2012 season

The TB industry seems to have been through a contraction and to be coming out the other side – Goffs Chief Executive Henry Beeby commented that the decision to cut numbers and concentrate on quality led to a vibrant and successful Orby yearling sale in 2009, and that the contrast between 2008 and 2009 was palpable in terms of atmosphere, buzz, and clearance rates. British Bloodstock Marketing also reported that Tattersalls, DBS and Brightwells all finished 2009 on a high note, with trade at Tattersalls December Sales for yearlings, foals and breeding stock being very strong, and overall turnover up by 13% and the percentage of lots sold showing significant improvement – although much smaller catalogues.

Some of the key impressions to emerge from the quick and impressionistic survey for UK breeders?

It’s a buyers market, so sellers have to be realistic about the prices that they ask for their foals

Quality is key : the “average” foal is going to prove much more difficult to sell

Breeders who have a long-term and established reputation for selling high-quality youngstock and loyal customers are likely to weather the recession much more easily than small breeders and those who have only entered the market more recently

Sellers need to get enterprising about how they market their youngstock, using Facebook, social networking sites, setting up their own websites, and understanding how to play the search engine game!

To respond to the above themes, some small breeders are discussing how they might get together with others locally to offer a showcase and open days to the horse-buying public in the area, and market the attractions of buying foals and youngstock.

Location can work for you or against you: UK buyers still seem to be prepared to travel hundreds of miles to look at youngstock on the continent, but will not consider driving the 60 miles to view something almost on their doorstep!

British breeders need as much proactive support and advice as they can get in these tough times, particularly in marketing their products, from the BEF and other organisations.

If the trends suggested above do play out, we are likely to see an upsurge in the numbers of just broken 3- and 4-year olds coming onto the market from 2012 and a contraction in the numbers of foals and youngstock offered.

Final message? Hang on in there, things can only get better!

We would be very interested to hear of your experience of selling youngstock in the current climate - email us and we will carry all your comments and views in the next issue of the Horse Breeders Magazine.

LINKS

Rainbow Equus Meadows : http://www.rainbowequus.com

Ballyshan Horses : http://www.ballyshanhorses.webs.com

 Morningside Stud : http://www.morningside-stud.com

Vagelleron Stud : http://www.vagelloron-stud.co.uk

Goffs Foal Sales : http://www.goffs.com/catalogues

British Bloodstock Marekting : http://britishhorseracing.com