Pedigree Query

Been doing research on how some farms prep their yearlings for the sales. Do the consignors know all the information on how the yearling was prepped? Do buyers ask these questions? Since there are several different ways of prepping; round pend work, ponying, hand walking ect. I would like to know exactly how much work was put into a potential purchase. Of course this comes into play with the conformation/bloodlines.

Any info would be appreciated!

BostonGal wrote:Been doing research on how some farms prep their yearlings for the sales. Do the consignors know all the information on how the yearling was prepped? Do buyers ask these questions? Since there are several different ways of prepping; round pend work, ponying, hand walking ect. I would like to know exactly how much work was put into a potential purchase. Of course this comes into play with the conformation/bloodlines.

Any info would be appreciated!

Myself? I couldn't care less how they are prepped as long as they behave during my examination of them. The horse will be going to the trainer forthwith, so it matters very little to me as it will have absolutely no bearing on future behaviour or ability. And that's what it's all about...future performance.

The questions I ask are about any surgeries and to whom the dam is currently bred. Then the decision is based mainly on pedigree and my first hand observation of the yearling in question, including but not limited to actually running my hands over the horse and watching the movement and assessing the conformation and finally having the xrays checked and if I'm still interested, having the horse scoped. If something is not right...you'll see it or the vet will. To some folks the conformation matters less...to others, more. For me, it's an accumulation of all that information in equal parts..

I guess one of my concerns is the reprecussions of taking a yearling who is used to 24/7 turnout, confining it to a stall and pumping full of grain and god knows what else to make them look like "little arnolds" . seeing some of these photos of the top priced yearlings, they look like little quarter horses! thats alot of load on those joints.

I suppose my best bet is just to raise my own and keep them fit and lean until they are ready to go to the trainer.

BostonGal wrote:I guess one of my concerns is the reprecussions of taking a yearling who is used to 24/7 turnout, confining it to a stall and pumping full of grain and god knows what else to make them look like "little arnolds" . seeing some of these photos of the top priced yearlings, they look like little quarter horses! thats alot of load on those joints.

I suppose my best bet is just to raise my own and keep them fit and lean until they are ready to go to the trainer.

The deal is that when you are buying and sending to the trainer...those issues will be addressed by the trainer. All of that really has little to do with whether the horse will perform when it is of age to perform. The trainer, if smart, which the good ones are, will have the youngster racing trim and fit. If you feel uncomfortable trusting your trainer to bring the youngster along, then you are right...do it yourself...or maybe get another trainer.

Boston Gal,
I think you have a valid point... I don't have anything in the way of proof or statistics, but I've always felt it can't be good to push a yearling's natural growth pattern along. I always wonder if some of those practices (growth hormones, etc.) can be linked to unsoundness issues later on in some horses... so I can understand your concern...

Good luck with your purchase!

BostonGal wrote:I guess one of my concerns is the reprecussions of taking a yearling who is used to 24/7 turnout, confining it to a stall and pumping full of grain and god knows what else to make them look like "little arnolds" . seeing some of these photos of the top priced yearlings, they look like little quarter horses! thats alot of load on those joints.

I suppose my best bet is just to raise my own and keep them fit and lean until they are ready to go to the trainer.

It's pretty easy to look at the yearlings and see which ones have been "over-prepped". Some consignors know (and will tell you) how a yearling was prepped, others won't. Most would probably consider the question superfluous. Easiest thing to do is simply bypass any that look like "little arnolds" to you. There will be plenty of others to choose from.

LB wrote:

BostonGal wrote:I guess one of my concerns is the reprecussions of taking a yearling who is used to 24/7 turnout, confining it to a stall and pumping full of grain and god knows what else to make them look like "little arnolds" . seeing some of these photos of the top priced yearlings, they look like little quarter horses! thats alot of load on those joints.

I suppose my best bet is just to raise my own and keep them fit and lean until they are ready to go to the trainer.

It's pretty easy to look at the yearlings and see which ones have been "over-prepped". Some consignors know (and will tell you) how a yearling was prepped, others won't. Most would probably consider the question superfluous. Easiest thing to do is simply bypass any that look like "little arnolds" to you. There will be plenty of others to choose from.

All very good points.

Thanks! Its nice to get different opinions. Havent had any opportunities to discuss my concerns or ideas about different aspects of racing/breeding until I was told about this website.

