Horse Sense (HS): Take us through your role on the farm and your involvement in sales preparation.

Roderic Kavanagh (RK): Generally, I manage the breeze-up horses up to the summer, and then in the autumn my focus switches to the yearlings and their preparation. We’re fortunate to have a strong, experienced core team who know their roles well, which makes a big difference.

My job initially is to keep a close eye on each horse, making sure they settle into the routine and are progressing as they should. As they develop, I monitor that they’re moving in the right direction and staying happy within the programme.

HS: When does preparation for the sales begin for you at Kildaragh?

RK: It depends on the timing of the sale. Horses for earlier sales, running through the middle of the summer, generally need less preparation as they are naturally thriving at that time of year. We typically allow six to eight weeks as a guide.

For the autumn sales, such as the premier sales, we would allow at least eight weeks. We usually work backwards from the sale date, or even from when the horses are due to depart for the sales grounds, to structure their preparation.

HS: What does a typical daily routine look like, and how does it evolve?

RK: The routine is quite structured. Horses are exercised through a combination of walking, lunging and hand-walking in groups. Fillies are turned out in groups, while colts tend to go into individual paddocks, as they can be more confrontational when fresh.

Initially, the horses spend more time in the paddocks, but as they settle into the system, the routine becomes more organised and cyclical. They gradually get used to spending longer periods in their boxes, with exercise slotted in around that.

Consistency is key: once the horses understand the routine, they follow our lead and thrive within it.

HS: How does the feeding programme change during this period?

RK: At the start of prep, feeding is kept relatively light. The aim early on is to ensure the horses are relaxed and adapting well to the routine.

They are typically fed three times a day in the early stages, with light rations that are gradually built up. About four to five weeks out from the sale, we increase that to four feeds a day and tailor the programme depending on how each individual horse is developing physically.

We also use feeding strategically, for example, bringing horses in for a lunchtime feed helps them associate the stable as a positive, rewarding environment.

HS: How do you avoid overloading these young horses physically?

RK: It’s about a gradual build-up. We’re very fortunate to have excellent facilities, including multiple lunge rings and a large arena, and it’s important those surfaces are well maintained and forgiving.

We start lightly, so horses aren’t overexerted before they’ve built a basic level of fitness. Over time, we increase the workload, aiming for them to comfortably lunge for around 10 minutes by the end, five minutes in each direction.

Equally, monitoring is essential. If a horse isn’t responding, we’ll ease back and give them time, perhaps allowing more turnout rather than persisting with work that isn’t benefiting them.

HS: Do you prepare them for the sales environment itself?

RK: Yes, they’re accustomed to being exercised in a string, so they’re used to walking and being shown. Towards the end of prep, we’ll also do practice showing, working on straight lines and standing up correctly. A lot of that is then refined once we arrive at the sales.

HS: What does your daily routine look like during the sales?

RK: You want to be in early to check that everything is in order and that there are no issues from overnight.

From there, you tailor the routine to the individual horse. Some may need a lunge to take the edge off, while others, especially if they’ve had a busy day previously, might just need a quiet hand-walk to conserve energy.

Throughout the day, the focus is on presentation, making sure each horse shows to its best advantage, behaves itself well, and suits the person handling it.

HS: How much thought goes into presentation and marketing at the sales?

RK: A huge amount. Small details can influence a buyer’s perception, even down to how a horse looks beside a particular handler.

You’re always thinking about the type of buyer the horse might suit and sometimes pointing them in that direction, even if they hadn’t initially shortlisted the horse.

At the same time, you need to be aware of the market. Valuing the horse correctly is key, and if a horse is struggling to meet expectations, you may need to adjust and be realistic to secure a result on the day.

HS: Finally, what are your key tips for presenting yearlings?

RK: You’re always learning. One of the most important things is having a consistent, experienced team who understand your standards and how you like horses to be presented, and we are very lucky to have such a team who do the sales with us.

A cohesive team can read a horse and get the best out of it. Sales seasons are long, so having the right people around you, both at home and on the road, is essential.

Putting a system in place that works for you, and sticking to it, is a big part of achieving consistent results.

THE ITBA Yearling Sales Preparation Workshop, funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the Equine Technical Support Scheme, will take place on Friday, July 31st from 10.45am to 12.30pm at Baroda Stud, Co Kildare.

The workshop will include a walk through Baroda Stud with youngstock inspections and discussions on sale preparation, including preparation routines, nutrition and farrier work.

Workshop tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite and are discounted at €10 for ITBA Members and are €20 for non-members. Email Hannah at hmarks@itba.ie for members’ discount code. Early booking is recommended, as places are limited. Parking is restricted at Baroda Stud, so attendees are asked to park at ITBA HQ and a bus will be organised to take attendees to the stud. The bus will leave ITBA at 10.45am.