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Easier to sell at big sales: Weanling or Yearling?

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 4:44 pm
by radrider
I don't sell at the sales, just an observer, but I was wondering about everyone's opinion on which age is easier to sell weanling or yearling. I would think that a weanling would be easier to sell because it has more time to grow into their bodies, whereas people want only big looking yearlings. Feel free to correct me if i'm wrong. Just curious what you all think.

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 5:46 pm
by karenkarenn
Weanlings for me.

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 6:19 pm
by Sysonby
If I'm understanding the question, you're asking whether a weanling or a yearling is easier to sell all things being equal?

In my experience, the older a young horse is, the easier it is to sell because the closer it is to the track. Weanlings are the toughest sales followed by short yearlings, yearlings and then 2 year olds. The only caveat is once a horse turns two and you offer it in a mixed sale like Keeneland or Barretts, it better be broke and still reasonably in one piece.

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 7:35 pm
by reedhill
Yearlings should be easier to sell because weanlings have a whole year to romp around and find out if they can become injured on everything. Selling a solid yearling, your taking that 1 year risk off of someone else's hands.

Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 10:15 am
by Mood Swings
I would say as the seller you have a better chance of making money selling as a yearling. Unless your weanling is "hot" commercially and is big, correct and beautiful, chances are you won't get much. More often then not people looking at weanlings are looking at them as pinhook prospects. It 's easier to sell as a weanling in the sense that you don't have to carry the horse for another eight to ten months ;)