The yearling year is a Critical stage for a young horse and is a time of reckoning for their breeders.

Breeding decisions made more than two years ago will be affirmed or discredited. Breeder's fortunes and reputations will rise and fall with the auctioneer's hammer.

Because yearling’s sales have such an impact on the industry the preparation of the sale yearlings is a specialized business.

All yearlings must arrive at the sale at their peak condition. Overfeeding or conditioning will damage the young horse.

Preparing the yearlings mentally for the sales and for racing.

At this stage, mental preparation is as important and - maybe more important - than physical training. No one can over power a horse. Successful training for racing must enlist the horse's cooperation. A foundation must be laid to build a cooperative attitude.

The importance of these early lessons cannot be overstated. The horse is not highly intelligent but he is sensitive, impressionable and has a superb memory. Everything that happens to him is recorded and retained and it is impossible to "erase" an unsuccessful training attempt.   It must be done right the first time.

Round Yard work

Our most important training and conditioning tool is our round yard. We use the round yard to condition the horse's mind as well as his body.  Round yard work lays the foundation for cooperation better than any other method. It is Safe, Natural and Effective.

Prepping for sales

While pedigree and conformation cannot be changed, the advantage gained with proper preparation can often be measured in hundreds or even thousands of dollars at sale time.   Preparation begins a minimum of 80 to 100 days before the sale. Stabling yearling has several benefits because they eat all their meals inside, you can adjust the amounts of feed and maintain precise weights.

Exercise the yearling to build muscle and bone.

Conditioning the sales yearling is necessary to develop the muscle tone and size that buyers expect to see in a potential racehorse.

Presentation

Every young horse must learn to pose properly for presentation. This is vital for sales yearlings. Buyers only have pedigree and appearance to go on. The yearling’s presentation must make the most favourable impression possible. Even the best-conformed horse may look awkward or unbalanced if he is not standing with " a leg on each corner".  The well - trained yearling that walks in a straight line and halts to assume the position described above looks completely natural.     Hours of patient work, practice and correction have gone into this seemingly effortless demonstration.