This message is from: Karen McCarthy weeg...@hotmail.com
It was absolutely fantastic weather today, and my day off from work, so i had
to pry myself away from much needed yard chores to go down to the fairgrounds
to see the sights at the Small Farmers Journal auction.
The great weather, green lawns and lotsa rusty implements really went together
well. I saw quite a few items like hay rakes and mowers being loaded by eager
20-somethings with lots of dreadlocks. Umm, work ahead boys!
On the way to the horse paddocks behind the main arena, I walked through about
20 vendors scattered over the other lawns and under one livestock building.
The harness vendors were mostly selling cheap harnesses, except for one
vendor. I gave her an atta girl for having nicely made, fairly priced new
harness. For the life of me I cannot remember the vendors company, but they
were from the Wilamette Valley. One guy was selling nothing but bundles of
rusty, dusty disgusting harnesses and rusty bits of vehicles and splintered
and weathered wooden parts, maybe to people wanting to decorate? Hope they
don't try to use it! Then i bumped into some driving buddies from waaay
back,(like 20 years ago, we met in 1989!), and I couldn't believe I remembered
their names, except for one woman, who it turns out, catch-gatored for me on
the fly at a little CDE about 7 years ago. It was fun catching up - and I
found out one of them had moved to Klamath Falls which relatively speaking is
not too far away from me about 4 hrs from Madras.
After I finally made it back to the corrals, I guessed not all the cataloged
horses had made it in. Weird, because the website info stated no horses could
be brought in after Friday 4/17. Maybe people just disregard this? Anyway,
there were some really odd looking Gypsy Vanner x Paint crosses Big heads, no
backs, short necks that would make a short fjord neck look elegant. Oh, but
they had color - but not enuf to hide the unattractiveness. There was one
little white pony who I bequeathed my apple core to, he was so cute, but
raggedy/shaggedy. I suppose his main virtue was that he was broke to drive, as
the SFJ folks were adamant about not accepting any but driving, or driving
work bred horses in their auction because the pleasure horse market has
collapsed (per their sales info).
The 4 horses consigned by Joel Harmon looked happy to be at the auction - I
loved their open, expressive faces. Compared to my horses, these guys are
definitely much lighter in weight build, but they were not skinny per se.
Being early spring, they were not slicked out and probably hadn't been worked
very much this year. Not an ounce of fat on any of them though. Their work
resumes makes all of them really suitable for just about anything. I really
think these guys ARE 'bombproof'. They have worked so hard so far in their
lives that they respect standing and being patient, and not goofing off. When
I stopped 'bye they were standing in their pen being groomed trimmed. They
were not tied, they stood patiently while a woman worked on each of them.
Sweet boys, they deserve good homes. (My fingers are x'ed)
Everyone was oohing and aahing over Larry Boe's grey stallion. He's a really
nice fellow, I wouldn't be surprised if he goes for big $$ Very flashy.
I have to work tomorrow, but will meet up with Pam Garza and Shawna Smith from
over in the valley', and maybe they can fill us in on how the auction went.
Nite all!
:: Karen McCarthy :: Great Basin Fjords :: Madras, Oregon ::
Important FjordHorse List Links:
Subscription Management: http://tinyurl.com/5msa7e
FH-L Archives: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Classified Ads: http://tinyurl.com/5b5g2f
