WHEN it comes to the potential future sales of young horses, key factors such as their rideability, temperament and good early production all come into play, the panel told a packed room at the Teagasc National Equine Conference in Limerick last Thursday.

No matter how talented a horse may be, if he/she is difficult, the price will fall, whereas there is always a very good market for responsive horses with good temperaments that can carry amateur riders around a 1.40m track.