Des,
Very good point you made about standing behind a product.
I think the same thing applies whether you are talking about horses/dogs/etc. With the exception being, that I figure every time you buy something at auction it is buyer beware. Very different from private treaty transactions.
People also get wrapped up in what we call "white fence syndrome", just because a place has manicured pastures, and pretty white fences, does not mean they have quality livestock. I went to a well known ranch that produces cutting horses, and some ranch horses, and was heavily involved in Brahman/Brangus/Angus production. Beautiful facilities, sale barn on site, top notch vet clinic site, with 4 full time vets. Rode around in the truck all day with the foreman, and a BIG binder of registration papers, and I could not find a single horse that I would feed. Much less pay money to purchase. Des, you know the ranch I am talking about...
Truth is two of the best horses I have ever owned came from straight up horse traders, selling at the Saturday night horse sales. I think just due to the sheer numbers involved, they come across some real jewels occasionally.
I have also hauled horses for people from the Havard sale several times.
http://www.havardsales.com/Sometimes the horses were junk, other times there were some really nice horses. Used to take a horse to the Saturday sale just to prep them for the Havard sale. Same horse that might bring 1200-1500 at the Saturday sale, would bring 2500-3000 the next weekend at the Havard sale. The horse did not change, just the venue. Much like white fence syndrome, people think they are getting a better quality product because of where it is being sold, not what is actually being sold. :
