Give them time to settle.

Once you arrive at the sales, allow your yearlings time to relax and adjust to their new surroundings. A settled horse is much more likely to show itself to its full potential.

Practice makes perfect.

Spend plenty of time practicing your shows before inspections begin. The more confident and relaxed a yearling is, the better it will present to prospective buyers.

Choose the right sales staff.

Match each handler to the horse they complement best. Building a relationship between horse and handler is invaluable, as it helps the horse feel confident and perform at its best. As a buyer, I always appreciate when a handler genuinely knows and likes the horse they’re presenting. They can speak honestly about its personality, temperament and strengths, which adds real value.

Know your pedigrees.

Do your homework. Buyers expect consignors to have a thorough knowledge of each horse’s pedigree, recent updates and family performance. Being able to confidently discuss the page can make a significant difference during inspections.

Be organised.

Ensure all veterinary work is completed well in advance, so everything is ready to be lodged in the repository. Being organised avoids unnecessary stress once the sale begins. Get sales videos and photos done and have them uploaded online.

Keep the bigger picture in mind.

While you’re preparing a horse for the sales ring, you’re also preparing a future racehorse. The groundwork you put in at home; handling, manners and education, will not only help the yearling sell well, but will also benefit it when it goes on to be broken and trained.

Top Tip: Use the TbSales App to keep track of viewings and vettings throughout the sale. It’s an excellent tool that allows you to see who’s on the sales grounds, monitor inspections, keep track of veterinary activity, view your horses’ sale times, check sire averages for the sale and other useful information. It’s become an invaluable tool for staying organised and informed during busy sales weeks.