Acquiring a Broodmare: Finding Value In Your Selection At The Sales
Whether you are buying your first broodmare or adding to an existing band, finding value at the sales is part of the challenge and opportunity.
Value often lies in identifying mares with characteristics that may lower their price without compromising on the potential quality of their offspring, such as:
- An unraced filly whose lack of a racing career is due to non-heritable issues (e.g. injury during training).
- Barren mares who may not be in foal due to timing, management, or a temporary issue, rather than infertility.
- Mares from active families with plenty of younger relatives still racing or breeding, offering the potential to improve the pedigree through racing performances or successful progeny.
Determining value – three main factors
- Racing Performance
A mare with proven success on the racecourse is typically more valuable, particularly if she has achieved Black Type form. These are races that have been awarded International Status (Listed and Group level) and are shown in bold type on a pedigree page.
A rating system such as Timeform also provides a useful benchmark for assessing racing ability.
- Pedigree
A mare’s pedigree plays a crucial role in determining her value as a broodmare. A strong pedigree increases the likelihood of producing successful offspring and often commands a premium at the sales.
Pedigree information provided in the sales catalogue typically covers the record of racecourse achievements of the progeny of the first three dams. A broader view of the mare’s pedigree, including the performance of less successful progeny, can be found through additional sources such as the Racing Post. This extended information can offer a more balanced perspective on the family's overall racing achievements.
Further information on pedigrees is available on TB-Ed.
- Conformation
Assessing a mare’s physical conformation is an important part of the selection process. It allows judgement of their ability to withstand training and to breed effectively.
Horses tend to inherit both the good and bad points of their parent’s conformation. For example, if you purchase a mare with weak knees, it is likely that some of her progeny will also inherit weak knees, potentially limiting their value in the sales ring.
It is important to remember that perfect conformation offers no guarantees. An expensive yearling may never perform on the racecourse, while an inexpensive yearling with visible flaws may go on to have a brilliant racing career.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a broodmare is about balancing risk and potential. While racing performance, pedigree, and conformation are essential tools for assessment, no single factor should dominate your decision.
Temperament is also an important consideration. A mare’s behaviour can indicate how easy she will be to manage and how she may interact with her foal—both of which can impact the early development and handling of the next generation.
More information on purchasing and owning a broodmare can be found in the TBA’s Broodmare Ownership Guide here.