Investigation Report: Missouri Horse Auction at Mountain Grove Wright County Livestock Auction (Mountain Grove, Missouri)

Location: Mountain Grove Wright County Livestock Auction, Mountain Grove, Missouri

Auction Schedule: Horse sale, second Friday of each month at 7:00 PM

Auction Owners/Managers: Clell Osburn and Dwight Glossip

Veterinary Services Observed: Ozark Mountain Veterinary Clinic (Mountain Grove, Missouri)

Overview

As part of Animals’ Angels’ ongoing monitoring of horse auctions across Missouri — a state that has become a significant hub in the U.S. horse slaughter pipeline — investigators visited the Missouri Horse Auction at Mountain Grove Wright County Livestock Auction.

This auction appears to primarily handle riding and working horses and generally attracts higher sale prices than auctions typically associated with slaughter buyers. During the observed sale, investigators documented animal conditions, auction procedures, and buyer activity.

Investigation Observations

Arrival: 5:50 PM
Temperature: 65°F
Animals Present: ~50 horses, ~10 cows

Veterinary staff from Ozark Mountain Veterinary Clinic were present inside the facility and were observed conducting Coggins tests and administering vaccinations.

Prior to the sale, horses did not have access to food or water in the holding pens. Animals that had been sold were later provided access to water.

Sale Activity

Horse Sale Start: 7:20 PM
Horse Sale End: 9:45 PM

The majority of horses offered appeared to be riding or working horses, and many owners were present during the sale.

Notable Horses

• #4073 – Mare (Red Tag): Cut observed above the eye. The mare was squinting slightly but did not appear significantly distressed. Sold for $650.

Average sale prices observed:

• Mares: $1,800 – $2,500
• Geldings: $1,500 – $2,500
• Some mares sold for as much as $10,000.

Auction employees handled horses appropriately, and no excessive use of sticks or force was observed.

Handling of the horses during the event appeared acceptable. Water was available.

Horses Previously Documented at TS White Auction

Two Belgian Draft horses previously documented by Animals’ Angels investigators at the TS White Auction were also present at this sale.

• Tag #7255 → White tag MOHA 0517
• Tag #7256 → White tag MOHA 0518

The two horses were sold together for $1,400 each to a buyer identified as “Blake.”

Additional Observations

Approximately five horses did not receive numbered auction tags for unknown reasons. These horses instead carried red and white Coggins tags issued by the attending veterinarian.

They were sold at the end of the auction after the numbered horses had passed through the ring.

Investigators did not observe known kill buyers during this sale.

Conclusion and Next Steps

The Missouri Horse Auction at Mountain Grove Wright County Livestock Auction appears to function primarily as a local market for riding and working horses, with higher average prices than typically seen at auctions that attract large numbers of slaughter buyers.

During the visit, handling appeared appropriate and overall conditions for the animals were adequate.

Animals’ Angels will continue monitoring auctions across Missouri as part of its broader effort to track horse movement within regional auction networks and identify points where horses may enter the slaughter pipeline.