Amish equestrian auction see lure horse fans from all across US

Amish from all over US congregate at Harrisburg to buy and sell their massive draft horses and magnificent harness horses. (Photo: AP)

An auctioneer, left, solicits bids as a draft horse is walked in front of prospective buyers at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex.

The first major horse sale of the year also draws non-Amish horse fans, lured by the "Cadillac" quality of the animals, and vendors of everything from saddles to buggies to custom-made harnesses.

A man braids a horse's tail before it is presented at an auction. About 500 horses were up for sale this year.

The public auction was held this year Jan. 16 and 17. It's actually three sales rolled into one, offering draft horses for use in the fields, harness horses and a separate Morgan horse sale.

Young women prepare a horse for presentation before an auction at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex.

Horses occupy their stalls as people gather for a Tack sale at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex.

Harness horses Muscle Man, left, and My Way The Highway, right, of Dundee, Ohio, stand in their stalls during a horse auction at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex.