Warmblood T
By Summer Stoffel
Te Real Truths Behind Buyers Going to Europe – And Why Tey’re Not What You Tink
here are always a lot of heated discussions about why riders choose to buy horses abroad versus in North America. Even riders and professionals who are pas-
sionate about American breeding still head to Europe to search for prospects for their sales pipelines. Why? Of course, there are the standard answers: geography,
supply, ability to reinvent identity, etc. However, when you really sit down with many of these professionals and ask the tough questions, you discover the real answers. As an owner of an American hunter/jumper breeding and young horse training operation, I have been really evaluating this situation over the last few years. Besides the aforementioned reasons, here are the blatant problems and reasons behind the con- stant flow of sale horses from across the ocean and simple solutions you can take to promote your American-bred young horses: Problem: Lack of standardization of young horse training in
America. Unlike our neighbors across the ocean, we have no
standardized system of training riders to develop young horses. When shopping for young Warmbloods you can find everything ranging from “just started under saddle as a five- year old and taking it slow to let joints close” to “backing our two-year-old with first time under rider.” These are not hypothetical descriptions, but readily found examples in our market. We also have examples of “well-known” young horse
riders who are considered successful in the industry accord- ing to their competition results but are poor examples of proper young horse training. Running for ribbons with the young horse’s head in the air, no proper contact to the bit and yanking on the reins sets a bad precedent for aspiring young horse riders. These individuals should not be looked at as experts in the field. Sacrificing good training and the longevity of a young horse’s health for ribbons is never okay and definitely unprofessional. Be careful who you look up to. Being a self-proclaimed young horse expert does not neces- sarily make you one. Solution: In order for your young horses to be competi-
tively attractive to buyers, they need to be well-groomed, developed and trained correctly. Don’t just look at the stan- dard within the borders of your country. Study the level of training for the comparable age group in other countries. What level do they compete at? What flatwork or gymnastics
is recommended? In this day and age, there are a wealth of educational sources available.
EquestrianCoach.com, USEF, FEI, Longines World Equestrian Academy and many others have online educational centers for these very reasons. Edu- cation has become virtual. Take advantage of it. Stay up to date with international standards and buyers’ expectations. Problem: Lack of experience in competition. Yes, it’s true. Competition in North America is expensive.
Prohibitively expensive for young horse development. This has led to breeders holding onto young horses longer than anticipated with no show record. Professional riders and buy- ers want to see competition results and thus the disconnect between breeders and buyers continues. There’s no compet- ing with the system of minimal European show fees anytime in the near future. Whether the breeder pays to develop the horse or the professional, someone is assuming those costs. Therefore, if professionals can find a source to purchase horses of similar age, quality, and talent for a better price with competition experience, they will go where they can find the better deal. It’s not a public statement about which country produces better horses; it’s all about the bottom line. It’s a business for the professionals. Just as the breeders need to make a profit, or at least recoup their costs, the same is true for the riders and buyers. In order for this connection to grow in North America, both sides need to benefit. Solution: Take steps to be proactive in areas where you
can. Find competition venues offering special classes and competition platforms for young horses. Many are offering lower entry fees or other special discounts for young horses. If you have limited resources to develop your young horses, be creative and think outside the box. Take your young horses to local unrated shows. They quickly get acclimated to stepping off the trailer to a crazy new atmosphere and being comfortable in their own skin. What’s important is the quality of the riding and experience in new environments, not the size of the entry fee. If you don’t have many oppor- tunities for local shows near you, then find clinics with good clinicians offering young horse classes. They are becoming very common and you will not only give your young horse invaluable experience, you will also receive evaluation by a well-respected professional and potential buyer. Often these clinicians can also provide referrals to other potential buyers or recommendations on marketing. Bottom line…don’t just keep your youngsters in the field or train them at home.
Warmbloods Today 89
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