Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com
Published - Saturday, April 08, 2006
Horse, mule sale kicks into gear
 Tim Christopher, a mule trainer from Decorah, Iowa waits outside the auction barn Friday at the Houston County Fairgrounds in Caledonia. Minn. during the Horse and Mule Sale. Christopher was selling a pair of Belgian Mules for some friends. PETER THOMSON photo |
CALEDONIA, Minn. — Maggie tugged on an orange string until it came loose, rattling her pen.
CJ looked up from his hay, stretching his long neck, to see what was making the commotion.
George’s ears perked, but he kept his cool, hanging out with Jolene.
“Hello,” Martin Ranzen-berger said to Maggie as he made his way through the selection of horses available at the Tri-State Horse and Mule Sale on Friday afternoon.
“There’s a lot of nice big ones here,” Ranzenberger said of the sale’s selection.
But the 76-year-old Houston County man wasn’t looking to take anyone home.
Little Red already is there, waiting for him. Ranzenberger received the miniature horse as a birthday gift last year.
Little Red eats a lot and spends time with a large, 350-pound goat. “It’s a regular pet,” he said.
Sale organizer Randy Myhre said about 550 horses and mules — from miniature to draft size, fit for saddle or driving — will be sold during the three-day event at the Houston County Fairgrounds in Caledonia.
People come from throughout the United States and Canada to buy and sell horses, Myhre said. The sale is held twice a year, in the spring and fall.
Myhre took over the sale six years ago, and said in its more than 20-year history, it has also been in Waukon, Iowa, and Spring Grove, Minn.
The market has been good this year, and horses are selling, Myhre said.
Tony and Lance were being primped by Lori Meyer for their time in the auction ring.
She climbed a tall stool to reach the Belgians’ manes and began wrapping their hair as if they were entering a show.
“We’ve got too many horses,” said Kurt Meyer, Lori’s husband, adding about 20 Belgians are owned by the Meyers and Kurt’s father.
The Meyers, of Loyal, Wis., decided to bring the two because Tony, at age 10, is getting older and Lance wasn’t working out with his harness partner.
Meyer said he’d only buy “if they’re cheap enough and these two go.
“But that wouldn’t help out with having too many,” he said.
Crackers, Star and Jack were ready for new homes as well.
After years of pulling wagon in parades for Jerry Scheibel, the trio would be leaving with someone else.
“I’ve had them for awhile and kind of used them up,” said Scheibel of New Ulm, Minn. “It’s time to let someone else have a turn.”
Autumn Grooms can be reached at (608) 791-8424, or agrooms@lacrossetribune.com.
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