Branding irons dipped in paint to number the horses before the sale
I posted briefly on the Top of the Crop sale in Salina Utah. When Maggie and I arrived, some of the mares were being shown off on the grass next to the highway. Since Mapquest failed to locate the Livestock Producers Arena, we were happy for a clue that we were in the right place. Before the sale, we walked around with the buyers looking at the stock. I tried to talk to a few people, but everyone was consistently keeping their own counsel. Surely they could not have dreamed that I was going to bid against them!
Eye to eye, but too little to buy that pony
I talked a bit to Beth who was working with Reed Thomas out of Mt. Pleasant, and he did have some pretty foals for sale that day. Have no idea who this little guy belonged to. Maggie and I found (asked directions to) the unmarked door to the cafeteria, where we had some tasty barbeque sandwiches.
Top of the Crop sale
The first detail in the auction house that got my attention was the sea of straw hats, and not Easter bonnets either. Every seat was taken and SRO in the back. The arena set-up was highly functional - the ponies were queued up in the corrals, came in one gate, and once sold, out the other. The auctioneer sits up above the arena, and has three assistants locking onto bidders ever so like a hunter's pointer dog, shouting out to make sure the auctioneer recognized each bid. Mostly they were selling the season's foals. At least one foal was still nursing, and Reed Thomas said the buyer could choose to leave it with the mare for a while. Details only lead to more questions - how long is a while? Probably until Thomas has to start buying feed for it. The mares have already been bred for next season's foals, only about a month off for them. Maggie saw some horses she liked a lot, and I resolved to learn to ride. These animals are stunningly beautiful. It will be completely fun. R is very nervous that there is a pasture and a pony in his future.
