Their conditions vary greatly. Some horses are in excellent health, with beautiful coats, hooves, and manes that are well-maintained. Sometimes their owners are present, fussing over them and looking for buyers that will provide good homes. Others have been trucked to auction by anonymous haulers from farms where they received little to no care. Oftentimes, these horses suffer from extreme neglect.
Starvation is the most common and obvious affliction seen in horses at auctions.
In fact, it is difficult to visit a horse auction and not discover horses with hip bones and ribs so visible the animals look like skeletons. A horse might not be given food or water for days at auction and during transport to the slaughterhouse. The reasons are varied. Some people do not realize the responsibility, cost, or time involved in caring for horses. Owners may not be aware of the horse's specialized requirements, nor can they afford proper veterinary care.