Local auctioneer sells off the ponies

Cowboys or cowgirls needing new rides didn't go to a car lot this weekend - instead they staked out a horse auction, but not just any one.

The Main Event Horse Auction, put on by world champion winning auctioneer Rick Machado of Arroyo Grande, at the Santa Maria Fairpark, drew buyers and sellers alike. This was the 10th edition of the event, which elicits praise for high-quality equines and honest assessments.

During the day Saturday, would-be buyers got to see horses put through the paces around the arena - showing off heeling, heading, barrel racing and other skills - before Saturday night's auction. The event wraps up today with a team roping competition that begins at 7:30 a.m. at the fairpark.

Armed with auction guides spelling out horses' abilities and quirks, those seeking to acquire a new animal kept eyes on the arena as announcers rattled off blood lines, capabilities and personalities about each animal. Occasionally spectators scribbled notes about a horse.

Phillip Brown traveled from Porterville in the San Joaquin Valley in hopes of acquiring a new horse, after getting one last year he called “outstanding.”.

“They probably have the best selection of horses in one place on an annual basis,” Brown said.

Horses up for auction have come from working ranches, rather than simply going through barn training, he said. They also have solid lineage, rather than coming from backyard breeding.

The 91 horses up for grabs featured a wide range of capabilities and experience.

“There's a good cross section of quality for us,” said Brown, who sought a horse of about 9 years old for team roping. “I think there's about four which would meet what we need. Then there's the matter of can we afford it or not.”

Nearby, Grover Beach residents Betty Carroll and Craig Rulison watched as another rider showed off a different horse.

They had purchased past horses from the auction, including one he called “fantastic.”

Rulison said a few of the horses piqued his interest as having the right training and skills to help out on their ranch near Alturas.

“There's some that too much; there's some that not enough,” he added.

“That's the trick is finding one that's fully cooked and dependable,” she added.

In the stands, cowboys and cowgirls walked with boot spurs clinking as the announcer explained scars on one horse or that another needed to new owner because the teen rider has simply outgrown the delicate white horse.

“He is a pretty son of a gun,” the announcer said as “Take Me Back to Texas” galloped in the arena.

One by one, bay mares, chestnut mares, sorrel geldings, gray gelding and others sporting names such as “Beep Beep Ima Jeep,” “Guns n Rosie,” or “Mee A. Masterpiece” showed off skills at the event touted as the largest sale of performance and pleasure horses in the Western United States.

The horses were expected to sell for between $5,000 and $25,000 in an auction scheduled to end late Saturday night.

Rain began falling Saturday afternoon but didn't interfere.

“We're rolling,” Machado said, just prior to kicking off bidding.

Janene Scully can be reached at 739-2214 or janscully@santamariatimes.com

October 28, 2007