Appraising Requires Photography Skills

As a horse owner for over three decades, I have taken my fair share of odd horse photos. You know the kind, where the head is giant on a tiny pea body, or the rump is enormous and the horse's front end is hidden from view...Often these types of photos are taken by those inexperienced with the horse's body, acceptable proportions, and even how their camera works.

Most of us shoot with digital cameras now. Even our phones act as cameras, though with much fewer options and settings than a traditional SLR camera. I can't even remember the last time I thought about having film developed.

As an appraiser, I have had to develop my photography skills. Appraising requires a minimum of 5 views of the horse: 1 left side, 1 right side, 1 head (close up), 1 full front from ears to hooves, and 1 hind end, from rump to hooves. Of course, we also like to have a few action shots and even show photos for our reports, but those 5 I just mentioned are non-negotiable to document the identity and condition of the horse being appraised. I used to take help with me to handle the horse and also shoot pictures so I was sure that *something* would turn out in an acceptable manner.

I took a photography class and even learned how to develop my own film and prints. I have attended clinics about horse photography and read many articles on the subject (check out back issues of Horse & Rider, Equus, or Cowboys & Indians). And, I am fortunate to have three friends who are professional equestrian photographers.

I thought it was time to share the few tips and tricks I have learned. These are very basic, but will really help improve your photos.

Scope out the location before hand. Find a flat, level area to pose the horse, with as few background distractions as possible. Grass, fence lines, sky and clean barns are good; tractors, cars, and other animals are distracting. Don’t be embarrassed to ask the handler to walk a distance with the horse to photograph in the most flattering location.

Speaking of flattering, look for good lighting. Especially on sunny days, notice where the shadows are falling to improve the positioning of your subject to catch the most light and have the shadow opposite of you. This is essential for the features like musculature and coloration to be obvious in the photos. The camera will never be as sensitive as your eye. On cloudy days or indoors, use the flash!

Be patient, but be smart. If the subject is anxious and dancing, don’t wait for the perfect shot. Take a MILLION pictures. A few of them will turn out.

Position yourself in the best spot to capture the horse without distortion.
For profile shots, stand facing the horse, just behind the shoulder. Point the camera toward the shoulder. That way there is no curve or distortion. If the horse is small, or the background is distracting, knell down and take the photos. That will have the horse fill most of the frame.
For headshots, be in line with the horse’s cheek. If you are positioned too far forward, the muzzle will be large and the ears / neck will be disproportionately small.

Don’t wait for the perfect ear position. This can be especially frustating if you are working with a camera with a slow shutter speed - from the time you "see" what you want, to the time you "press" the button, to the time the camera "clicks" the photo could be several seconds. Just take a bunch of photos. Or, if the horse is concerned about something behind it and keeps turning its ears back to hear, considering turning the horse around where you can use that distraction to your advantage.


I hope these hard learned lessons help you to enjoy your horse.

First-Ever Equine Home Care Nursing Program Launches in December: First Program of Its Kind in Nation

If you ever experienced the confusion and frustration of trying to manage your horse after surgery or a significant injury, you may be interested in this unique program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s New Bolton Center, in Kennett Square, PA, a highly respected veterinary teaching hospital.

At the potential cost of hundreds of dollars per day, most of us cannot afford to leave the horse at a vet clinic or rehabilitation facility to receive after-care. But, if you are not a vet or trained in horse health, it can be a daunting task to manage your "recovering" horse at home. Injections, medications, checking vital signs, changing bandages and wraps, and even observing the horse for even the slightest change can be scary and time consuming. And, heaven forbid you have to handle a horse that is supposed to be kept calm, in a stall, or immobile. Not only is it taxing emotionally and physically for the horse; it will be the same for you.

Let me know what you think about this: First-Ever Equine Home Care Nursing Program Launches in December: First Program of Its Kind in Nation

May all your horses stay safe this winter!

Denmark Horse Stabled At Home Wins Grand National Steeplechase

Percussionist, making his first United States start after a successful career on the flat and over fences in Europe, exploded through the stretch to win the $250,000 Grand National (Gr. 1), featured race of the Far Hills Races on Saturday, Oct. 23.

Owned by Morten Buskop and Old Friends Stable, Percussionist ran the Grand National’s 2 5/8 miles in 5:00.40 on firm turf. Software executive Buskop and his wife, a lawyer, care for Percussionist at their small yard outside Copenhagen, Denmark, exercising the nine-year-old before going to their jobs each day.

Congress Sale: Dramatic Improvement Over Last Year

October 22, 2010
Press Release

In the early morning light of Saturday, October 16th, Quarter Horse breeders, trainers and owners began to trickle into the Ohio Expo Center for the Congress Super Sale.

