State of the Market: Mixed Bag

In a recent poll, readers responded to  the question "Do you anticipate fewer mares bred in 2008 due to the market downturn?"  By a small majority, the answer was "No." 

• 28.95% of responses indicated "No, the market really isn't so bad," which was punctuated quite nicely by last weeks' record-setting OBS sale of 2-year-olds in training.
• Nearly a quarter of readers felt that the number of mares bred would not fall, because "breeders haven't yet learned a lesson." 
• More than one out of five poll responders - 21.05% -- said they personally would breed fewer mares this year.  Another 23.68% said that they believe the industry as a whole will see fewer matings.

Full poll results may be viewed here.

The poll was inspired by a disappointing yearling and mixed sales season, and the conventional wisdom  that it could have been worse; many sales averages during the fall and winter were helped considerably by overseas buyers who came to U.S. sales to take advantage of the weak dollar. With luck -- it'll take plenty! -- the market will prove that it's starting to rebound.

This week's poll asks readers of The Five-Cross Files about their horse ownership.  View the poll and vote here. Don't forget, you can always comment on the poll question and share your wisdom or questions.