Buying & Costs

What horses cost now, leasing, auctions and avoiding bad buys.

11 articles

Why Are Horses Sold in Guineas? Tattersalls' Old Currency Explained

A Lope De Vega colt made 650,000 guineas in a record Book 2 session at Newmarket. Here is what a guinea is, who keeps the extra 5%, and how to turn any sale headline into pounds, dollars or euros.

Updated Oct 14, 20267 min read

What Is Pinhooking? A $260,000 Dornoch Weanling Explains the Bet
A first-crop Dornoch colt tied the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Fall Mixed Sale record on Oct. 12. Here's how the weanling-to-yearling resale game works, and why it's far riskier than the headlines suggest.
Oct 13, 20266 min read
What Is a Breeze-Up Sale? How Buyers Judge Young Racehorses at Full Gallop
Magic Millions sells its Gold Coast Horses in Training catalogue on Oct 12, 2026, after weeks of timed gallops. Here's how a breeze-up auction works, what smart buyers actually watch and why some horsemen want to put the stopwatch away.
Oct 12, 20267 min read
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Tattersalls October Yearling Sale: Godolphin's 4.6M-Guinea Record
A Night Of Thunder colt sold for 4,600,000 guineas on opening day in Newmarket. Here is what that number really means, who does what at a yearling auction, and how it stacks up against Keeneland.
Oct 7, 20266 min read
Fasig-Tipton November Sale 2026: Shisospicy, Cy Fair and How a Mixed Sale Works
Fasig-Tipton released its November catalog on Sept. 30. Here is what a selected mixed sale is, why mares sell right after the Breeders' Cup, and how to read a catalog page.
Sep 30, 20265 min read
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Keeneland September Yearling Sale 2026: $536.7M Record Explained
Twelve sessions, 2,856 yearlings and a $3.7 million Into Mischief colt: the biggest Thoroughbred auction ever, plus a plain-English guide to books, hip numbers, buybacks and why pedigree sets the price.
Sep 27, 20266 min read
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Best Horse for Beginners: Why an Older Schoolmaster Beats a Pretty Young Horse
Why "green on green" ends in bruises, the age and breeds that suit a first-time owner, which stable vices cost you later and the red flags to check before you pay.
Sep 23, 20268 min read
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The Cost of Owning a Horse Per Month in 2026: A Line-by-Line Budget
Buying the horse is the small number. Here's what board, hay, farrier, vet care, insurance and a real emergency fund add up to every month.
Sep 23, 20268 min read
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How to Adopt a Horse: Rescue Fees, Mustang Events and Real Costs
Rescue adoption fees range from $0 to $5,000, and a BLM mustang starts at $125. Here's how each path works, what BLM requires and why the fee is the cheapest part.
Sep 23, 20268 min read
Half Lease, Full Lease or Buy? The Smartest Way to Get Your First Horse
Lesson horse, half lease, full lease, care lease or your own horse: riding days, shared bills, contract must-haves and a five-question family quiz.
Sep 23, 20268 min read
Horse Pre-Purchase Exam Cost in 2026: What Vets Check, When to X-Ray
A basic vetting now costs far more than old guides say, and more X-rays aren't always better. Here's what the vet checks, what the findings mean and how to protect yourself before you pay.
Sep 23, 20269 min read

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