Last Saturday we were invited to help purchase 4 horses for friends. We left at 6:30 am for the town of Debre Zeit where we would meet two familes. We knew foreigners purchasing horses would be a dramatic experience as we tend to draw a large crowd in small towns. (Because of this, my friend Jakoba and I opted to stay at her home with the 5 youngest children of the group.)
We expected the purchasing to take about 2-3 hours. Last year horse prices were about $200 (4000Eb) but now they were quoting double the price. A “helpful” bystander encouraged our group to travel to the horse market only 15km away.
An hour later and 36km down a muddy track, our group arrived at the horse market. Not only were horses being sold but also cows, donkeys, sheep and goats. The number of people that gathered were so dense that the 1/2 a dozen horses could not even be seen
It proved to be an unfruitful drive. The crowd was calling out outrageous prices such as ($2500 or more) $55,000 birr!
A discouraged group returned to town realizing that the $400 price was looking much better. Horses would after all be purchased straight from cart drivers. The horses are worked hard carrying people or goods all day. They are often beaten and usually malnourished. The challenge was to find a healthy horse from a driver willing to sell.Cart drivers pulled over to offer their horses. People seemed confused as the horses teeth and hooves were looked at. One woman was bold enough to ask the question others were likely wondering. “Are you going to eat these horses?” Gasp. No they are for riding.
Horses were then detached from carts, ridden and observed for good behavior.
9 hours later, three horses had been purchased and transported on the back of an Isuzu transport truck.
By the end, the crowd had grown in number and young men were demanding money for “helping”. (This is a normal experience.) Just as the final arrangements were made, our friend Chantelle's phone was stolen deflating everyone's previous enthusiasm.
So while 2 members of the group hitched a ride with the transport truck to our friends' farm to unload the horses, Jakoba and I took 12 children out for supper while Rolf took Chantelle to the police station to report the stolen phone. The suspects were questioned in the van and placed in custody. Just as we were about to head back to Chantelle's home (45 min away), the phone was found! It had been placed between the seats during questioning.
We had a lively evening recounting the adventures of the day. Early the next morning, the 3 new horses were fed, ridden and loved. Their coming days will be quite different than their past years. Despite the hours surrounded by people looking and touching our children's hair, they said that the horse shopping adventure was a whole lot of fun!
The next day was spent cuddling with new baby goats.
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