People roamed the stalls behind the sale arena in the Lausche Building, getting a last minute preview.

The high seller of the event was Huntin For Chocolate, a renowned western pleasure stallion. Purchased for $300,000 by Darol Rodrock, the 1996 gray Quarter Horse will remain in Morgantown, Kentucky at Gumz Farms.

His 2011 stud fee will be $2,000, with concessions going to point earning mares and mares with outstanding bloodlines.

Statistics for the sale were up across the board, with the sale grossing nearly $1.2 million, up 36 percent from last year. The average sale price was $8,085, which is up 40 percent. 80 percent of the horses sold, with the top six, including Huntin For Chocolate, selling for more than $20,000.

The top selling yearling, Biodiesel, went for $14,800 to Sherry Valo. The colt by Diesel Only and out of a Thoroughbred mare, Sun Rea Teck, is an outstanding hunter under saddle prospect, according to previous owner Page Quarterman.

Overall, however, proven performance horses sold better than prospects. The average yearling sold for $4,891, while the average three and four year old sold for more than $6,000.

For full results of the Congress Super Sale, please visit www.professionalauction.com.

Showmanship Trends at the Western Paint World

October 15, 2010
Jennifer Barbee for The Equine Chronicle

Held each October in Bakersfield, CA, the Western Paint World Show is the last APHA approved show of the year in California. While known for its typically large class sizes and ability to earn final year-end points at the State level, the Western Paint World is also becoming an important show for exhibitors polishing their performance before the Fall World Championship Show in November.

I attended the Western Paint World Show on Friday, October 15th to watch the Halter and Showmanship Classes. I was especially interested in spotting trends and tips to enhance my own performance in Showmanship.

The patterns are attached for your review. As is often the case with “straight line” patterns, the patterns were deceptively simple on paper. I was impressed that all of the exhibitors I watched managed the jog around the “blind” right turn easily, with no one knocking over the cone.

In both the novice and regular patterns, the back up, set up and final ¾ turn were the elements where the winners distinguished themselves.

The back is a popular component of current patterns because it allows the judge to assess your control of your horse’s body and your ability to use invisible cues. If your horse doesn’t have a smooth flowing back up on curves and a straight line, now is the time to start practicing on that for next season. Some exhibitors had to tug on the lead for each backward step, but the horses that backed off of body language and hand position alone were the ones who earned the highest scores. This was especially apparent in the Classic and Masters divisions.

Also, the fast and accurate set up was rewarded. The winner of the Classic Amateur Showmanship had a beautiful go. When she asked for the halt at the judge to set up for inspection, the mare was already set behind. A quick move of the left front hoof and the set up was nailed – less than 3 seconds! Two Novice exhibitors put in smooth flowing patterns, but after the set up, their horses moved a front leg. Both appeared to notice, but did not attempt to reset the leg, costing both exhibitors ribbons.

Moving the pivot foot is considered a major fault in Showmanship and carries a hefty penalty. A handful of exhibitors had trouble keeping the foot planted in the final 270 turn, and more than a few failed to “complete” their turn before trotting away. The judges seemed to respond most favorably to the exhibitors that completed each movement, paused, and then went onto the next element.

Showmanship is an event where personality and style can help create a favorable impression in the judge’s mind. Most exhibitors were dressed tastefully, with monochromatic jackets and slacks. More than a few sported black, and asymmetrical patterns were abundant, especially with white and gold trim.

Some of the stand out designs included a Novice Amateur who wore a black jacket with shiny kelly green swirling around from the left shoulder to the right hip and a Novice Youth who displayed an Ed Hardy-tattoo-type design of a heart with wings on the back of her white jacket, above black slacks. The winner of the 14-18 wore an embellished-at-the-waist white jacket with burgundy slacks and topped it off with a burgundy hat. Yup, a burgundy hat! She looked spectacular, turned in a beautiful, floating pattern, and complimented her sorrel horse perfectly. And, I only saw one brocade jacket, signaling the end of that trend, perhaps.

While the Showmanship class sizes seemed down from the prior year, it was a great day to watch, observe, and learn!

Los Alamitos Sale average up 5% from '09

The 2010 Los Alamitos Equine Sale enjoyed an increase of 29.91% in gross sales and an increase of 25.40% in total gross sales including repurchases according to final sale figures. A total of 466 head went through the auction ring during the two day sale on October 2 and 3 for total gross sales including repurchases of $6,059,800. In comparison, 366 horses (including repurchases) sold for $4,832,300 in 2009. As for total sales, 380 horses sold for $4,731,900 – compared to 306 horses sold for $3,642,200 in 2009.

