Descriptive analysis of horses and ponies attending horse auctions in Victoria from July 2019 to March 2020.
Abstract: In recent years there has been public speculation about the breed, destination and number of horses being sold by public auction at livestock saleyards in Australia. Currently, there is little objective information available about the breed and condition of horses sold through this medium. With little publicly available objective data on these horses, the horse industry has been left vulnerable to misinformation. Accurate information regarding the composition and condition of horses attending saleyards is important to identify and address any welfare issues and to inform public debate. Methods: Data were collected on 312 horses and ponies presented for sale through the Pakenham Horse Sales between July 2019 and March 2020. All horses and ponies were inspected at the saleyards and information on breed, age, body condition score (BCS), purchaser and sale price were recorded as the animals were auctioned. Results: Crossbred horses and ponies were the largest groups presented for sale. Ponies were more likely to be sold to private buyers. Quarter horses and riding ponies were as likely to be sent to slaughter as thoroughbreds and standardbreds. Entire males and females sold for lower prices than geldings. Most horses and ponies (64%) were sold to private buyers. More than three-quarters (77%) of horses and ponies presented for sale had a BCS greater than or equal to three out of five. Conclusions: This pilot study challenges perceptions that thoroughbreds are the primary breed to attend public sales or that animals attending the sales are in poor condition.
© 2022 The Authors. Australian Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Australian Veterinary Association.
Publication Date: 2022-09-29 PubMed ID: 36176071PubMed Central: PMC10087768DOI: 10.1111/avj.13210Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article presents a study that sought to address various assumptions regarding horses and ponies being auctioned at livestock saleyards in Victoria, Australia, based on data collected between July 2019 to March 2020. The researchers aimed to provide clarity on matters of horse breed, age, body condition, purchase and sale price.
Research Methodology
- The researchers gathered data on 312 horses and ponies that were put up for sale at the Pakenham Horse Sales, which took place between July 2019 and March 2020.
- Each horse and pony were assessed right at the saleyards, with their breed, age, body condition score (BCS), purchaser and sale price being recorded as the animals were being auctioned.
Research Findings
- The researchers discovered that most of the horses and ponies put up for sale were crossbred – that is, the offspring of two different breeds.
- Ponies were most likely to be purchased by private buyers rather than commercial entities or institutions.
- There was no significant difference in the breed of horses likely to be sent for slaughter; quarter horses and riding ponies had a similar likelihood as thoroughbreds and standardbreds.
- There was a pattern observed in the sale prices dependent on the sex of the horse, with geldings – castrated male horses – fetching higher prices than entire (intact) males and females.
- A substantial majority (64%) of the horses and ponies were sold to private buyers.
- Most of the horses and ponies for sale were in good health, with 77% having a body condition score of three or higher out of a maximum of five.
Conclusions
- The results of this study challenge popular misconceptions regarding the state and breed of horses and ponies presented for public auctions, showing that thoroughbred horses are not necessarily the primary breed up for sale and that most of the animals in these sales are in good physical condition.
- This important data moves the horse industry away from speculation and towards an informed understanding of conditions for horses and ponies at public sales, which can help identify and address welfare issues and inform public debate.
Cite This Article
APA
Chapman GR, Wells B, Gilkerson JR, Flash ML.
(2022).
Descriptive analysis of horses and ponies attending horse auctions in Victoria from July 2019 to March 2020.
Aust Vet J, 101(1-2), 1-8.
https://doi.org/10.1111/avj.13210 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Hastings, Victoria, Australia.
- Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia.
- Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
- Asia-Pacific Centre for Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
MeSH Terms
- Female
- Animals
- Horses
- Male
- Victoria
- Pilot Projects
- Commerce
- Industry
- Hybridization, Genetic
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
Conflict of Interest Statement
There are no sources of funding to declare for this study. The authors have read the journal's policy and have the following competing interests to declare: Racing Victoria Ltd. provided support for MLF in the form of a thesis stipend as part of a research contract (Racing Vic 045083 15/16) to conduct a separate project. AgriFutures provides support to MLF and JRG to work on another unrelated project. These external funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results. There are no patents, products in development or marketed products associated with this research to declare.
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Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Knox AL, Fenner K, Zsoldos RR, Wilson B, McGreevy P. Owner-Observed Behavioral Characteristics in Off-the-Track Thoroughbreds (OTTTBs) in Equestrian Second Careers. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jul 11;15(14).
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