I grew up in stock horses but am now far removed.
Well it sounds like it’s going to be a very high value auction.
Comments say they have changed focus to digital things, covering events, etc. Don’t need horses anymore. Perhaps the person/people supporting the horse program retired, lost their job or was not showing the % of return for money spent, or a fast enough return on the spending. Horses take time, growing up, getting trained and showing, which can’t be speeded up much. Maybe they need the cash infusion selling such big-name horses will bring.
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While I’m not sure this helps, the conglomerate has been on a press tour for months, flooding the zone with announcements about new projects celebrating the so-called Western Lifestyle. My fairly bland algorithm shows me mostly press releases.
It looks as if only Variety made a few querying phone calls:
Side note: I’m thinking Larry McMurtry is spinning in his grave despite the fact that Teton Ridge paid his estate – whatever entity that is now that he’s dead – a large-ish amount of money for the Lonesome Dove franchise.
My next question, is how do newly-minted tax breaks for the uber-wealthy and corporations combine with predicted horse-industry tax loophole closings? Maybe the powers that be at TR didn’t feel like doing that math and decided to buy a few mega-yachts instead.
Unless some of their various businesses show up in a Panama Papers-esque disclosure of bad financial actors, we’re unlikely to know what their motivations are for auctioning off their live assets, i.e., besides the obvious.
Impact as far as what?
I don’t know. I am fairly far removed from the world of western events and rodeo. I’ve seen some stir about their impact on The American (rodeo event) over the last couple of years, some concern their interest inflated the price of performance horses, etc etc… I am just curious and interested in hearing from folks more involved in the western sports.
I don’t think it will have much more impact than it already has. The increase attention on the western performance industry has already driven up prices - especially for the mid to high end. The lower end horses haven’t gone up in value, just their price has inflated due to what the owners see other horses selling for. I think the mares they are selling will go to other farms of similar status and will be priced higher than most smaller breeders will be able to afford.
I suspect All Spice and Twice In Santiago to be the high sellers. I’m curious to see if the stallions stay US owned.
This isn’t the first person with money to jump into the deep end then realize they can’t buy their way to the winners circle and sell. They just did it the loudest in recent memory.
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Good grief, I’ve been out of the loop too long, I’ve never heard of Teton Ridge…
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Me either. I had to type it in the Google, as my mom used to say.
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