Foal/Youngstock showcase/show - Essex/Suffolk/East Anglia

[zoeshiloh]

A very close friend has approached me about helping to organise a showcase of foals and youngstock at her yard in Suffolk (between Bury St Edmunds and Sudbury).

She has several foals, yearlings and two-year olds, and I have spoken to various other friends that would also like to participate, so entries wont be so much of a problem. The thing is, would anyone want to go and watch such a thing? My friend did suggest perhaps inviting an auctioneer along as well, so that after the show, anyone wishing to sell their foals etc could put them into an auction, similar to how they operate the foal sales in the Newforest (show followed by auction). Those that do not wish to sell their foals, can just leave after the show.

My friend has top notch facilities - indoor and outdoor schools, and a newly built cafe/toilet block. Because of her connections, we could most likely secure top county judges for the showing side of things.

Now, what I need to know, is would this appeal to owners/breeders/buyers - would people looking to purchase a foal come? Would it be worth organising a vet to be on site, or stipulate that any foals forward for the auction must have a 2 stage vetting certificate? We want this to be done properly, we certainly do not want it to be an amateur affair.

What sort of time frame are we looking at organising this? Would it be better to do it in November time when most foals will be weaned? Where should we advertise? All the little details etc... Any ideas or suggestions would be very welcome.

 

[StaceyTanglewood]

Can i bring my foal and yearling please xx

 

[juliehannah58]

If you could make it late Nov / early Dec I would like to bring my filly

I will also spread the word to a few breeders I know who I def. reckon would want to bring some youngstock, especially as he owns the stallions that sired them

 

[zoeshiloh]

In regards to time of the year - we are not too fussed, obviously my friend owns the facilities, and so books in advance not really a problem, lol - her only concern is if someone else wants to hire the school (which they occasionally do).

Another point I guess would be how far before show should the entries close?

How do people feel about the auction side of things? And with regards to vettings etc for foals/youngstock going forward for the auction?

 

[StaceyTanglewood]

I wouldnt make it too late - dont fancy doing it in December when the roads are horrible and its cold xx

i think the vetting for auction is a good idea as everyone would want that x

 

[S_N]

Well if you can guarantee an interest in the auction side of things, I'd be very interested in bringing my foal and 2yo. However, if the dates clash with the Tattersalls October Yearling Sales (books 1 to 3) or the Tattersalls Foal and Breeding Stock Sales in late November, early December, I won't be able to make it.

I think the vetting is a good idea, however, it should be at the buyers, not the vendors discretion - those who breed, spend enough as it is lol!

 

[eventrider23]

Plus also - the later it is the woolier and wilder the beasties might look and thus not be in their best coats, etc. I know we could rug them up but they woudl still be quite scruffy.

Fab idea tho and I would definitely be up for it...I would imagine a lot of other people would be as well but it would have to be a case of marketing it correctly as no one would have heard of it before....

I think it woul be fab from a showing POV especially as there are no shows/auctions specifically gearing towards this

 

[zoeshiloh]

SN - our biggest concern is having the people there that would actually be prepared to part with money! The trouble is, that we can see it being mainly spectators/competitors and not actually people looking to purchase a foal/youngster, especially at that time of the year.

TBH we have lots of people wanting to enter foals/youngsters etc, so entries I don't see being a problem, its more the people there to spectate/purchase that might be the reason for not going ahead.

At the moment, dates are looking like being mid November, and would avoid all the Tatts stuff, as my friends that own the yard will be at Tatts anyway.

As for vettings, I quite agree with you - trouble is persuading a vet to be present all afternoon, when he/she might not get any return for their presence. It should not fall to my friend to have to pay a hefty bill just to keep a vet there on site in case anyone wants to have a horse vetted. These are the finer details that need ironing out...

Perhaps it might be worth speaking to the vet, getting any horse entered in the auction vetted on arrival (2 stage) and the cost being picked up by the owner if the horse does not sell, or the purchaser if it does...

The only other option would be to sell all foals/youngstock with a 10day warranty - the purhcasers have ten days in which to get them vetted at their own expense, and if there is a problem, return them??

 

[tagalog]

Sounds a fab idea, please make it a weekend for us that cannot get out of work Mon-Fri.

 

[Ladyfresha1]

I would love to come and help if I can get down there, setting up/stewarding etc. I make good cake and a good cup of tea as well!

