    The horse that is free is the 16 yr. old mare.  You can call
    Leonard or Noella LeBlanc at 508-632-7537.  Leonard will be
    home after 9:00 tonight but if you are interested in finding
    out something sooner or going out to see them, you can call
    his wife Noella.
    
    

    I agree with you Linda, there are too many horses.  I don't think
    there is one definate answer as to why the market seems so flooded,
    but I'm sure overbreeding is one of the biggest reasons.  I find
    people want to have a foal out of their favorite mare, without
    thinking of the consequences of ending up with having to feed, shoe
    and board all of these horses.  Another big reason being the price
    of grain and hay, it costs a lot of money to winter a horse these
    days, and there was a time where horses were bringing up to 50 cents
    a pound at the killer, but the last I knew the price was 10 cents
    a pound.  I guess it becomes a question of demand/supply, and the
    meat market is also flooded with horses.  In the past year that
    I've been working at the track, I've been offered countless numbers
    of free horses, ones that just aren't fast enough to race.  I took
    a mare in foal with full knowledge of what it would cost, and with
    the intention of bringing the foal back to the track to race.  As
    for the mare, my little sister wants to use her as a riding horse.
    I happened to be looking at the want ad over the weekend, and was
    absolutely overwhelmed by the number of horses being advertised
    in there!
    
    Linda
    
    

    My vet was telling me the same thing, almost.  he raises Standardbreds
    (?) and he races some and sells some.  He has noticed there is less
    of a demand for these horses, and is now giving them away or selling
    them real cheap to good, approved homes.  He thinks is might have
    something to do with the decrease in prize money at the track (I
    am no expert and am trying to recall a 2month old conversation).
    So it is not as worthwhile to be involved in breeding and racing
    as it was several years ago, and people have too many of these
    horses who arn't making money.
    
    I think there may be some truth to it and I also think it could
    be because of the cost of living increases.  Its real sad and I
    wish I could give these unwanted horses homes.
    
    Michele
    
    I went to an auction at Heritige Farms in North Hampton MA, it was
    disgraceful at the number of horses who were in real good shape
    going to the meat packers.

    That is very true Michelle, you must use Terry McGee too.
    Its unfortunate what has happened to racing in the area,
    the purse money is greatly decreased, and the only place 
    to race is up in Maine, unless you travel to New Jersey
    or New York.  By the time you truck a horse 2 and a half
    hours up to Maine, you've probably spent $50 in gas, and
    if you don't end up in the money, or even if you do, its
    really not worth it to make the trip, it ends up costing 
    you money.  Too bad Foxboro didn't open...

    Another reason for the over-population of horses, at least in the
    East may be due to the increase in popularity of hunters, jumpers,
    dressage, combined training, etc. and that people are spending more
    money for "better quality" horses like the warmbloods, etc. It used
    to be that you could compete in many of the above disciplines on
    the average horse, but that isn't quite the case anymore. For exammple,
    I have seen people spend $5000 for their daughter's 4-H horse; which is
    great for the kid but makes it a little difficult for the other
    little girl with her "just-for-fun" horse.
    
    I have a friend who had finally saved up enough money (she thought)
    to go try to find a horse who had the potential to compete 3rd and
    4th level; no luck even in the $10,000 price range, any age, 15.2
    or over...
    
    It seems that people are willing to spend lots of money but a select
    few horses while other poor critters can't find homes...
    
    Sorry for rambling but this topic is interesting to me...
    
    Linda
    

    
    
    Another viewpoint, but you could be right Linda.  In fact, I have
    a friend that bred a Standardbred broodmare to a mediocre race-
    horse that never did well on the track.  She advertised the colt
    at a year of age for a possible show horse or dressage prospect.
    Then put a pricetag of $4000.00.  She got calls from Mass, R.I.
    N.H. and Conn.  I couldn't believe it.  These people calling
    were interested in investing 3 more years of boarding and feed-
    ing, plus hire a trainer to train from the ground up, so their
    kid could have a mount in about 4 years.  Yet, there were plenty
    of qualified horses completely trained with a pricetag of around
    $1000.00.  Snob appeal?  Could be.
    