Numbers for the Los Alamitos Equine Sale were up across the board, as the average price of $12,452 for total horses represented an increase of 5%, while the average price for yearlings sold of $13,211 was up 4.4% from last year’s figures.

“We are pleased with the numbers for this year’s Equine Sale, especially with a 25% increase in total gross sales,” said Dominic “Bud” Alessio, the president of the sale’s managing company, Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Association. “The sale went smoothly, the weather was beautiful, and the sale grounds looked terrific. On behalf of the Los Alamitos Equine Sale, I’d like to thank our wonderful consignors and buyers for a very positive sale. I believe that our consignors and buyers were very pleased with this event.”

“We were happy with the way the second day went,” added Bonnie Vessels. “We’re not taking a single horse back home with us and I can’t remember the last time we did that. We sold every single horse. We’re happy with that.”

The high seller at the Los Alamitos Equine Sale was Aquaholic (Hip #139), a colt sired by Splash Bac out of AQHA champion broodmare Runaway Wave. Consigned by Lucas Racing Inc., Aquaholic was purchased by Salvador Berron of Mexico City, Mexico for $150,000. The colt was one of two $100,000 purchases on the day. The second high seller was the First Down Dash colt Travesty (Hip #235), who was purchased for $112,000 by MPC International Trading of Monterrey, Mexico. Lazy Creek Ranch consigned Travesty, who is out of a full sister to 2007 World Champion Blues Girl Too.

The high seller on day two was the First Down Dash colt Down At The Lake (Hip #417) purchased for $106,000 by Dennie and Kris Hill of Idaho. “We loved Down At The Lake’s looks and confirmation,” said Dennie Hill. “We watched him move and we liked what we saw. He’s a First Down Dash colt so that’s another thing that we love. It’s been six or seven years since I’ve purchased a horse for this much money, but we figured that it would take at least $100,000 to buy him. We talked a lot about the possibility of spending $100,000 on him and we made the decision that he was worth it.

The day’s second top seller and fourth overall highest seller was the Walk Thru Fire colt Hit It Big (Hip #355). Purchased by Ed and Theresa DeNike, Hit It Big is a full brother to 2010 Governor’s Cup Futurity winner Hot Hitter and half brother to 2008 Governor’s Cup Futurity winner and 2009 Governor’s Cup Derby winner Hard Hitting. Hit It Big is out of the 2008 PCQHRA Broodmare of the Year Chickasis and from the same family as 2009 World Champion Freaky.

A total of 23 horses sold for at least $50,000 at the 2010 Los Alamitos Equine Sale or nearly double the figure of twelve $50,000 purchases from last year’s sale.

Ed Allred was the top consignor with 72 heads selling for a total of $1,199,500. Burns Ranch and Burns Ranch Agent combined to sell 72 head for $1,180,000, while Vessels Stallion Farm sold 34 head for $495,900. Jose Flores was the top buyer by gross figures with seven horses purchased for $224,200. Salvador Berron was the second leading buyer with one horse purchased for $150,000, while Rachuan Suarez was third with nine horses purchased for $139,700.

For the full story, visit http://www.losalamitosequinesale.com.

Champion Thoroughbred Mare Rachel Alexandra Retired

Champion Thoroughbred Mare Rachel Alexandra Retired

Horses are brands in and of themselves - and I don't mean the mark applied to them on a ranch! Rachel Alexandra was the 2009 Horse of the Year and is being retired on a semi-high note. She will be bred in hopes of producing "super" off-spring.

When is it time to call it quits? Even with a breathtaking race horse, owners have to consider what's in the best interest of their animal, and the best way to manage their brand. The future as a producer will be exciting for this mare.

GUILTY: Defrauding Horse Buyers!

"Buyer Beware!" No where is it more true than in the horse industry. Based on public perceptions, horse 'dealers' are akin to used car salemen - willing to say anything to close a deal.

A California Woman plead guilty to Federal Charges after defrauding 61 horse buyers over the internet. When you look at ads on Dreamhorse.com, Equine.com, or Agdirect, do you ever see ones that look "too good to be true?" The horse is impeccably groomed with a show record a mile long, and priced so low because, as the ad says, the seller has hit hard times / is going through a divorce / just lost their job (fill in the blank). Now you know that there are folks like this lady out there putting up pictures of beautiful horses and telling stories of fantastic pedigrees and accomplishments - most, if not all, of which are lies. I am pleased to see that the FBI and Postal Inspectors took the fraud seriously.

