Wednesday, June 6, 2018

What You Need To Become A Successful Thoroughbred Bloodstock Agent

By Paul Collins


Not everyone wants a business career that involves a corporate corner office and suit and tie. Some people prefer to become entrepreneurs working for themselves and making their own hours. A lot of individuals, who love animals, opt for careers that involve veterinary medicine. Folks that really love horses sometimes become jockeys, trainers, managers, breeders, or owners. You might have a successful career as a thoroughbred bloodstock agent if racing and breeding is what you love.

There are a number of areas you can specialize in within this field. The majority of agents buy thoroughbred horses, and sell them, for their clients. These are usually free agents, or independent contractors. They are not generally employees of the clients they serve. They make their money by receiving commissions from the purchase and sale of thoroughbreds.

This is not a business that requires licensing. There are no official education requirements. It is very beneficial for those interested in a career in this field to study equine anatomy and physiology. Advance training in marketing and commercial sales is also a good idea. You must immerse yourself in the equine industry. Most agents begin their careers as apprentices to trainers or working on breeders' farms.

Even after an initial apprenticeship with a trainer, most go on to work closely with an experienced and respected bloodstock agent. Older agents are often on the lookout for talented youngsters who have an eye when it comes to judging horseflesh. They believe this is something that can't be learned in school. The best agents know all the important pedigrees and adhere to the strict code of ethics that governs the industry.

Agents do not just go to auctions and start bidding on behalf of their clients. Long before an animal goes on the auction block, the agent must have done a lot of serious pedigree research. Not all thoroughbreds are bought at public auction. Many change hands privately. Agents negotiate these sales as well as the public ones. Some agents specialize in the breeding aspect of the industry. They negotiate bookings of mares to prestigious stallions. Some agents are in the appraisal end of the business.

Traveling is one of the perks of this job. You might have to travel to Europe, Asia, or Africa to negotiate the sale of a promising thoroughbred. Travel may be a factor whether you decide to concentrate on the racing area of the business or the breeding, or both. Agents might be called upon to buy horses for clients that are meant to be turned around and resold. This practice is called pinhooking.

You can have a lucrative career in the industry once you gain a reputation as a good judge of thoroughbreds and have developed a serious client base. The income is modest in the beginning. You probably will not earn much over thirty thousand a year. Once you are established, the salary could be in excess of a quarter of a million.

It is possible to work in a field you feel passionate about and earn a good income doing it. You must plan carefully and try to apprentice with the experts in the industry. It will take training, luck, and time, but you could become one the leaders in the equine world.




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