    I find that the majority of people that answer ads might have
    the money but don't have "horse-sense".  I don't mean they're
    stupid, just they've never been around horses or don't know that
    much about them.  If they're offered something around $10,000.00
    compared to the equal or more qualified horse at 1,000.00, they
    figure the $10,000.00 animal has to be better.  I've heard about
    many people that get screwed this way.  So it might not always
    be snobbery, it can also be a combination of being taken ad-
    vantadge of.
    
    Also, horses are becoming just as commercialized as computer
    games, stereos, and any other household product around.  If 
    there's a market, then people are going to get into it to make
    a buck.  If there's someone out there that thinks a $10,000.00
    horse has more potential than a $1,000.00 horse, that person
    trying to make a buck will take advantadge of them.  Once they
    buy the horse, now they're told they need a trainer and I know
    people that pay over $500.00 month to have their horses trained.
    ANd it goes on forever.  
    
    I guess I learned how much the rider contributes to the horse
    they're on when my riding instructor got on my horse and immediately
    had him doing dressage moves.  Then he got on someone else's
    horse and did the same thing.  Looked like a completely different
    horse than the one I'd been riding for 8 years with his neck
    bowed and picking up his feet.  But it was my horse.  I've never
    outgrown him (which seems to be a big fad these days) because
    to bring him to the next level I have to be trained to the next
    level rather than discarding him for  push-button horse
    with a big $10,000.00 pricetag.      
    
    
    
      

    I have to agree with both of the previous replys.  I had a friend
    selling a horse for somewhere around $1000.  She got no calls on
    the horse which was a well trained event prospect, so she raised
    the price to $3500 and got too many calls.  I think many people
    believe that they are only going to get a decent horse if it costs
    a lot of money, which isn't necessarily true.  I remember being
    in Pony Club with my average backyard horse and there were kids
    there whose parents spent big bucks on buying horses.  I also find
    it very interesting that the majority of those kids are no longer
    involved in horses.  

    It all has to do with marketing. Jeans with designer labels cost
    more than pants made of denium that are just as good. I have a husband
    that believes you should never spend more than $1000.00 for a horse
    of any kind. I have 2 registered animals and 1 grade that came from
    private owners who had a good horse but did not market to the snob
    class. They were looking for a good home for their pet. My $300
    pony can do 2nd level dressage with the best of them but was advertised
    as a Quarter pony goes English or Western traffic safe. My reg.
    QH mare was sold as a good trail horse and is taking to dressage
    like a duck to water and thinks jumping is fun too. I think if I
    had a horse free to good home I would assess any possible potential
    it had and list the price as negotiable. A good animal is not enough,
    people respond to advertising that makes them think they are getting
    the best there is. Put a designer label on your horse and wait for
    the phone to ring.
    
    My 2 cents,
    Sandy
    

    Demographics is catching up with the horse market. Remember that their
    are two primary buyers of horses. (Parents of) children who want to
    start riding and young and some not so young adults without dependent
    families who are getting back into riding. The numbers of the first are
    going down - just look at school enrollments. The second group has
    prpbably reached its peak and has the money to spend on high priced
    horses.

    I noticed something while trying to sell a realy nice Arabian colt.
    I had advertised him at $3500 as a hunter/endurance prospect.  I
    had a call from a girl who came to see him and then hesitated about
    the price.  I offered to negotiate and lowered the price.  She then
    -- are you ready? -- wanted to know what was wrong with the horse!!!
    
    All I wanted to do was sell the horse; there isn't anything wrong
    with him!
    
    Merrie

    Your note is very interesting, as I'm currently looking for ponies,
    please let me know when you need a good home for one of them.  I have
    some 4-hers that would love to have their own pony.
    I live in Mass. right now but my old 4-h group is in Vermont, and I'm
    working with my fiend and new leader of the group to find big ponies
    that would be loved, taken good care of.  (from note 808. too many
    horses)      
    Hope to hear from you....Carole      busy::benjamin or 508 699 9521