If you are in the market to buy a new horse, work with a reputable agent or trainer. See the horse in person, check references of the seller, search the internet to see if their name comes up in either a positive or negative light, and insist on a vet check. Even a very inexpensive horse can become expensive if it has undisclosed health or soundness issues! As you can see from this particular case, a "money back guarantee" is only as good as the person or business standing behind it.

Meet Dr. Green

Do you know “Dr. Green?” He’s a euphuism for time-off, stall rest, and limited turn out. Not long ago, veterinarians were quick to recommend Dr. Green if your horse suffered a significant injury. More importantly, these animals frequently become injured when they are at the peak of performance and physical condition. The process of injury, healing, and repair often takes its toll on performance and condition adding more time to the goal of return to service. Your horse’s value may plummet given this uncertainty.

As appraisers, we inquire about a horse’s soundness and veterinary history. I have seen an increase in the number of previously injured horses we’re appraising who are now returning to full work. If a horse has healed, and the injury is not likely to reoccur, the horse may be considered serviceably sound. Each case is unique, and we always consult with veterinarians and experts, but often a horse returned to full work will be valued similarly to before the injury (less any momentum in training or competition that may have occurred).

I am not a veterinarian, but I am fascinated by the advances in equine health care, especially in regards to injury recovery and prevention. Simply put, with advances in regenerative medicine and rising popularity of rehabilitation clinics, there are many more options for your horse to recover fully.

Regenerative medicine includes stem cells, platelet rich plasma (PRP), autologous conditioned serum (ACS), and extracellular matrix (ECM). Variations of these treatments are being offered throughout the country with more speed and precision than ever before. The idea of using these devices for tendon or ligament repair is to improve quality and reduce time of healing by influencing the body’s own wound repair process. Using these regenerative techniques, alone or in combination, appears to be improving the recovery rate and return to performance of horses in a wide range of disciplines.

The choices you make about treatment and rehabilitation can markedly affect the value of your horse - and if he will be able to return to peak performance. For example, without regenerative medicine, lesions of the tendon or ligament tend to take longer to heal, with less parallel orientation of the fibers, and often incompletely, leaving pockets of fluid surrounded by irregular scar tissue. Such tendons or ligaments are not as functional as the original, un-injured organ. With regenerative medicine, these lesions appear to heal with more parallel fiber alignment and similar architecture to the original tendon (as viewed on ultrasound).

Even with the advances made in the field of regenerative medicine, the task of rehabilitating the injured horse remains a challenge. Simply turning a horse out into a pasture or standing it in a stall for months on end is impractical for most horse owners. Once an injury begins to heal, architectural restoration alone will not resolve the problem. Those new cells must be conditioned (or “taught”) to function as well as or better compared to the original.

So how do those new cells get taught? Farms specializing in rehabilitation are gaining popularity across the country. Working closely with your veterinarian, farrier, nutritionist and other equine experts, these rehabilitation clinics help to recondition your horse. Depending on the injury and the individual horse’s needs, a systematic approach to reconditioning may involve swimming, aqua-treadmill, regular treadmill, vibration therapy, good old fashioned hand walking and other alternatives like chiropractors or equine message therapy.

Now, the responsibility is on you as a horse owner. Talk to your veterinarian and look up “equine rehabilitation” for your State or area on Google. If you chose some of these alternative therapies, you may just return your horse to his prior winning form.

(Thanks to Pacific Crest Equine and Annadale Equine Center for some of the details used in this posting.)

Buying a Horse (Avoiding Misery and Financial Ruin)

Usually, when a person calls for an appraisal of a horse they'd like to buy, they don't really need an appraisal. Often, they are a first time horse buyer, and the parent of a horse crazy kid. They just need someone objective to talk with about this seemingly huge financial step. Often, I unknowingly validate what their trainer has already told them...and talk them out of needing my service. But, if they become better educated and deal with ethical horse people, they will stay in the Industry and spend money to help us all grow and prosper. (They will meet their fair share of shady characters in the horse world without my help!)

I've received more phone calls from prospective purchasers this week than I have year to date. Summer's here and people want to buy horses. Of course, it's a great time to buy - prices are still generally low and there are many horses on the market.

Rachel of Equine Legal Solutions did an excellent job outlining what all horse buyers should consider. I think this is a great post, so I thought I would pass it along to you!

