Bloodstock: The people that handle our yearlings at the sales can make or break them If you walk around any yearling sale your eye will be filled with immaculately turned out animals, prepared and presented to potential purchasers from all over the globe. Behind all the show sheen, baby oil and Vicks is a conversation that has been quietly bubbling away for sometime. It’s not about sires, medians or averages. It’s about welfare and the staff who can make or break a yearling. Modern forms of torture We are operating in an era of increasing public scrutiny. Mobile phones, social media and all other modern forms of torture. Every aspect of how we breed, produce and sell our stock is under the microscope. The sales complex is no exception. Purchasers still expect professionally produced stock but not at the expense of the animals welfare. Most vendors would agree that both fall under the same banner, good welfare and good preparation are the same thing. You can not have one without the other. A yearling that has been allowed to be as ‘natural’ as possible in its development, has been handled patiently and conditioned at a sensible rate usually performs best when asked. Educated yearlings generally walk well. Horses in good health will hold their condition. Mental preparation In my opinion, mental preparation is as important as the physical aspect. Our foals have their feet picked up from the first week of their lives so they are well and truly used to human interaction by the time yearling preparation arrives. They are always led, we don’t let our foals just follow their mothers to and from the field. They are encouraged to be forward from the beginning. They are all given stable names and treated as individuals, whether they are permanent boarders or just seasonal. I am a firm believer that you can give a horse all the tools it needs to handle a sales experience if you are consistent from the beginning. Commercial pressure Commercial pressure is a whole different ballgame though. It has never been more expensive to prepare a horse for a sale. Feed costs are high, veterinary costs are through the roof and entry fees are downright ridiculous. Every vendor wants to be selling the very best but where do we draw the line between excellent preparation and over preparation? Any good horseman or woman knows the answer. The yearlings that are best prepared are not carrying excess condition. Yes, I do mean weight. They are yearlings that are athletic, moving freely and mentally capable of taking the sales experience in their stride. They are healthy and confident. That should be the aim. As we know, welfare is beyond the physical. For some yearlings, a sale will be its first time being transported, its first time away from its home place and the first time it has been handled by different people. Sales staff The people that handle our yearlings at the sales can make or break them. These people hold the power and can ensure that our yearlings have a good experience and are well prepared to go into a pre-training yard. Great horsemanship is essential and we are truly blessed to have the quality of horsemen and women that we do. The vendors that operate with this approach deserve to be recognised because it’s not just good salesmanship, it’s good welfare and good horsemanship. As we head into another sales season let’s notice the vendors and their staff who go above and beyond to ensure the welfare of their horses is at the forefront of their operation. Let's compliment the vendors whose yearlings have a good outlook, who walked, looked relaxed and happy going about their business in a busy sales complex. Watch our new show The Jockey Angle in full Race replays are FREE to watch from all Irish tracks and a selection of premier British tracks sponsored by William Hill.
