SURPRISE!! We ended up with one more horse when we went back for our second load.
This yearling stud colt had caught our eye early as a potential horse if we didn't get the pregnant mares or either of the newborn babies. By the time he ran through, near the end, we had already won the bids for the bay roan and her newborn filly, two pregnant draft crosses, and the 25-yr-old gelding and were out of funds. But when he came in the ring, he had opened up this very large wound on his shoulder and it was freely bleeding. Knowing babies were going for around $200 at that time, we looked at each other and said "we can find $200".
So we bid. But we couldn't go above $200 for a colt who would need some pretty decent medical care to begin with, and then a castration surgery when healthy ... so we lost the bid. A known broker ended up with him.
Funny thing is, everyone thought we won him. The guy in the pen pulled me aside and said they'd have Dr. Bryant staple his shoulder up before he left... and I just said "I didn't win him". Dr. Bryant called us to tell us he couldn't do anything and to give us a treatment plan ... and I had to tell him I didn't win him. Even the load out guys thought we won - he's exactly the kind of horse we go home with every month. One who needs care.
So we told every one of them if the broker didn't want him, we'd take him for the $225 he bought him for and to just put him in our pen and we'd get him when we came home. Then we loaded up the old gelding, mama and baby, and brought them home.
Each trip to the auction is a little over an hour, so we told them we'd be back in about 2.5-3 hours, and when we got there for the second load, there he was - standing in our pen with the 4-yr-old pregnant mare.
So.... surprise?
With 3 mares/foals and now this medical case, we are still needing donations now for extra care. We went a little over our normal purchase price on several this time, and ultimately brought home 8 horses, even if two are not born yet, so we can still use some help for the extra months of care they will need before they are ready for adoption. We are so grateful for your support in letting us help auction horses every month!
Oh, and we are accepting name suggestions! What do you think this little guy should be called?