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Yearling Prep
Preparing a Thoroughbred yearling for a select sale is a combination of primping for a beauty pageant and developing an athletic equine body designed for future success on the racetrack. The primping involves developing a silky hair coat, attractive mane, tail, and forelock, along with properly shaped hooves. The body development involves a proper diet and plenty of exercise. Achieving the end goal of a beautiful, athletic yearling often requires a delicate balancing act. The owner and sales agency want to present a horse that is fit and attractive and has grown to the maximum of its genetic potential. However, if that rate of growth is unnaturally high, it can result in developmental orthopedic disease (DOD) that not only reduces the yearling's value, but also can compromise its ability to perform when it reaches racing age. It should be noted that a number of factors often are involved in DOD--which can affect growth plates and joints. It's more than just overfeeding. We will take a look at how this balancing act functions; examining it through the eyes and experiences of individuals in Kentucky and California who have handled thousands of sale yearlings, sometimes over multiple generations on one farm. GETTING THEM READY A prime source of information in Kentucky is Taylor Made Farm, which presents 500-600 yearlings at auction each year. Some of the yearlings are foaled at the farm, primarily out of mares owned by clients. Others are brought to the farm for the final 60 days or more of preparation. Still others are prepared by their owners, who follow specific guidelines generated by Taylor Made. At sale time, the owners convey the yearlings to the sales venue, where staff members from Taylor Made take over for the actual presentation. Continue Reading [*PDF file, 2.35 MB download] *Adobe Reader is required to view PDF files. |
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