TWO-YEAR-OLDS IN TRAINING

Equine Prep Management does the majority of its business in the Two-Year-Old Sales sector. Equine Prep has been recognized in the past with three Top-Ten Rankings for highest sales average at two-year-old thoroughbred public auctions.  (Thoroughbred Times Magazine, February 4, 2006). O'Hara and the Equine Prep Management team look ahead to the future with optimism. With broad backgrounds from many areas of the Industry, Equine Prep has the distinct advantage of having worked closely with owners, trainers and breeders who are buyers of Two-Year-Old Thoroughbreds .

Fewer horses are bought and sold in the Two-Year-Old sales sector of the industry than in the Yearling sector. Included in the sector is an added dimension to how horses are evaluated in contrast to the Yearling and Weanling segments.  The horses run in a publicly-viewed and timed workout prior to auction day, giving buyers the chance to see each horse perform on the racetrack.

This process gives the buyer an additional means to value prospective purchases. It gives the seller an added opportunity to generate a higher value for his horse. The Two-Year-Old-in-Training is also valued on pedigree, conformation (correctness of limbs), movement, X-rays and throat scoping. The time frame from Yearling purchase to sale as a Two-Year-Old is approximately 6 to 8 months.

YEARLINGS

The Yearling sector of the industry historically has the highest number of sales and the greatest amount of horses offered for sale.  By this time, a horse has developed significantly. The exceptional traits, as well as the horse's flaws are now more exposed. There are more sellers and buyers ready to speculate on this sector of the industry than on any other.

Yearlings are valued on the following: pedigree, conformation and walking movement.  X-rays and throat scoping are also performed to protect buyers against bone and breathing abnormalities. The time frame for the venture is approximately 8 to 10 months.

BROODMARES

Broodmares are the factories of the industry.  Broodmares are a long-term venture with continued charges for covering sires each year. 

When Broodmares are owned in quantity, the results may be highly successful. There is a need for security in numbers if the goal is to sell the resulting foals. Mares are bought and sold at auctions from October through the following January each year.

Broodmares are valued on the following: pedigree, race record, conformation and foal production. Length of the venture can be as short as a 10 months or as long as desired.

The term for this type of venture is normally 10-12 months depending on date of purchase. After being successfully bred, a mare would be sold the following November. Mares who do not become pregnant are usually discounted at sale.

WEANLINGS

Weanlings are horses who are less than one year old.  All horses turn another year older on January 1st, regardless of month of actual birth.  Weanlings are publicly bought or sold in the fall from October through the following January (technically if sold in January, they are considered Yearlings). These horses still have a lot of growing and maturing to do. Weanlings are valued on all of the following: pedigree, conformation and walking movement. Similar to Yearlings, Weanlings are X-rayed and scoped for buyer protection.

Historically, Weanlings have not sold as well as Yearlings at public auctions.  Weanlings may experience dramatic changes during their first 16 months of life including size, physical appearance and/or conformation. For this reason, some buyers may be less comfortable with buying Weanlings than with buying Yearlings.  This same fact, however, presents buying opportunities for Weanlings that could result in success when selling horses later as Yearlings.

The time frame to purchase Weanlings and resell them as Yearlings is approximately 8 to 10 months.  Occasionally some Weanlings not sold as Yearlings are sold as Two-Year-Olds-in-Training the following winter.

HORSES OF
RACING AGE