Equine Legal Solutions Horse Law: Buying Your First Horse: A Guide to Avoiding Misery and Financial Ruin

Good luck and happy shopping!
~Jennifer

Valuation for Mortality Insurance

You want mortality insurance on your equine partner, but determining value can be tricky. (By Gretchen Ditto)

Every horse has value. In choosing an equine mortality insurance policy you must consider the amount of coverage you actually need. You can insure up to 100 percent of the value of your horse, but obviously, the more expensive the horse, the higher the premiums will be. Rates for equine mortality insurance depend on several factors, including the horse's current value, age, sex, breed and discipline.

For most owners, value is the one variable that is the most difficult to determine. Basically the question you want to answer is "How much would it cost to buy another horse similar to mine?"

Insurers suggest that you factor in several considerations to arrive at a figure:

- Purchase price. The price you paid is a good starting point for gauging value. However, your horse's worth is likely to change over time, so there are other factors to consider as well.
- Training. The more training you've put into your horse, from ground manners to skills in your discipline, the more his value will have increased above his purchase price.
- Competition records. Your horse's showring successes are a good way to substantiate his current training levels.
- Breeding record. Successful offspring demonstrate the worth of mares and stallions. Higher values can be justified by the selling prices and performances of progeny as well as other measures of success, such as a stallion's fertility or a mare's ability to carry foals to term.
- Appraisals. Another way to determine value is an evaluation by an equine appraiser. Many are breed-specific. To ensure an accurate appraisal, find a professional with a thorough working knowledge of your breed and/or discipline. Some insurers also accept evaluations conducted by veterinarians.
- Market comparison. Even clippings from classified ads can help substantiate your horse's current value. Some insurers recommend keeping a file that shows the asking prices of horses similar to yours, especially if you don't have other documents to support an increase in value.

If you decide to insure your horse for more than his purchase price, your insurer is likely to ask you to complete a value-substantiation form to justify your figure. Sometimes no additional documentation is required; however, if you file a claim you may find that the burden of proof is on you.

Most agents recommend that you keep an ongoing file of relevant information, such as your horse's show record, training fees and breeding record. That little bit of planning can alleviate the frustration of having to scramble for the information later, during a time that's already emotionally difficult.

Just A Horse? I think not!

JUST A HORSE

From time to time, people tell me, "lighten up, it's just a horse," or, "that's a lot of money for just a horse".

They don't understand the distance traveled, the time spent or the costs involved for "just a horse." Some of my proudest moments have come about with "just a horse."

Many hours have passed and my only company was "just a horse," but I did not once feel slighted. Some of my saddest moments have been brought about by "just a horse," and in those days of darkness, the gentle touch of "just a horse" gave me comfort and reason to overcome the day.

If you think it's "just a horse," then you will probably understand phrases like "just a friend," "just a sunrise," or "just a promise."

"Just a horse" brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy. "Just a horse" brings out the compassion and patience that make me a better person. Because of "just a horse" I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly to the future.

So for me and folks like me, it's not "just a horse" but an embodiment of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past, and the pure joy of the moment.

"Just a horse" brings out what's good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries of the day.

I hope that someday they can understand that it's not "just a horse" but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from
being "just a woman/man."

Anonymous

A Special Report from Ms. Two-Bits

A special report from Ms. Two-Bits:

The rain poured from the foreboding sky, aided by swift winds and ominous clouds. On April 21st, the “Show of the Year” kicked off at Rancho Murieta, CA.

One of APHA’s Top Twenty Shows in the prior year, this event is jointly sponsored by two of the most active Paint Clubs in California, CPHA and 7CPHC, and draws a wide variety of exhibitors from across the Pacific Northwest, Southwest, and West Coast.

Veterans of this show know the mid-April weather in the Sacramento Valley is unpredictable. Each year, we’re presented with a combination of rain, wind, and baking sun, changing through out each day. To be prepared for just about every possible climate change, trailers & tack stalls are packed with heavy winter blankets, spring sheets, fans, and tarps; vendors have an assortment of hat covers, rain ponchos, and sun block to handle the variations, too.

Even while dressing for protection from the elements, the resilient equestrians at the 2010 Show of the Year managed to be fashionable. Would you consider matching your shoes to your horse’s? I was immediately drawn to brightly colored Wellington style, pull-on rain boots in the center of the expansive covered arena. Then I noticed the polo wraps on the horse being lunged coordinated with the boots on the handler. I began to realize that several ladies from different barns were wearing other colors and had matching wraps on their horses. Sure, it’s common to match your show outfit and saddle pad, but this trend takes coordination to a whole new level. Most of the handlers said they bought their rain boots at Wal-Mart or Target for less than $30. Pink and lime were popular colors, and preppy plaid was a dominant pattern.

