Over the next couple of days, I want to talk a little bit about how to choose a horse to buy and how to hold your money together, and still have fun in the future. How to have the fun that we all dream about when we buy a new horse!
So now that the fall sales are in full swing, I’m going to try and give you some pointers on what to look for if you are picking out a nice young prospect. Pretty is important, color is important, but what we really look for is star quality. Some horses just stand out. Remember when you buy a horse, your horse show destiny is chosen at that moment! Whether you are going to be happy or wondering why you ever did this, is all decided the moment that you buy that horse. So learning how to make a good choice is really important!
Spending – well you know – we all have our limits! But spending more than you can afford at the time you buy the horse – will literally save you money down the road. It’s always been my experience that when I raise my hand and I felt really guilty, and thought, “How in the world am I going to pay for this thing?,” I always found a partner, or I always got a loan – that is – I always figured out a way to come up with the money. Something always happened. But the most successful stories I have ever had, as far as horse purchases go, were the ones where I had the gut feeling, and didn’t let the price hold me back.
Keeping in mind that your low-end, mid range and even your upper mid range horse, they are still part of a math. Your elites are elites. And if you are talking about a horse to show at the futurity level, the top of today’s horse show world is put together of a small group of elite horses. There are more of them around than there use to be. Still, you have to have the elite horse if you are going to play ball. It costs the same amount of money for the winner as it does for the loser. Buy the horse that is high enough quality to compete at the level that you want to compete at – otherwise you are looking for a headache and heartache.
No matter what, I think you should always do a pre-purchase vet exam, and take as many x-rays as you need prior to the time you are going to buy the horse. It might be expensive at the time but it still cheap insurance. The vet will give you his findings and help aid in the decision on whether or not you purchase the horse. Remember, this is still not a guarantee of life-time soundness. Next time I have a chance, we’ll talk a little about bloodlines.
I’m looking forward to hearing about bloodlines. I know that it has a lot to do with how well a horse is going to perform. But I wonder, has there ever been a futurity winner that has come from mediocre bloodlines? Do bloodlines really determine the small group of elite horses?
Mr. Vogt,
I was wonderin if you might share some of your thoughts and experiences on the people part of this business. What did you and others do to make it.
Readin about and seein all the great horses and trainers is great but I always wonder what they did to get there. What has to be done to maintain this lifestyle and career and still keep food on the table. What have you done to get those horses to their top level and keep the rest of life goin along? What keeps you going through those dry spells when nothing seems to work? How do you keep those moments in time when everything works fresh in your mind?
Seems like we always see em when they “get there”. I was kinda wantin to see what roads you gotta take. I’ve found this business ain’t for the weak hearted and if we can take a look at the champions path it would probably help in all areas of life.
Mr. Vogt,
I was wondering if you knew anything about the Music Mount bloodline and what, if any, your opinion is on Music Mount horses. I recently read an article about Jimmy Flores and he was really into Music Mount but they aren’t very popular. I do know about their “love ‘em or hate ‘em” reputation. Does that have anything to do with the volume of mares he was bred to? Do you have personal experience with Music Mount horses?
Heather,
I have ridden and started quite a few music mounts, driftwoods, hard twists, hancocks ect.
There were some good ones but compared to todays horses and bloodlines I would have to agree with Les when he said ” I’ glad they are gone”.
I rode one double breed music mount mare that could slide 35 feet everytime but she could also buck me off just about anytime she decided too and usually flipped over backwards with the saddle when you first saddled her in the morning before whe was ready to go to work.
In 60 – 90 days you can do things on todays bloodlines that it would take you 6 or 8 months to do on some of the old bloodlines. Not only that but they have breed “MOST” of the kick and the buck out of todays popular bloodlines.
Just my 2 cents !!!
Holdfast37
Karl Gould won the futurity on an appy I think in the late 80’s.
In my opinion going with the popular bloodlines increases you chances of getting a horse that can perform.
Example:
I raise about 10-15 foals per year I don’t have the most popular/proven bloodlines but I have good bloodlines. I normally get about 1 or 2 maybe 3 that may be able to make open horses. The rest are nice horses but not open competition types. Then it seems like I always get 1 or 2 that will never amount to much. I have started horses for for people that do have high dollar proven bloodlines and they definately have a higher percentage of open horses.
Example:
Last winter I started 12 2yr olds for a customer. 5 went to trainers for open nrcha futurity prospects, 1 went to a trainer for nrha futurity prospect, 3 went to trainers for ncha futurity prospect, 1 was a complete dink, 1 was sold as a ranch horse, and 1 I purchased for myself for a limited futurity prospect she is a really nice mare but a little hot and a little tempermental not the kind the High Dollar trainers like to mess with.
Another point on bloodlines there are some really great horses that have not been promoted as much as shining spark, nu cash, remenic, ect.
You can purchase these horses alot cheaper than the big names. If they don’t work out as performance horses you haven’t lost a fortune. If they do turn out to be great and perform they will be valuable even if they aren’t the most popular bloodline going.
Hint Hint.
There are a bunch of sons of highbrow cat, cd olena, smart little lena, shining spark ect. that are really producing some outstanding horses and they cost 1/3 to 1/10 as much as the big names.
Just my opinion.
Would like to know if you agree ?