Auction Night

Right after dinner Rhoda and I took off for the Heart of IL Arena down on Route 29 for the Galesburg Horse Auction. The crowd was sparse and not buying, Gary the auctioneer was struggling to get bids on most of the items going through the sale. The only thing I was interested in buying was more buckets, one can never have enough buckets on a horse farm. Rhoda saw a mare she was interested in and wanted me to look at her before the horses went through but we were waiting for the buckets to go through and they were just about last. I didn't think we were going to be able to get any, there were about 40 buckets, all new and bright colors. A few people here and there would bid on them and then take one. Gary (the auctioneer) finally told Shawn the helper just put them away when I yelled out, "how much for ALL of the buckets?" There were 32 buckets left and we agreed on a price both of us were happy with. Rhoda started hauling buckets out to the car. Below she is taking the last load before the horses started coming through.

The first equine through the ring was this tiny little pony.

She was so cute and so well behaved carrying that big rider. We actually bid $100.00 on her but the owner no sale'd her at that price. She was just too tiny and we really don't need any more ponies so didn't agree to her price. This sad little thing came through and only brought a bid of $10.00. The owner said he was a yearling, goodness, our weanlings are bigger than this poor thing.

The owner was actually insulted by the $10.00 bid and left in a huff. A nice 4 year old chestnut mare was also no sale'd, nothing wrong with her, rode really nice but when she was only bringing $400.00 the owner cried out "just what do you think is wrong with this mare?" and a man in the audience yells, "she's a sorrel" Not a single horse sold tonight, all of the owner's no sale'd. Rhoda came very close to buying a 10 year old 14.3 hand very fat mare but she was just a bit too nappy even for Rhoda. The owner was willing to take $500.00 but after watching her ride the mare we turned her down. After paying for the buckets we drove to Sweet CeCe's for some frozen yogurt. This was my first visit and was given a free taste of the peanut butter yogurt. That's all it took, one taste and it was a done deal. I only ate half and took the other half to my hard working husband. While we were waiting Rhoda shared her scary experience from last night. She was walking with Monica after church around the neighborhood, as they were returning she saw the dome light on in her car, then could see a man inside the car digging around! She started yelling and running at him, he jumped out of the car and took off and she took off after him. She got within 12 feet of him before giving up, turned around and only then realized Monica wasn't with her. We wonder what she would have done to him if she did catch him, you just don't mess with a red head!