Sale Shopping with Cayley Wilson

by Allison Trimble

One of the most exciting things about futurities is the horse sales that go along with them. The fast talking and all the potential in the flashy horseflesh being led and ridden through the pen is captivating. I have purchased many horses through the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity sale, as well as others, and often find it hard to go to a sale without buying something. This can be a good way to get a horse, but there are some important things to take into consideration before you enter this fast-paced world.

I don’t know anyone in the Northwest better to talk to you about sale shopping than Cayley Wilson. Wilson was the 2006 Snaffle Bit Futurity Intermediate and Limited Open Champion and has had much success on horses he purchased from some of the top sales in the nation.

Allison Trimble: What do you think are the pros of buying a horse at a sale?
Cayley Wilson: It can be a great opportunity to see a lot of well bred, similar types of horses in one spot and it can make it easier to compare the quality of the horses. Often times at some of the bigger sales, x-rays are required, thereby saving a guy some cost and trouble in getting x-rays done privately. Some associations such as the NRCHA are offering incentive programs and special purses for horses that are purchased through the sales. The greatest allure of horse sales is the idea that you can sneak in and get a really nice horse for less than you could pay for him privately. I think that is what everyone who goes to a sale is hoping for!

AT: What are the cons?
CW: Sales are always “Buyer Beware.” You have an even greater responsibility to do your homework.
Often, in this high pressure experience where you are trying to see and judge so many horses, you don't have a lot of time to watch or ride the horse. Sometimes you get to see the colts work all week, but other times guys haul them in the day of the sale, making it difficult to really look them over and evaluate them.

I find it a little bit more difficult to purchase 2-year-olds at sales because you watch tapes that may be filmed 6 to 8 weeks prior, and it is hard to tell how the colt has progressed after one to two months of riding. When I watch the greener colts on tape, they will be riding very nice and are not usually as stressed by sale time. The colts that are doing a lot on the tapes sometimes are just as good, but a lot of times go backwards. An extremely high percentage of these 2-year-olds that you go to purchase through the sale are what are called “sale broke.” This is where a trainer is focusing on getting them as fancy as they can before the sale, and they are not so focused on the long run. This can result in the colts peaking too soon, or being simply pushed too hard and either breaking down or blowing up. It helps to have some knowledge of who has been training the colt.

A con with regards to yearlings is that it is hard to find time or space to watch them move. You see them in their stalls, and then you see them in the sale pen, and you may watch them walk up and down an alley, but you don’t get to watch them lope around in the pasture like if you were going to buy one off somebody's ranch. This makes it hard to judge their athletic ability.

AT: What are the things you look at when selecting horses at a sale?
CW: Our criteria for selecting horses are outlined here. As we move through each of these steps, we will cut our list down until we only have a handful that we are really interested in bidding on.

1. Pedigree -- I always try to stay with a proven sire. The dam must either be a money earner or a producer. These are my preferences, but pedigree speaks strongly to the prospective abilities of the offspring.

2. Watch sales tapes -- Judge how the horse moves, how it works a cow, what kind of stop it has. Does this horse have the athletic ability to perform the job you are going to give it?

3. Look at the horse in the stall -- Check out conformation: feet, legs, mouth, eyes, etc. Look for signs of hard training such as spur tracks on sides or shoulders and possible snaffle bit "raspberries" in the corner of a horse's mouth. These little signs tell you a lot about the horse and how it has been prepared.

4. X-rays -- Have a vet help you view the x-rays to look for possible problem areas. In my experience, around 60% of the list will be culled because of the x-rays alone.

5. Watch the horses ride during sale time -- Observe how the colt/horse reacts to the stress of being in the arena. See how they work a cow on the day of the sale.

AT: Are there any tips you have for bidding at sales?
CW: It is a good rule of thumb to remember to stick to your final list--don't get caught up in the excitement and bid on a horse that has just caught your fancy when it trots into the ring. Trust in your homework and stick to it.

Before bidding begins, you should have a set maximum price for each individual--don't go above that price. It is really easy to get caught up in the excitement and fun of the auction and forget about your budget.

AT: Is there anything else that you think would help our readers?
CW: My best advice for the average horse owner is to hire a professional who knows the industry you want to participate in, and have them help you buy a horse from a sale (or to buy a horse in general). A professional horse trainer will know what your goals are for your horse and will be able to guide you toward suitable choices. The professional will also know market value and will have connections to help you find the perfect horse.

Cayley Wilson is an AQHA Professional Horseman from Abbotsford, British Columbia. He trains reining horses, reined cowhorses, and cutters. To his credit are many NWRCHA, NRHA, and NRCHA wins. In 2006, he won the NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Intermediate Open and Limited Open Championship aboard Starlit Holly and was third on Chics Sassy Nic. He was also a NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity Limited Open Finalist on Smart O Man. In 2007, Cayley was Reserve Champion at the Canadian Snaffle Bit Futurity and a finalist at the NWRCHA Caton Ranch Futurity on No Time For You. Not long after, he was crowned Canadian All Around Stock Horse Champion. He has been a Canadian Supreme Open Snaffle Bit Futurity Champion, a many-time finalist at Canada's Greatest Cowhorse, has won the Canadian Super Stakes Derby, and has placed several times at the world-famous Calgary Stampede. Cayley is considered to be one of the industry’s top up-and-coming trainers.