Preparing Horses for Yearling Sales

When it comes to professional presentation combined with an outstanding reputation, top competitor and trainer Abby Mixon of Abby Mixon Performance Horses in Marietta, Oklahoma, is no stranger to success. She shares her tips and best practices for preparing horses for yearling sales. Basic preparation

Mixon says she prefers to start the preparation process 60 to 90 days before the sale. The exact timing, she says, will vary depending on the time of year and the weather. For initial preparation, the yearlings receive basic halter training and expand their ground handling skills, become more accustomed to people and grooming, and learn the basics of lunging.

If owners bring their horses to a trainer for sales preparation, Mixon says it helps expedite the process if they have received some training beforehand.

“It’s great if they are halter broke,” Mixon says. “Then the rest is pretty simple to put on them.”

She adds that, as a trainer, it can help her to better evaluate yearling prospects if owners have done some additional preparation with them, such as implementing a solid nutritional program, beforehand.

“The better shape they are in, the slicker their haircoat, the more attractive they are,” Mixon says.

Veterinary evaluations

As for veterinary needs, recommendations vary, Mixon says, regarding specific requirements. To be prepared, she advises reading up on the requirements of individual sales. While Coggins tests and health papers are standard, some sales prefer that the examination and testing be performed close to the date of the sale.

“A lot of sales nowadays also require X-rays,” Mixon says.

Regarding X-rays, she explains there are two schools of thought. Some owners may prefer to save money and perform one set of X-rays just before the sale. Others may want to perform pre-X-rays so that if there are problems, such as chips, these can be surgically addressed before they hurt their sale.

Proper nutrition

Mixon’s nutritional program involves feeding alfalfa and grain. She also keeps the yearlings under lights and, depending upon the time of year, they may also be blanketed.

“You want their hair coat to be as slick and shiny as possible,” Mixon says.

Purdey Suave. Photo courtesy of Abby Mixon Marketing

Marketing is an important component of preparing your yearling for an upcoming sale. Mixon says she cannot emphasize enough the importance of a good sale video. Part of achieving the best results is ensuring the yearlings know how to lunge and are comfortable in a round pen. She says they need to know how to stay on the rail, walk, trot, lope in both directions and transition between gaits. A lot of people, she says, also teach their yearlings to roll back towards the fence so that potential buyers can see how they stop and use themselves.

“It can be difficult to see how a colt moves if they’re not comfortable in the round pen,” Mixon explains.

In addition to a good sale video, Mixon further recommends hiring a professional photographer for pictures to be used in advertisements. When it comes to attracting the attention of buyers and selling your yearling for more money, she says that spending the extra cash on a professional sale video and eye-catching photographs can be a good investment.

Ultimately, making commitments to the time, training, health, nutrition and marketing preparation of your yearling prospects can ensure an uncomplicated and successful process.

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