When preparing to put your horse on sale, many horse owners forget the importance of feeding. To maximise the value of the horse, you need to make sure your horse is at its best at sale time.
Today, we’re going to look at the key elements you need to consider for horse sale preparation:
Today, we’re going to look at the key elements you need to consider for horse sale preparation:
Preparation #1: Size And Body Condition
A smooth growth curve for young horses is essential to curb growth spurts and ensure optimal height at the sale time. In most disciplines, the size appropriation is a definite bonus – make sure that the body condition score is approximately five or up.
Body condition influences everything in your horse’s life, from reproductive efficiency, to performance, to good health.
By using Body Condition Scoring, we can find out what kind of shape your horse is in, and work at improving that score. Scoring focuses on critical areas of the body based on palpable fat and visual appearance.
Body scoring works as follows:
1. Poor
2. Very Thin
3. Thin
4. Moderately Thin
5. Moderate
6. Moderately Fleshy
7. Fleshy
8. Fat
Preparation #2: It’s All About The Muscle, Not The Fat
It is essential to remember that horses with well-developed muscles and no fat are mostly rewarded in modern horse sales. Although thin horses aren’t ideal, an obese horse, on the other hand, is not desirable at all!
Preparation #3: Brush Up On The Hair Coat
A desirable horse will typically have a slick and shiny coat with good nutrition, which buyers want in a horse. When in preparation, and long before the sale of a horse, always prioritise grooming, health care and good, balanced nutrition.
Preparation #4: What’s The Quality Of The Hoof?
Always make sure that the horse has high-quality feet. This also means checking for any growth or fever rings on the horse before putting it on the market.
Horse sale preparation is an ongoing process, especially for young ones. When they are breastfed adequately and maintained to a body condition score of about five, you can have the peace of mind knowing there won’t be a need for a feeding change during the horse sale preparation. It is also important not to rush the prepping time as it takes roughly 90 to 120 days to exercise, grow and give the horse good nutrition for the best sale.
From the moment you consider putting a horse up for sale, make sure you put in place a quality feeding program – this will ensure that they are looking and feeling at their best. Consider these points for an optimal feeding program:
A lot goes into horse sale preparation, and you need to make sure you consult with experts when preparing for the sale. At Glenrae Thoroughbreds, we are experts at all things horses. Speak to our friendly professionals about your needs or inquire on the best way to move forward with your horse sale preparations.
A smooth growth curve for young horses is essential to curb growth spurts and ensure optimal height at the sale time. In most disciplines, the size appropriation is a definite bonus – make sure that the body condition score is approximately five or up.
Body condition influences everything in your horse’s life, from reproductive efficiency, to performance, to good health.
By using Body Condition Scoring, we can find out what kind of shape your horse is in, and work at improving that score. Scoring focuses on critical areas of the body based on palpable fat and visual appearance.
Body scoring works as follows:
1. Poor
2. Very Thin
3. Thin
4. Moderately Thin
5. Moderate
6. Moderately Fleshy
7. Fleshy
8. Fat
Preparation #2: It’s All About The Muscle, Not The Fat
It is essential to remember that horses with well-developed muscles and no fat are mostly rewarded in modern horse sales. Although thin horses aren’t ideal, an obese horse, on the other hand, is not desirable at all!
Preparation #3: Brush Up On The Hair Coat
A desirable horse will typically have a slick and shiny coat with good nutrition, which buyers want in a horse. When in preparation, and long before the sale of a horse, always prioritise grooming, health care and good, balanced nutrition.
Preparation #4: What’s The Quality Of The Hoof?
Always make sure that the horse has high-quality feet. This also means checking for any growth or fever rings on the horse before putting it on the market.
Horse sale preparation is an ongoing process, especially for young ones. When they are breastfed adequately and maintained to a body condition score of about five, you can have the peace of mind knowing there won’t be a need for a feeding change during the horse sale preparation. It is also important not to rush the prepping time as it takes roughly 90 to 120 days to exercise, grow and give the horse good nutrition for the best sale.
From the moment you consider putting a horse up for sale, make sure you put in place a quality feeding program – this will ensure that they are looking and feeling at their best. Consider these points for an optimal feeding program:
- You will need good, quality pasture or forage to support their body condition.
- Ensure that the grain products have added vegetable oil for adequate energy sources and improve their hair coat.
- Between 12 to 14% of protein feed, depending on the forage is covered with amino acids to build muscle mass, will be needed.
- Clean, freshwater and added vitamins A, D, E and Biotin, are also essential for good metabolism, hair coat and hoof quality.
A lot goes into horse sale preparation, and you need to make sure you consult with experts when preparing for the sale. At Glenrae Thoroughbreds, we are experts at all things horses. Speak to our friendly professionals about your needs or inquire on the best way to move forward with your horse sale preparations.
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