What types of injustices happen at horse auctions and sale yards?
Who buys up the horses? Many go through mixed thoroughbred sales where people will pick out some to retrain as competition or recreational horses or to breed from. Many go off to be killed and these people sometimes outbid the people who would actually re-home them. At country sales most go to the knackers or abattoirs. These sales have a mixture of horse types, including Standardbreds and Thoroughbreds who have raced, either recently or years ago. Scrubby young unbroken TB’s and STB’s turn up here too. Horses do not get vet care when they are injured and usually stand there all day without food and water. In January 2008 I purchased two horses from the Mernda saleyards, north of Melbourne. Both guzzled water like there was no tomorrow when I got them home as they stood in the sun all day without access. What type of re-adjustment is necessary for an ex-race horse who might be lucky enough to be rehomed after racing? It would take ages to answer this question adequately but let’s say t
