The importance of sales prep to bring top dollar. Pictures provided by Kenzie Mayer- Elite Equine Promotions
Why Sales Prep?
As the horse market continues to expand, so does the sale horse industry. Horse sales are a great way for buyers to find their dream horse and a great place for horsemen to exhibit the pride of their hard work.
As the market expands and welcomes new buyers and sellers there becomes more options for buyers to choose from. When consigned to a sale your horse is being exhibited right next to a horse that might be just as nice. As a seller, you need to make sure that the right eyes fall on what you have to offer. This is where the importance of sales preparation comes in.
You’ve put in countless hours in the saddle in preparation for sale day, but what about the cosmetics? Your horse might be kid broke, but you could be leaving thousands of dollars on the auction block if you wrap him in newspaper instead of a shiny bow.
Lance Powers from LP Ranch took the time to talk with us about the importance of sales prep and the value of hiring an agent in order to make sure your horse brings top dollar on sale day.
Lance Powers
Growing up on the Lazy E Ranch, Lance Powers is no stranger to what nice horse flesh is. His father being instrumental in the Bugs Alive in 75 genetics being a staple in the AQHA and with his mother being an NFR qualifier, Powers from a young age was exposed to some of the greatest horses and horsemen in the industry.
Powers chose to pursue his passion of baseball through high school and college. After playing through college Powers returned home to work alongside his dad training colts, fitting horses and acting as an agent for sale clients. Through these years Lance has made a network of relations through racing, cutting, and rodeo disciplines.
Powers now operates LP Ranch where he and his crew specialize in horse sale consulting for buyers and sellers as well as act as an agent for those looking for a more hands off approach. In 90 days Powers and his crew through nutrition, exercise and grooming are able to give horses the eye-catching look needed to bring extra bids at the auction ring.
In 2020 Powers also started producing the Barrel Futurities of America Horse Sale.
Hire an Agent
If buying and selling horses isn’t something you’re familiar with, then hiring an agent might be worth considering. Agents, like a realtor, are able to act in your best interest in helping you make the right choices, ask the right questions, and keep you on budget.
Agents tend to have a lot of connections when it comes to buying and selling horses and they will know who to talk to about your horse or the horse you are looking for. As many of us know, as big as the horse industry might seem, everyone seems to know each other. They have been around long enough to know the right questions to ask, what to look for, and who to trust when making purchasing decisions.
Agents can also help you decide the best way to market your horses. There are so many sales, knowing the right one to consign to for your particular horse is very important. Agents are able to offer up their industry expertise to help your return on investment.
Sales prep is a lot of work that requires consistency. This is where an agent and horse fitting crew are set apart. Through years of experience and lessons learned from his dad Powers and his team have a consistent program that gets visible results. From the consistent grooming practices to sale day horse handling the crew ensures that sale horses look and feel their best.
Get The Look
Powers and his crew assess every horse that they take in for a client in order to give that horse a nutrition and exercise program tailored to the desired outcome.
“It is and it isn’t cookie cutter,” says Powers. “You have to tweak your program as needed because every horse is a little bit different. And that’s just something you have to learn, that’s not just something you can snap your fingers and know.”
Nutrition plays a huge role in getting a horse to look their best. LP Ranch makes sure to consistently have fresh feed for their horses. Powers knows that quality alfalfa is not cheap, but he believes that it makes such a difference it is not a corner to be cut.
Consistent grooming practices are essential in obtaining the desired eye appeal. Powers and his crew see the importance of this and structure a schedule to get horse sale ready.
Powers develops exercise programs for horses in order to target desired muscle groups. Through the use of a round pen and speed control Powers is able to build and lengthen muscles as desired to become more eye appealing.
One of the most important aspects of being ready for the sale is getting people excited to bid on your horse. This is why it is essential to Powers that have a professional photographer in order to help your horse stand out in the catalog or other marketing tools. High quality photos are a great way to best show off the shiny bow that wraps up all your hard work.
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