A black stallion glistens as a boy in suspenders washes it with a hose. Darkly dressed men in straw hats lead muscular horses while an auctioneer rattles off bids over the jingling of bridles, bits, and harnesses.
The activity bustles along like a well-oiled buggy—and there are plenty of those at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex too. It’s the site of the nation’s first major horse auction of the year. While anyone with equine interests may attend, about 85 percent of the buyers and sellers are Amish, says organizer Dale Stoltzfus. In fact, Amish from all over North America come to this gathering in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to buy and sell massive draft horses and magnificent harness horses. Those from outside Amish culture are lured by the “Cadillac” (or luxury) quality of the animals.
The public sale occurs in January. It’s actually three auctions: one for draft horses, one for harness horses, and one specifically for Morgan horses.
The Morgan is the first horse breed developed in America. Its compact size, muscular body, temperament, and long life expectancy suit it well for riding, pulling, and working.
All animals are presented on Day 1 for viewing. Potential buyers evaluate strengths and demeanor. A 200-page printed guide lists specifics and lineage. Buyers talk, observe, and take notes before sleeping on it all until the Day 2 auctions. Then they come ready to bid.
From Bible times, the horse has been admired for power, beauty, and usefulness. (See Job 39:19-25.) Today, even with machinery doing most of the work, the horse draws plenty of willing spenders. Only about 500 horses were for sale at this year’s auction, though the crowd was estimated at 10,000 people.
Trainer Shelley Thorne-Le Blanc deals in Belgians. She drove 13 hours from New Brunswick, Canada, looking “for diamonds in the rough,” she says. “We don’t mind something that takes a little bit of work.”
But even with many people and few animals, there’s no predicting whether a horse will sell—or for how much. “It’s the whims of the buyers,” says Stolzfus after years of experience.
One horse, Eastview Thunder, seemed to excite the audience—but the bids just didn’t come in. The owner refused to sell when the numbers didn’t rise. Yet another draft horse by the name of Watersedge Flash took the highest price, closing at $25,000!
Shannon Crabb, co-owner of Maple Creek Belgians in Ottawa, Ontario, watched the massive beauty slip away. “It only takes two people to fall in love with the same horse to make the price go up,” she noted.
