Project: New Holland with P.E.R
My first trip to New Holland was an eye opening one. We first went down because my parents were trailering horses for AC4H and we were meeting them at New Holland Auction House. It was a Monday , rainy and cold. We left Maine around 11 pm on Sunday and arrived at the auction house around 7am. Just as the tack venders show up to set up their booths, and the food venders start serving coffee. There are already livestock in the auction house, as well as some horses.
We walked through.. it’s a sudden sadness. it’s the look in the eyes of the horses who are not feeling well, the ones who are cold, and the ones who are lost souls… The sound of bellowing cows to the young calf’s, and the return screams for their mothers…
There is a section of the auction house for sheep, goats and a bigger section for pigs. Their screams and the sound of electric prods’ will haunt anyone.
Once the horses start to arrive it’s a sight to be seen. They arrive in big rigs, with 10-20 of them, or private owners with just 1 or 2, and the Amish come with their buggies and a horse running beside them. I have even seen a "rescue" trailer pull up and unload a few horses..
Then you see the private trailers show up, people looking to buy a horse or two… some looking to buy a few horses and make a few bucks at another auction.. Some looking for personal use.
The rescue groups show up shortly after, you can almost always pick them out. I’ve met a lot of them, some looking for just a certain breed, a certain quality, some just looking to save a few lives. I even met a lady who just goes to buy the sickest, and give them a peaceful end.
The auction moves fast, sometimes to fast. You can pick the kill buyers out, some even have their own shirts! ( trust me it was a sight..) Its hard.. To see them run horses through that shouldn’t be run through… some with broken legs and some so pregnant they cant MOVE. It only takes one auction before you wish you were a millionaire and have 1000’s of acres of land. I’ve been brought to tears because I just didn’t have enough money or enough space to pull them all…
The Break Down
If you want to make the trip, Heres some information for you :)
Food in that area is very cheap, so don’t plan on much. There’s an Amish breakfast place where you can get a big breakfast, for about $3.00.
The auction is around 7am to give the people who have never been, time to look around, take pictures, and become vegetarians… I’m serious, after this trip, you will be…..
You will then walk through the barn, looking at everything! Looking over everyone… I always walked around caring hay around with me, giving it to those who can reach theirs or don’t have any. I also usually go with POCKETS full of sugar cubes… one little second of happiness for those who didn’t have such a good life.. Or may not get a good end.
The ONE good thing about New Holland, is that there are venders who park outside the auction and sell, tack, and misc barn goods for VERY , VERY cheap prices ( $1.50 swat), so if you need anything, bring a little extra for that.
Food all day ( if you have a stomach to eat) will be very cheap… $10 might get you through the whole day.
You'll go get our bidding numbers in the office, which might I say, is a WHOLE NEW world. The auction is dirty, noisy, smelly, awful, dark.. The office is BRAND new CLEAN, bright, cheery, colorful, flowers, elevator music and all….its un-real….
The sale starts at 10am - Pleasure horses( the one they can ride though) first, then drafts, ponies, minis, donkeys, and then the ones who they can ride… ether cause they are not trained or because … well sick, old, unwanted…
The auction takes cash, check if your FROM PA, and credit card…. I don’t suggest bringing one if you don’t want to max it.
If you get a horse ( or something 
) The vet is right there to do a coggins, health certificate and any shots you may want for them. The coggins is $20 and the health certificate is $50 , any shots you may want ( rabies- 5in1- Equine. - Rhino) are like $10-15 each, so plan for that too. The coggins test take 2 hours… which is FAST so, as soon as you get a purchase, and there’s a biding break, go and get them going on the horse. So your not sitting there till midnight waiting.. ( they’ve got 300 horses to process, it can be long.)
If you should want to DONATE to the cause - Please contact me at Cowgirl101786@yahoo.com for a mail in or make a donation to pay pal here… all donations are strictly for Phoenix Rising Equine Rescue, we are not a 501c , so its not a tax write off, not yet anyway ;)
PLEASE see fund raising page for current fund raising projects!! Thank you!!!