Your Smart Solutions for the Harness Horse Auction

In the auction world, companies dedicated to “horse sales” are rare and only account for a small percentage of auction houses, which generally favour art and collectables. The business in this country almost boils down to a major operator. Usually, these little people meet in a particular place in this season to attend the sales, but if this year, the pandemic upsets their habits.

How Does This Market Work?

The offer is “constrained” there since it depends on the production of the farms: 4,500 to 5,400 equines per year are auctioned in this country, and more than 95% are racehorses. The market is therefore aimed at a restricted circle of customers. Its strength lies in the quality of the horse trades chain and the performance of the race winnings redistribution system. The more breeders obtain reasonable auction prices for their horses, linked to the performance expected at racetracks, the more they can reinvest in high-level genetic crosses to attract new buyers in the Harness Horse Auction.

Is The Local Market Growing?

According to the Voluntary Sales Council, the amount awarded increased by 5% in 2019 to reach 186 million dollars (its best performance), including 178 million for racehorses and 7 million for sport horses. In 2018, it had already grown by 3.5% and in 2017 by 8.3%. The number of racehorses sold last year was pretty stable (-2%), with 67% of horses destined for galloping and 33% for trotting. In galloping, the average price increases, as does the number of animals sold, unlike trotting, which is struggling to become international.

Who Is Buying?

According to the council, the clientele is 46% international, with an increase in buyers from the United Kingdom, Ireland and the United States. Most of the horses awarded remain exploited in this country (60% for yearlings passed under the hammer), a country is known for its breeders, trainers and race organizers.

This Should Be Taken Into Account In Advance Of a Horse Auction

A horse auction has the advantage that the selection of different horses is extensive and that all animals have to be clinically and radiologically examined before the auction. A corresponding report is then available to all interested parties.

Note, however: as many horses at once can kill you. Therefore, you should deal with the selection of the auction horses in advance. In addition, it is advisable to take the time a week before the auction to look at your four-legged favourites during their daily work and the presentation dates of the auction lot under the saddle or while free jumping. There are extra auction tabs for this. Or you can use the opportunity to try out the selected horses yourself. Many auctions now offer this in advance. And videos are usually posted online a few weeks before the auction.

What Does The Auction Process Look Like?

On the auction itself, the horses are presented one after the other under the saddle, while the auction manager tries to push the price as high as possible and auction the horse. How the price will develop for the individual horses, however, cannot be foreseen. So your favourite may become unaffordable.

How Do You Know Which Horse Is A Racehorse?

The fastest horses are on the racetrack. Either in trotting, harnessed to a sulky or ridden by a jockey in a horse race. How do you know if a horse is a racehorse?

The fastest gaits in horses are the strong trot and the gallop. The horses reach their maximum speed in their respective gait. Trot and horse races have long been prevalent sports. That is why horse breeders made an early effort to use breeds that had excellent racing characteristics. Fast parents are a good prerequisite for a fast horse. You have to look at the pedigree of a horse. And the origin of a horse often says a lot about its running qualities. However, it is not just the origin that makes it.

In addition, experts can tell from the legs, tendons and body structure, i.e. the so-called “building” of a horse, whether it is suitable for horse racing or not. Then there is also whether it is easy to ride and what temperament a horse has, whether aggressive, nervous or relatively calm.

For the trotting races, in which the horse pulls a sulky with the driver, the trotters, the American and French trotters were bred. Thanks to the breeding, the improved material and the experience in handling the animals, the horses were on average faster and faster in the races and now reach 50 kilometres per hour in the races. They are almost as fast as gallops.