As the winter sets in and September looms at the end, we breeders are starting to ponder our next season’s mating list. We are faced with our annual dilemma, peruses Marianne Thomson.
Just yesterday I was talking to fellow breeders “Which stallions are you using this coming season?” We all dream of the Million Rand Sale, the July or Met or RTR Cup winners. We all dread the horse we need to buy back or deal and wheel with.
We mostly silkify our pigs ears regarding our own mares. We all have irrational attachments to our “old families and their daughters of daughters of aunts into the fourth generation”. Economics are getting tougher each year with our input costs escalating with factors beyond our control. I sat last night and did some very basic calculations.
This will and can be shot to little humbling bits by the clever people (with or without vested interests). I took the BSA 2014 Yearling Sale list, showing Top Sires by aggregate and average (page 14 ). I then divided the Average price for yearlings with the cost of the service as advertised in the 2013 Sires Breeders Handbook. (Please note that I am fully aware of all the permutations and deals possible but that is incalculable.)
This gives me a rough guide as to who to use this coming season if I want to stick to the “small profit” dictum.
Keep in mind the Black type quotient in the mares sent to the “Big Boys” versus that of their humbler sisters visiting the “Lesser Boys”. Another formula to keep in mind is the old one 20% of value of mare + Stallion Fee x 2 = Value of Yearling – not that we can do anything about that as the buyer is not concerned with that.
Average sold for in 2014 over 2013 fee
• Silvano 7.0
• Captain Al 4.06
• Western Winter 5.30
• Var 4.54
• Dynasty 3.42
• Trippi 3.93
• Fort Wood 2.86
• Visionaire 17.45
• Judpot 10.88
• Jay Peg 8.93
• Tiger Ridge 3.47
• Black Minnaloushe 5.48
• Ideal World 5.16
• Mambo in Seattle 6.92
• Kahal 3.56
• Mogok 7.70
• Querari 24.20
• Horse Chestnut 15.0
• Toreador 14.70
• Go Deputy 9.85
• Seventh Rock 10.75
• Noordhoek Flyer 18.0
• Miesque’s Approval 5.5
• Antonius Pius 14.66
• AP Answer 12.68
• Brave Tin Soldier 9.95
• Sail from Seattle 21.85
• Argonaut 10.0
• Windrush 8.66
• Greys Inn 5.0
• Muhtafal 12.05
• Count du Bois 10.65
• King’s Chapel 18.33
• King’s Apostle 12.20
• Warm White Night 12.20
• Lateral 15.66
• Great Britain 42.4
• Rebel King 10.10
• Elusive Fort 37.40
• Just as Well 15.50
• Rock of Rochelle 15.0
• Kildonan 29.0
• Ashaawes 10.4
• Dupont 44.0
The only conclusion I draw here is to aim lower, keep my head down and see if I can make a small profit each year until the export market opens up. Hopefully still in my sentient time.
