Public service All horses from Ramiswil animal welfare case auctioned off
The Haflinger mare Caya is presented to interested parties by a member of the army.
Image: Keystone
The horses trotted along the demonstration course under the watchful eyes of an expert audience.
Image: Keystone
Happy ending for a Noriker foal that was bought at auction for 900 francs.
Image: Keystone
Two who have found each other.
Image: Keystone
The Haflinger mare Caya is presented to interested parties by a member of the army.
Image: Keystone
The horses trotted along the demonstration course under the watchful eyes of an expert audience.
Image: Keystone
Happy ending for a Noriker foal that was bought at auction for 900 francs.
Image: Keystone
Two who have found each other.
Image: Keystone
32 horses from an animal welfare case in Ramiswil, Solothurn, all found new owners at an auction in the Sand barracks in Bern on Wednesday.
26.11.2025, 09:01
26.11.2025, 13:05
SDA
Not all of the horses found buyers in the first round of the auction in cold, wet weather. The prices were set too high, grumbled someone here and there in the knowledgeable audience. It took a total of three rounds and price reductions before all the animals had found a place.
There was also a "happy ending" for a small, emaciated foal with bald patches in its coat. It was announced by the auctioneer for 400 francs.
An animal "that probably hasn't had many a good day in its life", as he called out to the crowd. Several bidders wanted the little animal, which in the end changed hands for 900 francs.
Horses of various breeds were auctioned off on Wednesday, including Freiberger, Haflinger, Curly Horses and Noriker. Foals were sold together with their mother mare. Bidding was in increments of one hundred francs. The auction took place at the Competence Center for Veterinary Services and Army Animals in the Sand barracks near Bern. After the confiscation, the army took care of the confiscated animals.
Canton Solothurn delighted
32 of the 43 horses confiscated from the Ramiswil livestock farm were offered for sale. Several horses were not auctioned off because their ownership was not clear or their state of health did not permit it. Others came from a special breeding program to preserve the breed.
Felix Schibli, head of the Solothurn Office for Agriculture, was pleased after the auction that all the animals had found new owners. A total of 53 bidders were on site on Wednesday. They had to register in advance and prove that they could care for the animals, as Schibli explained.
Schibli was not yet able to say exactly how much the canton of Solothurn had raised from the auction on Wednesday afternoon. He said that a cash balance had to be made first. The total estimated value of the animals was around 73,000 francs. According to Schibli, the proceeds achieved are likely to be a little less.
Schibli rejected the criticism that the estimates were too high. These had been quite realistic. The market is always tested with the estimated value. In the second and third rounds, the prices for the horses that had not yet been sold were then lowered. The canton of Solothurn also has an obligation to sell the horses as well as possible.
According to Schibli, the prices paid are "massively above the slaughter price", so that there is a guarantee that the animals will have a good future with their new owners and will be used.
During a farm clearance at the beginning of November, 43 horses and around 120 dogs as well as two goats were confiscated in Ramiswil. The dogs, including puppies, had to be euthanized.
