Sub-freezing temperatures plus several inches of fresh snow daily does not lend itself to the most pleasant conditions for a horse sale.
But that is what those involved with the Fasig-Tipton winter mixed sale in Lexington have endured over the last five days as they inspected the offerings, and then went through the motions of buying and selling during the two-day auction.
If the activity at the sale is any indication, horses and those who work with them are a resilient lot as the sale has produced solid numbers. Also, consignors report the weather conditions are less than ideal but everyone has learned to deal with them and it does not seem to have impacted prices.
"I think it is strong," said Frank Taylor of Taylor Made Sales Agency. "There are a lot of horses in here without much quality so you can't tell much about the market place. But those horses are selling much better than I thought."
Taylor said the weather at this year's February sale is the worst in memory, but that at least there is not as much of a necessity for potential buyers and agents to inspect the horses at the barns as there would be with a yearling sale.
"The (consignors') help are hanging in there; they are pretty tough," Taylor said.
Pat Costello of Paramount Sales said he has also been surprised by the strength of the auction, which offers a mixed bag ranging from just-turned yearlings, in-foal mares, horses just off the track or changing hands to return to racing, and some mares with their new 2014 babies at their side.
"This is the last broodmare sale before the breeding sheds open and it seems to be doing very well," Costello said. "This is very positive."
Costello, who agreed that the conditions this year have been the worst, said the biggest problem at the barn has been a reluctance of horses to want to drink from their water tubs.
"This is the worst February (sale weather) without a doubt," said Kerry Cauthen of Four Star Sales. "But everybody has gotten through it. It has been a great sale. Obviously, there has been a lot of interest at the top of the market. But over the last two days there has been a lot of interest all the way down. Even horses for $2,000 are changing hands.
"With these conditions, if they are here, they are here to buy a horse."
Fasig-Tipton Kentucky January Sale.
Fasig-Tipton Photo