SALE
HORSES
Todd
Martin Performance Horses specializes
in marketing reining horses. We offer young horses, horses started
under saddle, futurity prospects and finished show horses. Many of
these horses are sired from the top horses in the reining horse industry.
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I
have reprinted an article below to give you an idea of what is that
I look for in a reining prospect.
What
Do You Look For in a Reining Prospect?
By Todd Martin
What
do you look for in a reining prospect? I'm asked this question quite
often. What to look for in a reining prospect is largely dependent
on my client's commitment to the sport, combined with the level of
competition they desire. It is important that you know what that is
for yourself before you embark on the search for that special reining
horse. I answer this question based on the assumption that we are
looking for a green horse prospect, which is not to be confused with
looking for a finished reiner for the beginning rider. However, there
are a few key points of interest that I weigh when shopping for a
prospect:
Pedigree
- I know, "You can't ride the papers", but the breeding will help
increase the value of your horse upon
re-selling it. Its great grandsire is not of great importance to
me. My great grandfather was an outstanding handball player, but
I can't play a lick. I want to see that the sire has a performance
record, and it's just as important that its dam has a performance
record. This record may be on her or her offspring. Pedigree is
not a guarantee; rather, think of it as hedging your bet.
Age
- Some of the larger marquee reining competitions are based on a
horse's ability at a certain age. These events are called futurities
and derbies. If this is the level that you desire, then you need
to make sure the horse's age matches its level of training for the
age specific events. Do not look at a futurity prospect that has
90 days of training in July of its 3 year old year. On the other
hand, if it is that far behind in its training but fits your other
points of interest, it may be a steal for a 5 year old derby prospect.
(Futurities are at the end of a horse's 3 year old year and derbies
are during a horse's 4, 5 and now 6 year old year).
Roundpen
Work - When looking at prospects that may not be started
in training, I want to see how they handle themselves in the roundpen.
I want to see if they will naturally go to the ground deep with
their hocks when asked to rollback. I also want to see how they
naturally handle a lead change. I rarely pick a prospect that carries
its head high.
Conformation
- I like a prospect with low hocks and straight legs. I also like
a short back with a long hip. This confirmation is important to
me because I will be asking this horse to stop and use his hips
as well as to back a lot in the next couple of years. It is important
that he stays healthy and happy during this time. I also want to
see a clean neck that ties in high in the chest which will not get
in the way of his spins. All of these components help the horse
have a better chance to lift in the ribcage and to drive from behind.
Willingness and Attitude
- This is an important, often overlooked issue. You should enjoy
being around your horse, otherwise you will be less inclined to
ride it. Also, a horse with a good attitude is easier to train and
sale. Willingness is key. Your horse must-I repeat must-want to
do reining maneuvers. When you show, you will be judged on your
horse willfully performing all of the maneuvers of a reining pattern.
You will be judged not on the fact that he stopped, but that he
willfully stopped. Without this component, you will be marked down
in the pen.
Pretty
- Why pretty? Because everyone wants to ride a pretty horse. Not
to mention, it is much easier to sell a pretty horse than an ugly
one!
Price
- This is the last point of consideration. The more points of interest
that the horse in question fits, generally the higher the price.
It is important that price not be the most attractive part of the
horse, because more than likely it will be when selling it too.
Make sure that you are prepared to leave the horse in training long
enough for it to have a solid foundation in reining, especially
if you yourself are inexperienced in reining. Someone has to know
what they are doing, otherwise the horse's true potential may never
be realized. It is a no-win situation when you start with the idea
that you and your horse will learn together on your own with minimal
help. That is like saying, "I don't know calculus and neither does
my child, but I will teach you anyway." Again, someone must know
what they are doing if you plan on doing it well and in a reasonable
amount of time.
If you
are going to purchase a horse of an age that requires some training,
no matter what the event, consult with a trainer that you trust. Speak
with a trainer who has some working knowledge of the event that you
wish to pursue at the level that you wish to compete. Trainers like
to ride good horses, and they should know how to find a horse that
will fit you and your desires.
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