🐴 Pledge of Quality for Horses

All purchases of animals and used goods carry inherent risk. While all items and animals are sold as-is, where-is, with any warranties or guarantees made strictly between the buyer and seller, Murphy’s Livestock Auction has policies in place to mitigate misrepresentation relating to horse soundness and health.

Our mission is to provide a fair, honest, and transparent marketplace. To support this, all sellers must declare in advance how their horse will be represented. We offer two representation options:

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🟢 Personally Guaranteed Sound by the Seller (No Pre-Purchase Exam Provided)

Definition:

The seller personally guarantees the horse to be sound at the time of sale, without submitting a veterinarian’s exam in advance.

Buyer Dispute Rights:

✅ Disputes are allowed, provided the following conditions are met:

•Minimum Value Requirement: This guarantee applies only to horses sold for $2,000 or more. Horses selling for less than $2,000 are considered as-is, regardless of statements made from the auction block or in the catalog.

•Veterinary Report Encouraged: Buyers are strongly encouraged to have the horse examined by a licensed veterinarian. To support a dispute, a written soundness report must be submitted by 4:59 PM on the Tuesday following the auction.

•Auction House Discretion Applies:

The horse does not need to remain on auction property. However, removal may limit the ability to support a dispute, as the auction house cannot verify changes in condition post-departure.

Murphy’s Livestock Auction retains full authority to make the final decision, with or without a veterinary report, in cases where misrepresentation is clear or well supported. All decisions are final.

•How Soundness is Judged by most vets:

The auction house will weigh multiple factors, including buyer and seller statements, vet findings, how the horse was advertised, and while a veterinarian’s report is the standard for evaluating soundness claims, the auction house reserves the right to make a final determination with or without a vet report in cases of clear or well-documented misrepresentation. All decisions will be based on a combination of factors including veterinary findings, buyer and seller statements, evidence provided, and firsthand observation.

•If the Dispute is Upheld:

The sale will be voided, the horse returned to the seller, and the buyer refunded in full.

•Buyer Pays Dispute Costs:

The buyer is responsible for any veterinary costs and board fees incurred during the dispute process. (Boarding: $12/day as listed on our fees page.)

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🟡 Sold As-Is with History Provided by Seller or Representative

Definition:

A horse may or may not be sound and can be represented as such without guarantee. If you’ve been to a horse auction before, this is how the average horse is sold.

Buyer Dispute Rights:

❌ No disputes allowed. The horse is sold as-is, with no guarantee of soundness or fitness.

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🚨 Drugging Claims (Applies to All Horses)

If you suspect your horse was drugged with an undeclared substance, you must take the following steps:

1.Immediately notify the auction house.

2.A sample must be pulled by a licensed veterinarian within 48 hours of the sale’s start time.

3.Provide documentation and veterinarian contact information showing that testing has been ordered.

4.Share test results and supporting materials with the auction house for the case to be reviewed.

If the test is positive:

•The sale is voided

•The horse is returned to the seller

•The buyer is refunded in full

•The seller may face a permanent auction ban

If the test is negative:

•The sale stands

•The seller is paid in full

•The matter is considered closed