HORSE TRADERS

 

Horse Traders: is that a bad thing?

Every time I hear someone talk about horse traders or horse flippers it's with a negative connotation, but is that the case? Are all horse traders or horse flippers bad people just looking to make a quick buck without caring for the horse?

Like everything in the equine industry, or any other industry for that matter, there are the bad people who are unscrupulous and don't care if people, or animals, get hurt as long as it doesn't hurt their bottom line. But are all horse traders like this? And what's the definition of a horse trader? 

Let's define horse trader first, then break it down. 

Horse trading in its literal sense is the buying and selling of horses. Also referred to as horse dealing or horse flipping. As it's a job to make money, the goal is to buy them at a low price then sell them at a higher price. Over time, as many people doing this found themselves able to make more money by being unethical or dishonest this became a metaphor for underhanded business practices. 

Because of this widespread usage of the term "horse trading" which is even used in politics for the dishonest way politicians trade votes. Overall, the term connotes dishonesty and underhanded business practices. 

If we work off of this definition only then it would stand to reason that the modern day horse trader does the same, but are there people who buy horses, put some time and effort into them, then sell them at a higher price? Surely we can agree that if someone is honest about the horses and puts the time and effort into rising the value of the horse by giving them additional training, medical care, farrier care, or whatever the horse may need then they don't deserve to have this negative derision association with the term horse trader...but then what do we call them? 

Essentially the job is still buying and selling horses, and they're not rescuing them...and while making a profit for themselves they still are caring about the horses, helping to make their lives better and setting them up for success while also helping people purchase horses they want and need. Is it fair that they are lumped in with people who lie about the horses, do no bettering of the horse's life, and put people in potentially dangerous situations?

I think this is a conversation worth having in the horse industry. I think there is a place for horse dealers in the industry as a career, especially those that train, rehab, and set up the horses that come through their barn for success as well as provide a valuable service for those who are horse shopping. 

Thoughts?

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