Page 113 - August 2017

go to the sale and we also handle their feet. Making sure you can handle them without trouble. Basic maintenance that makes a big difference in how these horses present. We’ll do trailer loading lessons several times before the sale so they will load without issue when we get ready to haul to the sale and when their new owner takes them home. Once the yearlings are finished, we start working with the older horses and riding horses that we take in for training later in the afternoon.
Q. How long is the average length of time needed to correctly sale fit a yearling?
A. I would say that 90 days is a pretty ideal length of time. If they come in good condi- tion, 60 days can work, but 90 days allows you to develop more muscle and hair coat. It also allows them to develop more mentally and physically.
Q. How many yearlings do you usually sale fit during a year?
A. Last year we did 257 sale horses, I had a handful of weanlings and mares to fit, but primarily they were all yearlings. And they go to different sales between the Thoroughbreds, the Quarter horses, reining horses and the cutters. They all make that number.
Q. You fit such a wide range of horses for different disciplines. Do they all require a different program?
A. Not really. Performance horses eat a little less than racehorses, grain and hay wise. But beyond that, there really isn’t much differ- ence. You do have to watch the performance horses because they will put on weight much faster than a racehorse. They all get worked pretty much the same in the round pen. Some get their neck sweated to take off some bulk they might start to carry, so they tone up a little bit. A lot of it is just staying on top of feed adjustments and maintaining proper diet and exercise.
Q. What do you think is the most important factor of sales prep?
A. Having that baby prepared, wormed, vaccinated, fed well and brought along well from the time it’s beside the mare is very important. Proper fitting really begins from the time that the mare is bred. Having her on the proper diet, worming and maintenance schedule. The baby needs to be fed well and grown up well to be able to go the sale and present well. Yearlings can change a lot in 90 days, but you have to start with something to make something.
Q. Obviously one man can’t do it all. How important is it to have assistants in order to do sale prep?
A. Having good help at your farm or ranch is crucial. I can’t do it all by myself. I rely on my help to be there and be dependable so I can do my job. I have a guy who’s been with me for 37 years and almost everyone I have here now has been here for quite a while. Having the best veterinarian you can hire in your area is also important. My farrier has been with me for over 38 years and I’ve used the same horse haulers for years. Also, having a horse sale crew that knows what they are doing makes a big difference, as well. It takes a small village, or a Nascar pit crew really, to make this all come together and get to the sale, and a good road crew once you get to the sale.
Q. You mentioned that you ride horses in the afternoon. Do you take in riding horses to prepare to sell?
A. I break a lot of horses for several disci- plines besides going to the racetrack. I have
a lot of jumping horses I ride and reined cow horses that go to Todd Bergen to put in train- ing to show. I do get a lot of jumping horses that I start under saddle and people will send back later on for tune ups, or if they are hav- ing a problem. I have several trainers that do eventing and jumping that keep me on speed dial and if anything goes wrong, they call me and show up with their horse. I also have some racing Arabians. Most of the Arabians we
ride are owned by people in the middle east and that they race in the U.S. until they go back home where they may also be run there. There are very big races in the middle east for Arabians. We are very diverse down here.
Q. Is there anything you think could be done differently at the sales to make them better or more efficient?
A. I think they pretty much run the way they should. Over the years, we’ve seen them try various things such as time schedules, select sessions and other things. But it seems that they all run really smooth and efficiently the way that they are running now. I don’t see anything that could be done differently.
Q. Do you follow your sale graduates in their careers?
A. We try to. I have some owners who
will call and keep me updated. I subscribe to all the major publications so I can stay up to date and read about the current winners and performance horses. I’m not very great with electronics, but I read a lot and try to stay cur- rent on what is going on.
Q. What is one of the most memorable horses that you’ve prepared and sale fitted?
A. There was a mare that I prepared and fitted years ago for Cindy Knox that topped the All American Sale and won the All American Futurity. She was really gorgeous and everyone really loved her. Her name was Falling In Loveagain. She was really good minded and a gorgeous baby and just really nice to be around. I sold another one for Cindy that went on to win the Texas Classic.
I also fitted and prepared Reymanator that Zane Davis won the NRCHA Futurity on. He was such a gritty and tough horse I knew he’d be one to watch out for. I have sold horses to go on and win the All American Futurity, All American Derby, Texas Classic, the NRCHA Futurity, and I had one that won the NCHA Futurity. So, we are very diverse.
“She was really good minded and a gorgeous baby and just really nice to be around.”
One of the most memorable horses Roger Daly prepped was All American Futurity winner Falling In Loveagain.
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