Hip 251, a Jack Christopher colt entered by Beth Bayer, brought $200,000. (OBS/VidHorse photo)
Press release from Ocala Breeders sales company
Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company will implement additional control measures for its under-tack shows in 2026, further improving existing standards that prioritize the welfare of horses and riders.
Beginning with the under-tack show for the March sale of two-year-olds in training, the use of the riding crop will be limited to where the rider is not permitted to hit the horse with the hands of the reins before, during or after the wind.
From this year onwards, all horses must also have a veterinary certificate stating that they are suitable to participate in the undertack show. All entries without an affirmative statement will be removed from sale. This will be in addition to the existing practice of a staff veterinarian who will oversee training prior to the undertray show and be placed on track during the undertray show.
The new protocols complement the safety rules that have already been successfully implemented. Administration times for NSAIDs and corticosteroids were tightened to the point where neither should be administered within 48 hours of a horse’s performance under saddle and no other medications are allowed within 24 hours of a strenuous exercise.
Also, corticosteroids are not allowed within 24 hours of a horse’s sales session. NSAIDs may not be administered after 6 p.m. on the day prior to a horse sale. Any surpluses for these medications will result in a horse having to be returned.
Last year, OBS introduced a gallop-only option where sellers can enter their horses with this designation, which will be on the catalog page.
Last season, all three OBS 2-year-old sales produced record results. March OBS sales posted year-over-year gains in gross and average – including sales of Brant, a son of Gun Runner, for a record $3 million – April sales ended with a record average, and June sales set records for both average and median.
The 2026 OBS March Sale will be held March 10-12, with under-tack shows March 4-7.
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