Will it be for any breed? And how will the judging bit work? Sounds a great idea.

 

[htobago]

Sounds like a super idea Zoe!

 

[Penniless]

Why not just do a Catalogue of entries and put FOR SALE next to any of them which are for sale. That way, perhaps if the Vendors agree, their contact details could also be listed so that any prospective purchasers could view them before the show or talk to the Vendor at the show itself.

Don't think you'll get any vet to agree to vetting on the day itself - personally the foals we've sold over the years, none have ever been vetted. I know that over the years, our vets have always said it's pointless doing a 2 stage vetting on a foal - unless of course you take the x-ray and blood route like, say at Tattersalls if Purchasers require.

If you have the show before Tatts sales, good luck - but unfortunately we will be too busy prepping our lot booked in for Tatts to bring any of the others. Have you thought about perhaps February or March next year - that way, it would be a good start before the County shows all start up, to use as a prepping show.

 

[pinkcatkin]

Zoe this sounds a great idea and Weasel is already practising.

Would be happy to help do whatever if you need me.

Advertise in H&H if funds allow, plus Absolute Horse, Ad Trader, etc.?

 

[zoeshiloh]

[ QUOTE ]
Why not just do a Catalogue of entries and put FOR SALE next to any of them which are for sale.

[/ QUOTE ]

I am told this has been tried, largely unsuccessfully at similar shows already.

As for a vet agreeing to be on site to conduct vettings - I have now sounded out a local vet, who is already open to this idea, although tbh I think we might well go the "warrented" route and give the buyer so many days in which to contact their own vet to carry out any checks etc.

The time of year - having a foal show in March kind of defeats the object really, lol, we are looking more towards mid-November at the moment, and it will most likely be on a Saturday.

 

[Penniless]

Thought this would have worked. We used to hold shows (including doing a Youngstock show) about 10-15 years ago, and always produced a small catalogue with "For Sale" in that, and we were told that a number of people had bought from reading the details and seeing the photos of the stock that were coming to the show.

I'd be very wary of doing an auction on a "local level scale" because I think you would be opening up a minefield on the legalities of stock being sold through it. Personally, there is no way I would allow one of my foals to be sold, go to someone for 10 days and then if they changed their mind, then wanted to return it. Can quite understand this at major sales, but I think you would have to be very careful as to who was genuine, and who just would think it great to buy one, have it home for 10 days and then happily return it with some excuse or other. Also, how would you work out the stock which may be VAT registered, i.e. studs and small breeders who have to pay the tax man their percentage.

Is the show going to be for foals with dams and weanings? Knowing that a lot of readers here have had very late foals, does that mean that you will be catering for both?

 

[zoeshiloh]

[ QUOTE ]
think you would be opening up a minefield on the legalities of stock being sold through it. Personally, there is no way I would allow one of my foals to be sold, go to someone for 10 days and then if they changed their mind, then wanted to return it.

[/ QUOTE ]

At the moment it is just one of many ideas (to have warranties) and we are looking at lots of different avenues. If we do go down the warranted route, there would have to be a vets ceritifcate to accompany the returned horse, stating exactly why the animal was not fit for purpose etc.

The idea of having vettings/warranties etc is to get a higher level of horse entered, and not to entertain the riff raff from local dealers.

[ QUOTE ]
I'd be very wary of doing an auction on a "local level scale"

[/ QUOTE ] if we went ahead with the auction side of things, we would get a proper auctioneer to conduct the auction, and sort out the legal side of things - We have spoken to a few local auctioneers, and have also been approached by someone at Brightwells, so fear not - it will be properly run, with no corners cut.

[ QUOTE ]
Also, how would you work out the stock which may be VAT registered, i.e. studs and small breeders who have to pay the tax man their percentage

[/ QUOTE ]

As above - the auction side of things would be conducted by a professional auctioneer company, that has systems in place to deal with all of these matters.

[ QUOTE ]
Is the show going to be for foals with dams and weanings

[/ QUOTE ]

We are not 100% sure yet - we were considering a broodmare part to the proceedings anyway. TBH we need to sit down and sketch out an idea of all the classes. There will probably be more classes for weaned foals (ie breed and type classes) and just a handful for foals at foot.

 

[Bananaman]

Good idea............and nearby too! Yes!

I've a 2yr old I'd like to bring or am very willing to help if I don't.