***MY*** Stallion has a "Full Book!"

[TrueColours]

I keep seeing that term used SO much in ads, general threads and general conversations.

What does it REALLY mean and does anyone REALLY care???

For me - it might my book was full at 10 mares (a limit *I* set on breeding), for stallion B it might mean 20 mares and for stallion C - he was a busy boy and had 50 mares bred to him.

Each book was "full" in the true sense of the word - no one is lying - but does this term mean anything to anyone, and do Mare Owners CARE if Stallions A, B and C had *FULL* books or 1/2 full books or 1/4 full books?!

Does ANY Mare Owner out there actually ask ANY stallion owner what a *Full Book* means to them and does it make any difference at all in what regard you hold that particular stallion?

I'd be very curious to hear why Stallion Owners use this terminology in their promo materials and ads and what they use to determine what a "Full Book" is and does it stay the same year to year or change and why???

[FOS]

hi TrueColors

Some farms use the term Book Full when all of the breedings (to a particular stallion) that they are entitled to and/or control (during a specific breeding season) are sold and/or spoken for...

...Book Full does not necessarily mean that shareholders' might not have something available.

Respectfully

[TrueColours]

Okay - THAT makes sense!

So - collectively - the shareholders would agree at the start of breeding season to limit the outside bookings to 25, and each of the 10 shareholders would also have 1 booking each, so that stallion's book would be full at 35 mares in total, ostensibly to keep the value of the offspring high at a maximum of 35 foals per breeding season

Is that correct?

[FOS]

hi TrueColors

Consider this hypothetical...TrueColors Farm has ownership of 10 fractional interests in Stallion A...who is syndicated into 40 fractional interests. TrueColors Farm (since it is also the Standing Farm) is also entitled (per syndicate agreement) to 8 nominations per breeding season to Stallion A.

Each fractional interest carries a bonus nomination (for whatever reason)...thus 2 nominations are assigned to each of the 40 fractional interests. As a result, for starters TrueColors (the Standing Farm) is entitled to 20 nominations (2 per each of its 10 fractional interests in Stallion A)...PLUS 8 nominations (per syndicate agreement) since it is the Standing Farm..

When all 28 of TrueColor's nominations (for the particular breeding season) are sold and/or spoken for...voila, Book Full.

Regardless of the Book Full connotation, there are potentially many nominations still available...possibly (although unlikely) as many as 60 (based on this hypothetical).

This is just one scenario re: Book Full.

Respectfully

[TrueColours]

I am still trying to digest it all but thank you for the explanation.

It *DOES* make a lot of sense now!

[madelyn]

I think also it is a marketing "tool" to possibly imply that there was a really hot demand for that particular stallion, and support full price bookings through any remaining seasons that may be available.. JMO

[FOS]

hi madelyn

You wrote re: use of the words Book Full "I think also it is a marketing "tool" to possibly imply that there was a really hot demand for that particular stallion, and support full price bookings through any remaining seasons that may be available.. JMO"

Agreed.

Respectfully

[Heidilady]

Aww nuts Madelyn, you and FOS beat me to it.

I personally think gushing about how in demand a stallion is plays into it pretty heavily. Marketing is a prime consideration. Maybe they want to increase the stud fee next time and will justify it by 'well all that demand...full book last year and all...you know how it is...they're beating down the door.'

[brogers]

Advertising that a stallion has a BOOK FULL is one of the worst advertising moves that you can ever make.

If you decide that your stallion is full, it is better to have someone ring you and you tell them that the stallion is full. Invaribly they then discuss this with friends that they were not able to get in and this word of mouth does more good in creating a marketing buzz than any advertising dollar you spend.

If you advertise BOOK FULL, the phone stops ringing, and that is the worst thing that can happen.

[LSB]

Advertising that a stallion has a BOOK FULL is one of the worst advertising moves that you can ever make.

If you decide that your stallion is full, it is better to have someone ring you and you tell them that the stallion is full. Invaribly they then discuss this with friends that they were not able to get in and this word of mouth does more good in creating a marketing buzz than any advertising dollar you spend.

If you advertise BOOK FULL, the phone stops ringing, and that is the worst thing that can happen.

I absolutely agree with you. And yet, farms do it all the time. As a mare owner, when I read in an ad that a stallion is full, I know I don't bother to call.

[roving boy]

But there is a flip side to the "book full" advertisement that was employed very successfully by Vinery in the 90's. Some people want what they cannot have, or what seems to be most popular.

Back then Vinery would advertise "book full" when they were 10 shy of whatever their target number was (usually 120). Those last 10 seasons would be sold within a week of the ad coming out and often led to many more. Black Tie Affair bred 150 one year after being advertised as "book full" at 120!

I do think the more experienced players have wised up to the promotion. I know that I always call regardless of what the ad says. Just this week I got a season to a horse that was full because a mare in his book died while foaling. There are almost always openings in a stallion's book as the season progresses.

[rudydee]

I hear Wildcat Heir's book is full- 140 mares.
It is my understanding that they have had to turn away over an additional 65 mares that requested seasons.

[Blewin]

You may want to look at OBS Winter Mixed hip 1205.A More Than Readyx
Grey Ballet.Listed as a CH. C ............But as I was sitting on the balcony,as he was 4th in line,I had to take my sunnies offf and take a REAL look.

This colt was a Summerfield Consignment

[TrueColours]

Code: Select all

I hear Wildcat Heir's book is full- 140 mares.
It is my understanding that they have had to turn away over an additional 65 mares that requested seasons.[quote]

okay - WHY would they do this???

Is it all about keeping the perceived value higher for fewer foals on the ground???

What is his stud fee and what would that x 65 equal?

[/quote]

[rudydee]

Wildcat Heir's stud fee is $8,000