Speaking of pink, it was everywhere! There were pink ready bags filled with grooming essentials, pink Pinto World logo’d windbreakers and hooded sweat shirts, pink ribbons in a Walk-Trot exhibitor’s pigtails, and pink Jelly Belly jellybeans in the exhibitor’s gift bag. A tiny pooch wore a pale, ballet slipper pink quilted coat with a faux fur border to keep warm. Hot pink polo wraps and bell boots were spotted on several horses. Iridescent fuchsia pink bugle beads made gorgeous short fringe on a Tinkerbell inspired youth outfit. One confident Amateur exhibitor even had a complete bubble gum pink ensemble!

Another color trend was navy. Attractive with almost any color of horse, navy may just be the new black. Go with everything, neutral, and flattering on most skin tones, I saw almost a dozen navy-based outfits in the Classic and Masters Amateur Trail. Several were navy head to toe, but a few went for bold blocks of color, like white across the shoulders or gold & red leather swirls from the waist up, all dripping with crystal adornment. Most paired navy chaps with solid colored navy show pads under their saddles for a really sleek, consistent look.

More classic and understated than the ladies, the male exhibitors wore solid colored tops. White and blue were the prevalent choices, all paired with black chaps. I was really pleased to see the return of patterned show pads. Last season, it seemed like you needed a solid color pad to match every outfit. At this show, I saw quite a few carefully coordinated pads with patterns. And, boy, did they pop! This looked especially sharp on the men’s horses. The patterned pad seemed to be a way for males to express personality and individuality in a way the female competitors typically do with over the top outfits.

California is a liberal state. Seeing statements in the ring, however, is a new trend. I saw considerably less bling on saddles. In fact, several top placing horses in the Senior Trail and Western Pleasure were ridden in saddles with virtually no silver. Were the exhibitors saying, “Enough is enough?” It certainly proves that you don’t need fancy tack to win! I also saw a couple of folks wearing pink Breast Cancer Awareness Ribbon Pins. And one of the top trainers in the Industry wore a show top with bejeweled Peace Symbols. This is an iconic reminder of how lucky we are to live in a place where we can pursue “silly hobbies” like horse showing.

I do realize it’s way more than a hobby – it’s a passion. To see all of the photos Ms. Two-Bits took at the show, please visit The Equine Chronicle's Gallery for Around the Rings at the Show of the Year.

Donations

To be assured that your donation is proper and correctly documented under IRS regulations, contact a qualified equine attorney or certified public accountant.

If your horse is worth $500,000 or more, the entire qualified appraisal report must be attached to your tax return when it is filed.

Adding Value

While it is true that horse ownership can be expensive, and the emotional rewards usually outweigh the financial benefits of being involved in this sport, there are ways to add value to your horse. As Spring arrives, many of us are planning our competition schedule. Consider setting goals that will enhance the value of your horse. It is possible that the financial rewards of horse showing will surprise you.

As you manage your horse’s career, it’s important to consider if you are participating in the “right” competitions. This is most pressing if you plan to sell your horse, but you might not realize that enhancing your horse’s value is good for the Industry, provides bragging rights, and builds long-term equity in your horse. Many horses are not specifically marketed for sale. Rather, potential buyers seek out horses of the highest caliber, horses they’ve admired at shows, or horses that are highly recommended by their trainers and fellow equestrians. Having buyers come to you is ideal in this tough horse-selling environment.

As a horse lover, you probably have an idea about the type of accomplishments that make a horse sound impressive and valuable. These vary from discipline to discipline, but the competitions that you dream of are those that make potential buyers drool, too: the AQHA Congress, the National Finals Rodeo, the Scottsdale Classic, the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, just to name a few.

If you have a national caliber horse, do your research to develop a competition schedule that includes at least one major event each year. The World Show for your breed association, major multi-breed shows like the Reichert Celebration, and discipline specific events like the National Barrel Horse Association World Championships have the prestige and are well known throughout the equestrian community. Some competitions are so well marketed and respected that they add value to your horse just for being qualified to attend (think AQHA World Show).

For those who show at the Regional level, you can build your horse’s worth by seeking out those circuits that are respected in your area. Competing against good horses and doing well is impressive. Consistently winning at local or regional shows let potential buyers know your horse could step up and be competitive at the next level, too. Shows that are aggressively marketed in your region are those that will be best known by potential buyers. That’s where you want to spend your time and money.

After mapping out this season’s show schedule, it’s time for the two most important things you can do to enhance your horse’s value.

