Demand Grows for Draft Cross Horses Ahead of Waverly Auction

The Midwest event will feature hundreds of horses and offer nationwide bidding access to participants

WAVERLY, IOWA (RFD NEWS) — There has been an upswing in demand for draft cross horses with buyers being drawn to their gentle nature and effectiveness for trail riding. Next week, the Waverly Midwest Horse Auction will feature 800 horses total, with more than 300 high-quality draft cross horses.

Leon Martin, company owner and president of Waverly Sales Company, joined us on Friday’s Market Day Report to offer a glimpse of what’s to come for the upcoming event.

In his conversation with RFD News, Martin discussed who the ideal candidate would be for the horses and why they are growing in popularity.

“They’re for a person that’s looking for a gentle, quiet-natured horse that’s stout and has a lot of energy and ability, especially out west in the mountains,” Martin said, “They’re just very quiet with that draft blood in them. They’re just fun to be around.”

The auction also has an in-house bidding platform that allows for remote participation.

“This allows people who are not able to be here to participate in the auction. There’s full video streaming of the auction,” Martin continued, “You’ll be able to hear the auctioneer calling animals. Hear the commentary about the animal and bid on them. We have a Coast-to-Coast audience, and we really enjoy that.”

Martin says that care for the purchased horse, as well as pickup or shipping, can be arranged afterward, regardless of location.

Related Stories
An outbreak of Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 (EHV-1) first appeared after livestock events in Texas and Arizona, and some horses have already died.
Feel the earth move as beautiful Belgians, powerful Percherons, and classic Clydesdales thunder into the arena!
Pull out the popcorn! We’ve rounded up the 10 best cowboy movies of all time.
FFA education inspires Chelsey Keiser to become the first female horse jockey.
Bright Star Ranch continues to offer hope, connection, and healing through its equine therapy programs.
With the latest detection just across the border, animal health officials on both sides are intensifying efforts to contain the outbreak before it spreads further north.

Rural Lifestyle & Entertainment Shows
SharkFarmer TV is the brainchild of Rob Sharkey, a 5th-generation farmer from Illinois. He shares the stories of incredible people in agriculture—both their successes and perhaps a few blunders along the way. You’ll see aerial footage of the field just as the drone crashes into a barn—and hear the story behind it all.
“America’s Gospel Music” presents the nation’s premiere Gospel Music artists live in concert from The Wonders Center in Dickson, Tennessee.
Presented by Lehman’s & Farm Show Magazine, join us for the best in Cajun Cookin’ with the master cook, Mr. Justin Wilson, as he tells funny Cajun stories and demonstrates the Cajun way of cooking up some WILD GAME, CHICKEN, BEEF, SEAFOOD & PORK. I Garontee!
In the harsh Australian Outback, water drillers Danyelle and Anthony Haigh give up their nomadic life of searching for water for cattle ranches, to offer their two sons, Heath and Theo, a more settled life. They swap water drilling for something they’ve never done before – farming.
Hosted by Emmy Award-winning journalist Tanji Patton, “Goodtaste with Tanji” focuses on chefs and popular dishes from restaurants across the culinary spectrum, along with wines, cocktails, and spirits, too. As a travelogue, the show visits restaurants, diners, and eateries across the Lone Star State in fun and adventurous settings, plus the program occasionally travels to neighboring states like Louisiana and New Mexico. In addition, the show educates viewers on wine pairings and value buys available in current wine trends.