How to Evaluate a Standardbred Yearling

Every year there are several standardbred yearling sales across the country. Standardbreds are used for harness racing, with the horses either race pacing or trotting. Many buy them as yearlings in hope for the next great racehorse in the following years as two and three-year-olds. When evaluating a standardbred yearling, it is always a good idea to have someone else with you for another opinion and a few tricks of the trade.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Pedigree of the Horse
• Experienced Counterpart

1. Evaluate the pedigree of any horse before evaluating them physically. This way you can establish in your mind what flaws are acceptable and what are not. For instance, if the horse is a trotter, it is better for them to toe out than to toe in, but if the horse is a pacer, it is just the opposite. Also, if the horse is very well bred, some conformation flaws are able to be overlooked. If you are not very well educated in standardbred pedigrees ask someone who has experience to help you.
2. Begin to evaluate the horse. Walk up to the horse's stall and watch its mannerisms in the stall. Does the horse seem nervous? Does the horse appear to have any habits such as weaving or cribbing?
3. Ask a handler to bring the horse out of the stall.
4. Evaluate the horse standing squarely. Start from the front and work your way around.
5. Check the front legs. Make sure the front legs are straight from the head on. Be positive the horse does not seem over his knee or standing far back under himself.
6. See if the yearling has some width to her chest and some athleticism to her shoulder.
7. Look at the horse from the side. You want the horse to look balanced. The horse's shoulder should not be too much smaller or bigger than the horse's rear. There should be a nice arch to the neck, which should connect neatly into the horse's withers with a slight curvature down the spine which reverses itself up and over the rump.
8. Stand behind the horse. Make sure that the horse stands as wide behind as it stands upfront. Do not worry so much about the straightness of the legs behind, but be more concerned with the curvature of the hock. You do not want the hock to be too straight or to be too bent. Both extremes are easily detected.
9. Ask the handler to walk the horse forward. Watch the horse walk away from you, toward you and by you.
10. Examine each step of the horse making sure that the yearling is tracking up into its own steps. Then watch the movement of the legs. Carefully check that the horse is identical in his movement for every leg.
11. Have the handler square the yearling back up and then approach the yearling.
12. Take your four fingers on your hand and try to put them between the two jaw bones right against the throat. If your fingers are able fit in that space, it is a good sign that the horse should be able to breath without problems.
13. Pick up the colt's front leg gingerly, trying to keep the horse relaxed. Hold the leg where the cannon bone and ankle meet allowing the foot to point downward. Look at the direction the frog is pointing. This will tell you the direction that the leg will grow. If the frog points straight, but the leg appears to be pointing to the outside there is the possibility that the leg will grow straight with proper maintenance.
14. Run your hand down to the horse's rear end and try to pick up the tail straight in the air. If the horse resists, this is a good sign. If the horse allows you to pick up their tail without resistance, it is believed to be an early sign of EPM.
15. Evaluate the entire picture. Everyone has a difference opinion and like different body types on horses. Make sure this horse fits your ideal.

Tips & Warnings

• When evaluating horses, a second opinion is always the safest bet.
• Evaluate the video if one is available.
• If it is a colt be sure to ask and look at his testicles to make sure they are both there and intact.
• All of these horses are still babies, so be careful when approaching them. Move slowly and even use your voice to keep them quiet.
• Not every yearling will race. Some end up doing other disciplines.