I think that the rancher initially said 18 and then the next e-mail where she had seen him said 20, so I'm guessing 20 is probably correct. I believe Barb has a contract that protect the horses, like a right to first refusal but probably not a lot of crazy wierd requirements like many rescues do. PM me and I'll give you her phone number, her internet has been up and down and not very reliable since that last blizzard. She rides, so she evaluates the horses under saddle, takes them out to help gather cattle or something similar. She also volunteers to ride them through the ring at the sale in hopes that it will attract a private buyer. There is also a "white" shetland pony with blue eyes that is needing a home, kids outgrew it and the owner wanted to shoot it so he doesn't have to feed it. Initially he just wanted to be rid of it and now I think he wants $50 or something. We're taking another smaller mini/pony up there from a similar situation.

"It's really quite amazing what a horse will do for you, if he only understands what you want. 
And it it's also quite amazing what a horse will do to you if he doesn't." ~ Bill Dorrance