First, document your accomplishments. Photos and videos of your horse being exhibited are not just selling tools. They are invaluable if you have to determine the worth of your horse after an injury or worse. Accomplishments should also be documented. The show secretary is not infallible, so rely solely on their information at your own discretion. I have a three ring binder in which I keep the prize list for the shows I attend and my entry information. Jot down placings and the size of the classes. My notes help me validate the information reported to the breed association or other governing body, like USEF or NCHA.

Secondly, find ways for your horse to earn money. Especially with younger horses, there are many opportunities to compete in Futurities that pay handsome purses. From Working Cow Horse, to Reining, and Barrel Racing, there’s money to be won. But all horses have big money prizes in various disciplines. The Equine Sports Medicine $250,000 Challenge at the Reichert Celebration rewards Western Pleasure Horses. The United States Hunter Jumper Association has a $100,000 Hunter Classic. And, many local shows offer sweepstakes and jackpot classes. Anyone remember Ride-A-Buck? Also, enroll your horse in programs that pay. A good example is the APHA’s Breeders Trust Program. APHA paid a little more than $15 per point earned in their approved competitions. These earnings become part of your horse’s permanent record. And, who doesn’t want a horse that pays his own way?

Work in a few larger competitions, document your results, and earn money doing it: the perfect recipe for adding value to your horse.

A Cost of Doing Business

I am often saddened by the circumstances under which clients call me. Appraisals are mostly fun, but it tugs on my heart strings when I hear of a horse lost to a terrible accident. It's even more difficult when I hear of the financial hardship this places on the owner.

Several years ago, a promising young show mare was being readied for a run at her first World Championship title. The industry was a-buzz with news of this "amazing mare" and many people were hoping to catch a glimpse of a spectacular performance. Just a couple of weeks prior to the highly anticipated event, the mare perished in an accident at the trainer's facility.

Later, we were contacted to perform an appraisal to assess the mare's value at the time of her death. Litigation was pending and the parties could not agree to how much the mare was worth. I was surprised to learn that the mare was NOT insured at the time of her demise. Her owner felt it was too expensive to insure her!

Five years later, a settlement has not yet been reached between the parties.

Please do not let this unfortunate situation happen to you. Insuring your show horses is a cost of doing business. It's also a very smart investment for those of us who cannot simply afford to replace our horse in the event of the unthinkable.

With the economic downturn and downward pressure on sale prices, I have recommended that you make sure your horse is not over-insured as a way to save money. But I hope that you realize the importance of having your horse insured, period. Under-insuring or skipping insurance altogether is a mistake for all but the least expensive horses.

Insurance provides a financial asset to compensate you in the event of catastrophic loss. Some policies also cover loss of use or medical expenses. And, insurance documents your honest assessment of what your horse is worth. If the unthinkable happens, there is proof of the horse's insured value - even if it is not equal to the fair market value of the horse at the time of his / her demise.

Please investigate the options and determine which insurance product best meets your individual circumstances. There are many companies from which to choose, many offering discounts to members of various breed associations. Ask for references from your prospective agent. Hearing from current customers about their claims experience is a wise way to pick a company you can trust.

Insurance is one of those things I hope you never actually need. But, if you should need it, you'll be happy you did the legwork in advance to protect yourself.

Publication

I am happy to say my blog post, The Value of Unsoundness, was recently published by The Horse Resource Magazine, an IN based horse periodical. Thanks, Tina!
Check it out at http://www.thehorseresourcemagazine.net/

The Horse | Horse Fraud Trial: Winning the Selleck Case

The Horse | Horse Fraud Trial: Winning the Selleck Case

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The value of unsoundness

As appraisers, we are often asked to appraise horses that are unsound in some way. With age, competition, and training, horses are expected to develop "issues." Some of these can be treated with minor maintenance, and others require more invasive efforts to continue a horse's competitive career.

It would be uncommon for an aged show horse to withstand the rigors of a competitive discipline without some maintenance (supplements, cold hosing, hock injections are a few examples) and even more unusual for a show ring veteran to be “completely sound.” I would be shocked to find a veterinarian to declare one as such.

Many owners are choosing to donate their serviceably sound horses to equestrian programs and non-profit organizations. These groups benefit from the time constrains and “it’s disposable” attitude of the competitive horse world. Horses with treatable injuries or which require maintenance are welcome additions to most programs. For a little TLC and some (often donated) veterinary service, they can add a talented, well trained mount to their stable.

If a horse is unsound with a poor prognosis for recovery, it may be more difficult to donate. A non-profit may not be willing to take on the burden of caring for a horse they cannot ride, but a school with a veterinary program may relish the opportunity to give students a real-life example to treat. If you are considering donation, research the options carefully. Some programs will notify the original owner if the horse is no longer suitable for their purpose; however, many just sell the horse without notification. And, vet schools may try untested treatments or even practice euthanasia. Know what your horse might experience, and determine what you can live with, before making the final decision.

