| Often we hear from a seller that his horse has so | | | | our methods. We should follow our research but |
| and so in its background and that the horse is | | | | we should be willing to change if it does not |
| worth more money because of that. But is that | | | | produce the results that we want. Over the |
| really true? | | | | years I have seen working horses evolve into |
| All horses come with a pedigree, whether they | | | | halter horses and vice-a-versa, trainers have gone |
| are good or bad but when we sell that animal, | | | | from look-pretty horses to ride and slide horses |
| who is on that pedigree helps determine the price | | | | and are still very competitive. In a changing world |
| that we can ask for the horse. | | | | we must change with it if we are going to survive |
| Throughout this article, you will not find a price | | | | in the horse industry. Our goals should be clear |
| that you should ask for your horse. But we will | | | | from the beginning but our methods of reaching |
| discuss the importance of a pedigree when you | | | | those goals should be under constant change in |
| are selling a horse, raising a foal or buying a stallion | | | | order to achieve them. |
| or mares. | | | | Another thing to remember is that the program |
| To begin, we should examine those breeding | | | | that you are emulating was the product of many |
| programs that are in demand by the public, which | | | | years of trial and error. You will experience the |
| stallion is producing the most winners out of a | | | | same. You should not be disappointed but view it |
| diverse population of mares and which mare is | | | | as a challenge to be met. The great horsemen |
| producing the largest number of winners. Once | | | | who are the legends of our industry had an ideal |
| we have that information, we should examine the | | | | in their minds at all times and labored to create |
| pedigree involved in producing those animals. They | | | | that type consistently. If you have looked at |
| may be the product of line-breeding certain | | | | many horses, in your mind you can tell which |
| horses or they may be from an outcross that | | | | program the horse came from. The breeders |
| produces a superior animal. Something that you | | | | created those horses to have certain traits that |
| should keep in the back of your mind is that not | | | | set them apart from others of the same breed. |
| all horses are created equal even if they are the | | | | You can tell an Impressive bloodline from Doc Bar |
| same breeding or full brothers and sisters. | | | | line, Barlink Macho Man from Scribbles, and etc. |
| Genetics are a fickle creature. In my personal | | | | etc. simply by the type of horse that you are |
| experience, I have seen great horses and full | | | | looking at. |
| brothers who were complete opposites. One | | | | Which brings us down to how much a pedigree is |
| being a superior animal and the rest were just | | | | worth to you as a horse buyer or seller. If our |
| mediocre in conformation and type. Because they | | | | interests are working horses as opposed to halter |
| were full brothers, they were able to produce | | | | horses, or vice-a-versa we would look for an |
| foals that brought more than the average and as | | | | animal whose parents came from bloodlines that |
| such were successful for their owners. However, | | | | had that breeding. We would consider horses |
| they never attained the success of their sibling. | | | | whose relatives, preferably close up in pedigree, |
| In order for us to be successful in the horse | | | | had been outstanding individuals in the discipline |
| industry, I think that you have to research what | | | | that we want to play in. |
| the breeders and trainers have done with the | | | | If you are a breeder or wanting to produce a |
| bloodlines that you may or may not want to use. | | | | foal, you would want the same things. Your |
| This will help us in our quest to train or breed the | | | | mares would be uniform in type, conformation |
| next world champion or super horse. If someone | | | | and pedigree and your stallion should have |
| has made it work for them and has been | | | | qualities,(type, conformation, pedigree), that would |
| successful, maybe we can be too. It will only | | | | improve the shortcomings of your mares. And |
| happen though if we apply the same dedication to | | | | the foals should as uniform as their parents. |
| our business as the person who developed the | | | | Will it happen all the time? NO. But it will happen |
| type of horse that you are going to produce or | | | | more often than not. The end result is that you, |
| train. | | | | more often than not, will produce a product that |
| And there lies the problem. Many of us do not | | | | will bring a better price than the horse that may |
| apply the same dedication and work ethic to our | | | | be the equal of yours but does not have the |
| horse program that the original developer did. | | | | pedigree that people are looking for. Translation; if |
| Every horse program that has succeeded in the | | | | you have horses that sell for more money than |
| past has been through the efforts and dedication | | | | the average most of the time, you will survive |
| of the major entities involved (horses and their | | | | the ups and downs of the market. They may |
| owners). Even if you have the best in the barn, | | | | bring less money, but certainly more than the |
| you will not succeed if you are not prepared to | | | | person who has been haphazard about their |
| promote and sell your product at every | | | | program and its direction. Over time, one can be |
| opportunity. | | | | quite successful with their horse program. |
| A successful program involves being innovative in | | | | |