All the mares sold as broodmares prospects (or who are open for some other reason) are examined for breeding soundness pre-sale. As soon as a mare is purchased and before she leaves the sales grounds most buyers have a repro vet (there are numerous on-site) do an exam as well. If something is wrong, the mare can be turned back.
We were once hoping to buy a 6 year old mare coming off the track. Due to her age, we asked and received permission, to have our own repro vet examine her before she went through the ring.
The repositories are for xrays, no ultrasounds for in-foal mares. But like broodmare prospects, those mare are also examined pre-sale and nearly all buyers have their purchases examined post sale (on the sales ground) to ensure that they are still in foal. Again, if she is not, she can be returned.
^^^^ Thank you for that explanation! Yes, I did listen to the opening remarks of both sales and the announcer stressed several times the importance of post-sale exams taking place on the sales ground.
I have always been impressed with the grooming you see at these sales. They all look spectacular.
I noticed a fair number of the dark bays had a lot of âgolden highlightsâ in their manes and tails. Is this the effect of the ring lights, some sort of cosmetic enhancement, or just sun-bleaching because these ladies have been living outside a lot?
Iâm guessing you must be seeing a reflection from the lights? The sales prep for these mares starts six weeks out (longer for yearlings) and they do look fantastic at the sales. It would be very unusual to see sun bleaching. As for cosmetic enhancements, they occur sometimes, but I donât think anyone is adding golden highlights.
the American Pharoah weanlings are some of the nicest group of babies I have seen in a long while. Beautiful shoulders, strong hind ends, great quality of bone, beautiful feet and pastern angles, extreme balance; just like Dad. I would be happy to own any of them that walk through the ring at the sales this fall.
Adding a bit to LaurieBâs post. Depends on how the horse is cataloged. If is says âBroodmare prospectâ at the bottom of the sales page the buyer is covered to a certain extent by the Conditions of Sale under broodmare prospects. Which goes into detail what is covered, âguaranteedâ and what is not. Most buyers if not all regardless of purchase price will have the mare checked for âbreeding soundnessâ BEFORE the mare leaves the sales grounds.
If the mare/filly says Broodmare prospect and Racing prospect there are conditions of sale that cover both. Thatâs not to say that a mare/filly cataloged just as a âBroodmare prospectâ is not suitable for racing also. Some sellers would rather not add the additional âburden and expense of proofâ that the mare/filly is âracing soundâ under the conditions of sale. Itâs a bit subjective anyway and can lead to disputes after the fact. Theyâll leave it up to the buyer to do their due diligence as to future racing soundness.
All mares cataloged as âPregnantâ have to have a preg check X days before shipping to the sale. The seller has to give the sales company a vet cert saying the mare was checked on X date and found to be pregnant. The âlabelâ used to say âIn Foalâ as did the Bid Board. But years back there was some legal litigation as to what the definition of âin-foalâ meant. I forget the exact details. So it was changed to âPregnantâ to appease the lawyers.
Regardless of what the catalog page says it is important to listen to ALL of the announcements from the auctioneer when the horse steps into the ring before the bidding starts. Mare, horses are cataloged long before the book is finalized and printed. Just because it says the mare is pregnant to X stallion at the time of entry. Does not guarantee she still is when going into the ring after being checked before shipping to the sale.
I would like to think all mares buyers pay to have a preg check shortly after buying and or BEFORE the mare leaves the sales grounds.
The seller may have changed their mind as to offering as a broodmare prospect and or racing prospect for what ever reason. Some sellers may add the sales warranty of being sold as a âracing prospectâ also. Most buyers see the mares/horses at the barn before buying anyway and are told if anything has changed. But some of us âhorse tradersâ looking for âbargainsâ just âworkâ the back walking ring and shoot from the hip bidding from the back when we see a horse we think is undervalued.
This can be risky business if we donât hear the announcements if there were any. Best to have a partner, team member whoâs sole job is to sit in the auction ring side and listen to the announcements. So we can quickly check with them and get a thumps up or down.
Itâs not sun-bleaching unless the horses were some sort of last minute addition which is highly doubtful at this very high end sale. The consignment I worked for in October had a filly added one week out and she was sunbleached due to being totally not sales prepped and thus allowed all day turnout.
I think what youâre seeing is genetic. Iâve just this fall seen two horses of this nature. One was sold as a yearling by Black Fox Farm, not sure of the breeding but it was a dark horse with distinct blond streaks. The other was a 3 year old running at Laurel- same thing with very light hairs in the lower half of the tail. The mane was all dark.
I know that there were a number of mares sold in foal to California Chrome and that was a discount offered by Taylor Made for a rebreeding if the mare lost the foal. I didnât follow too much of the sale and am curious as to what kind of prices these mares brought.
I also thought that the Pharoah weanlings looked good, despite the fact that this is an awkward age for foals. Now we have to wait and see if they can run (and also see what sort of prices they bring as yearlings).
Question on buying a mare known to be barren (in mind specifically Fools In Love hammering at $1M barren).
Any recourse if she end up never getting in foal again (I am assuming not but)? (Sheâs had 3 fairly successful foals⊠Urban Bourbon, Frankâs Folly and Seahenge).
Sounds like buyers (Cheveley Park Stud) are considering other covers possibly across the pond for next year besides the Speightstown cover she was sold with.
I doubt that there is any recourse, just as there is none if a mare sold in foal never âtakesâ again after foaling.
The ânot pregnantâ mares seem to sell quite well, so people must obtain a veterinary opinion from somewhere (the sellers vet or their own after the hammer and before leaving the grounds?) or are willing to take a chance that this years failure to conceive is a one off. I would expect that the high end broodmares have considerable veterinary documentation, especially when they donât conceive
