OBS January Horse Sale

We are coming up on the January mixed sale at Ocala Breeders' Sales Company (OBS), the 16th - the 18th. Unlike the mixed sale in October, which is only mares, both pregnant, not bred and a broodmare prospect, this sale will also include horses of racing age. We will be selling mares and spring yearlings only. A spring yearling is called such mostly because it has just turn one year old as of January 1. All thouroughbreds turn another year older on January 1 each year. What are weanlings now (foals that have been weaned from the mare, but are not 1 year old) will be these yearlings.

We will have 41 head of mares and yearlings in this sale. Some for us and some for clients.

The picture at left, is from an earlier OBS October sale from 2002. The mare's name is Fully Approved and she happened to be the highest priced mare at that sale.

There is a timing to sales depending on the age of the horse. From October through February is generally when public sales are held for broodmares, since foaling season starts aproximately mid February and goes through mid June... you can see why you would have a time constrant on when you can sell mares.

Yearlings are generally sold July through September, with the exception of the January mixed sales where they can be sold as "short yearlings" as they are termed in the horse business. I and most people in the business don't really like to consider the short yearling sales prices in the averages given out each year for yearling sales. Strictly because they are barely yearlings, having just turned yearling on January 1 as stated above. The yearlings sold in July through September have had time to become true yearlings and really reflect the market for such better than the spring yearling does.

The two year old sales generally run from February - June. That is another whole chapter, that I will jump into at a later date.

The OBS does show their auctions live online during the sale... if you would like you can visit their site during the dates shown. The sale usually starts around 10:30 - 11:00, it will be interesting watching.. http://www.obssales.com/