Recently, GoHorseShow wrote a story about horse and rider chemistry and what happens when a team’s compatibility comes into question. But what happens on the flipside of that coin? A horse and rider may be the perfect match—showing, winning, and the envy of other competitors. Success breeds notoriety, notoriety breeds desire and those in the horse world know that everyone loves a winner. It’s usually not long until someone makes an attractive offer to purchase said successful horse and the owner is then faced with a difficult decision.
Buying and selling horses certainly isn’t like the movie The Godfather, but how do you handle an offer that might be too good to refuse? Many competitors and trainers we talked with agreed that the answer is never easy, but must be made with heartfelt consideration of the owner’s goals for both themselves and the horse, along with the potential for replacing a valuable and trusted partner.
For Kaleena Katz Weakly of Shelbyville, Illinois (pictured above left) showing is a family affair. Weakly says she and husband Josh consider all offers together while also taking stock of their goals and priorities. “It can get somewhat emotional for me, because I usually get pretty attached to all of my horses. I have to remind myself to be sensible and realistic. My top priority is my family, so I always discuss the offer with my husband and we come up with a plan. A lot depends on where we are in our life and what goals we have in mind with our horses.”
Both Weakly and her husband take a slightly different approach to horse ownership and sales. “My husband enjoys buying and selling or flipping horses, within the halter industry. It’s not always about making money from the sale of a horse, many times it can be just to have something new to show. I, on the other hand, enjoy keeping my horses longer and adding events to the younger horses and making them more valuable.”
Amateur competitor Nicole Barnes of Glenview, Illinois believes owning more than one horse aids in the decision making process. “I try to operate on a two-horse system – meaning I have one horse I am campaigning and one we are working to build and teach other events. The goal in doing this is that whenever I decide to sell the horse I am campaigning–I have one I can immediately move onto. This cycle is easy enough to keep up and works really well for me since I most enjoy the steps it takes to develop an all-around horse. If ever anyone expresses interest in one of my horses, I discuss the options with my trainer, Brad Kearns. As we examine the possibility of a potential sale, we take many factors into consideration. Some of these include how a sale would affect or alter our goals for the year, the time of year, the horse’s progress level and obviously the perceived value and price point for such horse. We work really hard to weigh out the pros and cons. And, honestly, sometimes it just comes down to listening to your gut.”
While amateur exhibitors and trainers often possess the experience necessary to weigh all possible options, the question becomes more complicated when dealing with youth exhibitors. Seth Clark of Jefferson, Ohio operates Eaton-Clark Performance Horses with his wife Amber. He says an offer made on a youth horse can often be more complicated. “When an offer is made it can be difficult to turn down, especially with youth because there is often more of an emotional attachment. If an offer is made and the kid says, ‘no, I love this horse,’ we often times will end up keeping the horse longer. But, sometimes the horse has done all the winning for us they can and they need to move on and go to a home where they can teach someone else and win for them.”
When considering a potential offer, trainer Kevin Dukes believes that even though dollar amount may be difficult to pass up, it’s important to carefully consider the horse. “I believe this happens a lot when a horse is doing well. People always want something that’s winning. The first responsibility should be to the horse. I’ve been blessed with my clients because we are like minded in how we feel about the horses. If the issue does arise, we sit down, talk about it, and try to be smart in our decision. The reality is we’re dealing with horses– they could be winning today and lame tomorrow. I think it really depends on owner’s situation and there are some who have to really consider it. But, on either side, it’s important to remember that there is no perfect horse. They may beat everyone today and tomorrow problems may arise. This sport is not an exact science.”
For all-around contender Ali Grusha, it’s difficult to put a price on a successful partnership. “In the past year I’ve had several offers on my horse, Carlos, or First Class Style. I admit some of them were difficult to turn down, but I just knew I couldn’t replace him. The offers usually always go through my trainer, Chris Gray. He laughs when it happens, because at this point he knows I won’t sell, but he always comes to me with the offer.
Grusha continues, “I know some people think I might be crazy to turn down attractive offers, but I’m not someone who has to sell a horse to keep showing. Having a horse I know I am a team with and can be successful with is worth too much to me. When those first few offers came in we did talk about it, but we decided it wouldn’t be worth it. We know him; he will do any class we put him in. It was tough, but in the end the money wasn’t enough reason to sell him.”
Though Weakly often has several horses in different stages of training at one time, she mirrored Grusha’s sentiments that sometimes there are once-in-a-lifetime horses. “My current all-around partner, Hours Yours And Mine, has a forever home. I will never part with her. We did have some attractive offers, and, at the time, I just felt like we had looked and worked a long time for a partnership like ours and in my eyes it was irreplaceable. I think because I had “Blondie” to always fall back on, it made the sale of other horses along the way a little easier for me.”
Though some may not like to equate their equine partner with dollar signs, the fact remains that for many owners, money is the bottom line. Lynne Puthoff (pictured left) of Puthoff Performance Horses encourages her customers to have a dollar amount in mind that might seal the deal before an offer is ever made. “I tell my clients that you have to either be happy with keeping your horse and passing up that opportunity, or have a price in mind that would be that deciding factor to make the sale. If you have that team bond and get an offer from someone wanting to purchase your horse, that’s a tough decision. I also talk over goals and time frames with my youth especially because where they are age wise will be a big factor in keeping or selling their horse.”
While it may be difficult to let a valuable equine partner go, it can be equally fulfilling to watch them rise to the top with their new owner. Weakly has had the opportunity to watch one such progression. “I’ve had a few futurity horses the last couple of years that I was fortunate to be successful with and sold soon after. They went on to be very successful with their new teams. I owned Lopin For A Chex as a late three and four-year-old. We won the Congress and I knew he had an amazing lead change. It was so natural and easy for him. I was so tempted to keep him because I wanted badly to get back in the western riding pen, but Susie Johns ended up being very interested in him. I knew the Johns’ Family and Team Searles would take the horse all the way. I couldn’t turn it down and last year Jeffrey Johns and Lopin For A Chex were named AQHA World Champions in the Amateur Western Riding. It was such a cool moment for me.”
Barnes agrees that knowing that irreplaceable horses exist often makes it easier to sell some along the way. “I’ve had my once-in-a-lifetime horse in Zippos Ace Of Spades (pictured left) who I owned and showed as a youth and amateur. He helped lead me to more victories than any one person could ever dream of achieving. It is because of him I continue to show and work with new horses. Every horse I’ve ever owned and shown has served a valuable purpose in my show career. For me, there always comes a time when we have to make the decision to sell and move on. Typically, we have a timeline for that plan. Historically, most of my horse sales and purchases happen during the All American Quarter Horse Congress or at the AQHA World Show when the season is wrapping up.”
Three amateur competitors offered the following advice to those facing offers they feel they can’t, or perhaps shouldn’t, refuse:
Grusha: I think you really need to decide if your horse is replaceable. If they are a good partner for you and you mesh well together, what is that worth? Can it be duplicated? And, are you willing to go through the process of building a new partnership?
Barnes: Ask yourself the questions that are important to you. Are you in the industry for your child to have a horse to show throughout his or her youth career and how would a sale affect such plans? Was your horse purchased as a prospect to sell and make a profit? Do you want to start over with a new horse? Or are you happy with a long-term show partner? I advise you to take the time to evaluate the implications of such a sale and if it’s in alignment with your purpose for showing horses.
Weakly: This is a very expensive hobby and it takes just the right person to be interested in these horses so you have to be smart about all your decisions!
Have you been made an offer that you couldn’t refuse? Share your experiences by commenting below or on the GoHorseShow.com Facebook page.
