About 30 miniature horses from Gettysburg’s Land of Little Horses were sold Saturday in a widely watched auction that drew thousands of bids and generated hundreds of thousands of dollars following the farm’s decision to close.
Dozens of animals — including miniature horses, full-size horses, ponies, donkeys, and bulls — were auctioned Feb. 28 after the longtime children’s farm and performing animal park announced in December that it would not reopen this spring. The owners cited retirement in a Facebook post.
The sale, hosted by Gettysburg auctioneer Larry Swartz and conducted both in person and online, attracted bidders from across the country. Interest extended far beyond Pennsylvania, with breeders and horse enthusiasts participating from states including Florida and Hawaii.
One of the top-selling animals was Billy, a 19-year-old all-white miniature horse known for his flowing mane and performance training. Billy received 207 bids before selling for $26,500. His listing described him as trained in liberty work, accustomed to working with children and previously used as a therapy horse.
Other high-selling miniature horses included Breezy, which brought $13,000, and Titan, which sold for $8,900. Lily and Posie, a bonded pair of miniature donkeys, sold together for $9,850.
Miniature horses typically weigh between 150 and 350 pounds and are often used as therapy and guide animals. They also compete in performance-based competitions and are prized for their manageable size and temperament.
Beyond the animals, equipment and vehicles from the farm also generated strong interest. A skid steer topped the auction overall, selling for $36,000 after 176 bids. A Polaris Ranger six-seater brought $14,500 following 179 bids. Other items included heavy machinery, a truck, a motorcycle, four-wheelers, campers and trailers, farming equipment and decorative pieces from the park.
Community members had expressed concern ahead of the sale that unsold horses could face slaughter if buyers did not materialize. Auction officials were confident that the animals would find new homes. By Saturday evening, nearly every listed lot had a final sale price, with only one item — a pair of wooden tombstones — going unsold after receiving a single bid.
The auction marked the end of an era for a Gettysburg attraction that has entertained generations of families. Founded in 1971 by merchant mariners Tony Garulo and Stu Erickson, Land of Little Horses began after the pair imported 25 miniature horses from the Falabella family of Argentina, renowned breeders of the diminutive animals. What started as a breeding operation evolved into a children’s farm and performing animal park that became a fixture in Adams County tourism for more than five decades.
Source: Penn Live