Anyone interested in racing thoroughbreds would be far better off wisely shopping the Keeneland sale with over 5,500 yearlings catalogued than to try to breed their own (this from a breeder who is totally disgusted with the sales right now and is thinking about changing directions).
The biggest concerns should be about drugs used and some surgeries. Whether they were handwalked, exercised in a round pen or eurociser doesn't make a hill of beans difference. Their behavior while showing is important as is their stall behavior. A yearling that can lay down at the sale and take a nap is a jewel. Logistics dictate that at some point in their lives, if they are going to be a racehorse, they must be stalled.
Clean x-rays? Grade A throat? Well mannered? Fits your conformation and physical criteria? Like the pedigree? Go for it!
I had zero days or nights spent in stalls over the winter for my babies and put them up for the day the beginning of summer. They are happy as little clams with their routine and are so quiet in the barn you wouldn't know they were in there. The yearlings I raise don't fall apart the day after the sale and make the transition to breaking and training with ease. Good luck!

cadaques wrote:Anyone interested in racing thoroughbreds would be far better off wisely shopping the Keeneland sale with over 5,500 yearlings catalogued than to try to breed their own (this from a breeder who is totally disgusted with the sales right now and is thinking about changing directions).
The biggest concerns should be about drugs used and some surgeries. Whether they were handwalked, exercised in a round pen or eurociser doesn't make a hill of beans difference. Their behavior while showing is important as is their stall behavior. A yearling that can lay down at the sale and take a nap is a jewel. Logistics dictate that at some point in their lives, if they are going to be a racehorse, they must be stalled.
Clean x-rays? Grade A throat? Well mannered? Fits your conformation and physical criteria? Like the pedigree? Go for it!
I had zero days or nights spent in stalls over the winter for my babies and put them up for the day the beginning of summer. They are happy as little clams with their routine and are so quiet in the barn you wouldn't know they were in there. The yearlings I raise don't fall apart the day after the sale and make the transition to breaking and training with ease. Good luck!

Well put. That's exactly what I was trying to say. But you did it so much better than I did.

cadaques wrote:I had zero days or nights spent in stalls over the winter for my babies and put them up for the day the beginning of summer.

That makes a big difference in their bone development... running around loose like that, playing, will stimulate bone to grow and increase density the natural way.

Roundpenning in a 60' round pen, for instance, puts a lot of undue stress on joints... I think it's great that you let them develop like that. They sound well-balanced mentally & physically...

Green Hills, I was more or less echoing what you had already said. Seems we are in agreement!
Skeenan, a yearling in a round pen with an unskilled horseman can be a disaster. There are few who have the skill and patience to use the pen well. I know of two - and I am not one of them! I just hand walk, lol....
and BostonGal, what I left out was that you are likely to get your yearling for the stud fee or less and save years of expenses carrying the mare, foal, weanling, yearling, Breeder's Cup nominations, Jockey Club registration, two sets of x-rays, and on and on...

cadaques wrote:Green Hills, I was more or less echoing what you had already said. Seems we are in agreement!
Skeenan, a yearling in a round pen with an unskilled horseman can be a disaster. There are few who have the skill and patience to use the pen well. I know of two - and I am not one of them! I just hand walk, lol....
and BostonGal, what I left out was that you are likely to get your yearling for the stud fee or less and save years of expenses carrying the mare, foal, weanling, yearling, Breeder's Cup nominations, Jockey Club registration, two sets of x-rays, and on and on...

Amen...about the cost of breeding and raising. We are sending this year one of the finest colts we've ever bred...hopefully we will recoup some of the costs. This colt is lovely and couldn't be more royally bred...Unbridled's Song x Voodoo Dancer (#227). We could keep him and race him...but he is probably worth more at the sale...of course, if we don't get what we know he's worth...then we can always race him ourselves.

But, the point is...it is sometimes easier and definitely more economical to buy a yearling than to breed and raise one.

WOW! A home run for sure Green Hills! At least $2, maybe $3 or $4...
Million, of course. And he will be sporting royal blue silks when it is all over...

Green Hills, I was more or less echoing what you had already said. Seems we are in agreement!
Skeenan, a yearling in a round pen with an unskilled horseman can be a disaster. There are few who have the skill and patience to use the pen well. I know of two - and I am not one of them! I just hand walk, lol....
and BostonGal, what I left out was that you are likely to get your yearling for the stud fee or less and save years of expenses carrying the mare, foal, weanling, yearling, Breeder's Cup nominations, Jockey Club registration, two sets of x-rays, and on and on...

That is one of the things that worries me about the prep. You wouldnt believe me if I told you that when I was 18 I was a working student at a farm in Kentucky where the trainer put these cement(yes cement at least 25 pnds!) saddles on these yearlings and put them in a 30 meter rnd pen for upto an hour (4-6 at a time). I could write a book of what NOT to do after working there when working with horses! needless to say I didnt last long at that place!