In summary, we regularly appraise horses that have suffered injuries or experienced soundness issues. The value is determined based on the horse as perfect, then subtracting for the type of care they require and any the prospects for their future. A $100k horse which develops ringbone may be worth less to a buyer than one who develops navicular, because the latter is often managed with improved shoeing and drug therapy.

Currently being circulated on the Internet

MEMO

TO: President Barack Obama

RE: Economic Recovery Stimulus Ideas

Mr. President, it has come to my attention that you're having some challenges with the economy. If I understand things correctly, we're in a recession, consumer confidence and spending is down, credit is tight, investors are spooked, we need renewable energy, and health care costs are through the roof. Trillions of dollars, not to mention our future, are at stake. Mr. President, I'm just a regular citizen, but I think I have a solution.

Give every American a horse.

My proposal may not make sense to you at first, but let me give you a little background. First of all, horses in the U.S. are a multi-billion dollar industry, and that's just at my house. I suggest you have your economic advisors do a little research on the spending around horse ownership. You'd be surprised, Mr. President.

Start by visiting the tack and clothing retailers like State Line or Dover . Look at the variety of goods available there. Now take into account that every horse owner, especially if it's a woman, is buying not just one or two, but tons of these items. Believe me.

So my thinking is that if you give every American a horse, starting when they reach the horse-receptive age of 10, you're going to do two things: boost consumer confidence and boost spending immediately.

Horses make us feel good, and once Americans all own horses (at the government's expense, of course), they will all logically fall into the pattern that every horse owner succumbs to: accessorizing. For starters, we need horse-care implements like buckets and muck rakes, hoof picks and curry combs. And we need at least basic tack, halter, leadline, saddle, saddle pad, bridle and bit. But then the fun begins.

Zebra print leg wraps. Neon bright fly masks. An assortment of sheets and blankets for all seasons; you've got your cooler, your lightweight blanket, your medium blanket, your heavy blanket. Then there is your stable sheet and your pasture sheet. Also your hoodie, and tail wrap items.

And that's just the clothing for the horse. Don't get me started on the clothing for the rider, even if he or she doesn't show. Since most Americans don't have a basic riding wardrobe, the stores would be swamped for jeans, boots, breeches, T-shirts, dozens of pairs of cute boot socks, and the ubiquitous ball cap. Tell the retailers to get ready. It'll be Christmas all year long.

Now lets talk about support industries. In addition to the usual veterinarian and farrier expenditures, people also give their horses chiropractic, massage and acupuncture, not to mention buying more beauty products for their horses than they do for themselves. All those professions and industries will benefit. And of course there will be a big spike in hay and grain demand, so the farmers will be happy too.

You see, that's the secret to jump-starting consumer spending through my stimulus package. People will spend money on their horses when they won't spend money on anything else.

But, your advisors might say, there's a catch. Aren't we paying the price, in global warming, of the large number of livestock animals we currently have? They produce all that methane!

Ah, Mr. President, here is the real beauty of this idea. When you introduce the Methane-Assisted Natural Unrefined Renewable Energy plan (M.A.N.U.R.E.), you'll be a hero for coming up with an alternative, renewable, home-grown source of clean energy. Just challenge the energy gurus to come up with a methane gas collection system that can harness all the natural resource produced by all those horses to power our cities. Talk about shovel ready projects:Â M.A.N.U.R.E. fits the bill!

And you keep stressing how we need new industries for investment; well, under the M.A.N.U.R.E. plan you can sell Petroleum Offset Opportunity units to investors. By buying these units, investors can help us gradually convert from a petroleum-based economy to one based on horse P.O.O.

Health care costs will go down, too, as everyone cares for their horses their stress levels will go down. It is great therapy. You can give tax credits based on the amount of time people spend working, riding and hanging out with their horses, which will automatically make them healthier. (Don't tell the docs, but most horse owners already get their own basic healthcare from their vet.)

One more thing: everyone is annoyed by these corporate CEOs and their big bonuses in a down economy. So give the executives, say, one horse for every $100,000 of bonus money they've received. Those bonuses will be plowed back into the economy in no time.

Finally, because you, Mrs. O, and the girls are such role models, you can encourage us all by getting a pony for Sasha and Malia. It will teach them responsibility, help the First Lady plow the garden, and as a bonus: free fertilizer for the Rose Garden.


If you don't believe me that horse ownership stimulates spending, go ahead, Mr. President. Buy that pony for your girls.. You'll see.