In honor of Saint Patrick’s Day, I thought I would take a moment to ruminate on just how lucky I am. It’s been said, “If you’re lucky enough to have a horse, you’re lucky enough.” You’re probably also broke, tired and smell like manure, but I digress.
Earlier this month, I took my kids to a horse auction at The Cow House in Kirtland, New Mexico with a couple of friends, to go have a look at the 20 or so horses hoping for new homes.
I set out to find myself a solid trail horse to explore the mountains alongside my kids with. Preferably 8-10 years old, a good-natured disposition, and I sure got lucky!
As we wandered in the sunshine, through the pens out back, we could hear the cadenced melody of the auctioneer singing through the breeze, the neighs of horses filling in the chorus. The smell of Navajo tacos and excitement alike were both palpable in the air. All clear signs of a good horse sale!
Some of the prospects were fancy performance horses, some were no-frills ranch horses and then there was Poncho, a quiet Navajo Mustang, who I like to think made me the luckiest girl this side West of the Pecos River.
A bit disheveled, much too skinny, hooves in desperate need of attention and covered in Cockleburs, I took one look at him and instantly knew I was the Lefty that Poncho had been looking for. Spurred on by my friend Jordan, I threw my number in the air and took horse number 1557 home, to live his life in a field of four-leaf clovers.
I have heard both schools of thought about getting a horse at auction. While some people believe you may not know what you are getting into when you get one, there are those, like me, that believe it’s best to get one while the getting is good!
Auctions at a reputable sale house can be a terrific way to acquire a solid horse at an affordable price. They are also good places to find five-star authentic Frito Pie and Navajo tacos for rodeo foodie aficionados like my 6-year-old son, Soren.
I like to think of horse auctions like speed dating. You have a minimal amount of time to get to know someone before determining if you want to spend more time with them on the trail of life, or if you’re better off to leave that gelding in the barn for the next cowgirl.
Get there early so you can walk around and see the horses, watch them, pay attention to their disposition and to what they are paying attention to. Talk to their owners. Ask questions and make the most of your limited time.
Bidding on a horse at auction requires you to rely on your horse sense, your intuition and a little luck when sifting through the equine sale bin.
Remember, like ol’ Poncho, who just needs to be cleaned up, fattened up and loved up, there are a lot of things some attention, a bath and a cookie will sure shine up.
I believe that horses, like all animals rescued or adopted, know they are being given a second chance. If I never believed that before, I sure did when I climbed in the pen with my newest family member and made eye contact, wrapped my arms around his neck and told him life was going to look up. He leaned his head into my shoulder and let out a sigh.
There are plenty of opportunities to find horse sales in Southwestern Colorado and Northern New Mexico. From High Country Auctions, right here in Hesperus to The Cow House in Kirtland, which has been in business since 2007 to Rawhide Auctions in Cortez and Western Colorado Select Equine in Grand Junction, there are opportunities in every direction.
Next time you’re thinking about a new getting a new horse, consider an auction and ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky?
You may just find that pot of gold at the end of your rainbow.
Jenny Johnston is a fourth-generation Durango local, part-time rodeo announcer and full-time wrangler to two lil’ buckaroos.
