Partnerships on youngsters

[JCIbarra]

Though this isn’t specifically breeding related, I don’t know where else to post so it landed here.

My question is regarding partnerships on youngsters. We have a small breeding program in Oregon, the land of western pleasure horses. I would love to see some of my babies in hunter breeding classes but the shortest travel time is 9 hours one way. Unfortunately, it isn’t in our budget right now to send them to a trainer either. I am wondering if anyone has heard of people doing partnerships on these little ones along the lines of the breeder bringing them along until their yearling year, at which point the horse goes with the other partner who shows and markets them. When the horse is sold -the sales price is split.

Obviously, there are variables such as injuries, illness, the horse not selling quickly, etc. but has anyone ever heard of//done something like this. It would benefit smaller breeders like me who don’t have the big pocketbooks and maybe another party who doesn’t have the facility or time to breed and raise for the first year.

Hopefully, that makes sense!

[tuckawayfarm]

I have a partnership with my daughter and it has worked well for us. I keep our youngsters until they are around three then send them to her for training and sales. It allows us to take advantage of both the lower cost of raising them on our farm in the Midwest and her ability to get them to the show ring at a reasonable expense.

I don’t know that I could do it with someone else though, LOL. I trust her completely and it is still hard to send them so far away!

[siegi_b]

I do think that keeping the youngsters at the breeders until they’re ready to be backed makes the whole thing more financially feasible for all concerned.

However, as tuckaway has stated, I would only get into a relationship like that with a person I completely trust. What if the horse doesn’t sell for the price you expected? You’re 9 hours away and really have no idea what all the circumstances are…

[Wits_End_Eventing]

We have a relationship like this with Sharon White originally set in motion by Jim Wofford. It has worked out wonderfully, and she has become one of our closest friends. I think you have to work with someone you trust 100%. Someone you already know and have a good relationship with or someone recommended by someone who you trust and who is above reproach.
Good luck!!

[lauriep]

We are always interested in exploring this type of relationship with the right person who has horses we admire.

[Sakura_Hill_Farm]

We have entered into several partnerships with varying success.

I would suggest that the “exit” strategy be clearly defined in your contract.

For us, the partnership only is viable if it relates to a breeding horse, in other words, a mare that we wish to use to produce ET foals while in competition or after retirement or a stallion.

Customarily, a partnership will be between breeder and pro who is putting up training, board and competition fees in lieu of cash. In one instance, (an agreement that we did not enter into), the pro wished there to be a sliding scale of ownership with 100% ownership eventually going to the pro. For us with breeding stock, this is self-defeating. It might be successful with a gelding who would serve essentially to get the breeder’s name out in public at a gradually higher level over time.

These agreements must be carefully crafted and entered into with someone whom you trust 100% Much can go awry! This does not mean that we do not welcome partnership contracts --one must simply be doubly cautious. When these partnerships are rewarding, they are gratifyingly so. When they are not, it goes downhill very fast!

[YankeeLawyer]

I have done partnerships with people I know and trust and they have worked out well. It is important to understand from the outset everyone’s expectations regarding the arrangement. I have even done a sliding scale arrangement as Sakura describes and it worked out - but to me those are only beneficial to the breeder if the horse is competing in such a way that offers real value to the farm (eg by increasing the farm’s profile, such as when a high profile rider is showing the horse in FEI competition). But I agree with Sakura’s advice regarding the need to be very cautious.