Good idea or not? I'm watching a few auctions and I'm wondering if there are any cons to purchasing a stud fee through an auction versus directly through the owner? Two auctions I was following ended last weekend and I was outbid at the last minute on one and then the other went too high. Personally not a fan of the "extended" bidding - takes the fun out of it and lets the prices go sky high. I do know that you typically have to pay booking/shipping on top of the auction price and I've already confirmed those fees with the ranch that stands this particular stallion. Just looking for advice.

I won't do it again. I won a bid on a stallion but after the breeding I got a bill from the place the stallion was being stood at for $600.00. I had paid the fee & thought all was fine untill I got this bill. Contacted the place & they said I owed them for a chute fee. I was like, WHAT !!!!!!!  I was not told that I had to pay this when I won the bid. I fought it & didn't have to pay it, but I thought that was a crappy deal. 

I totally understand. This happened to me at a benefit barrel race  - they had a stallion raffle with multiple stallions and I won one of the stallions but was told I still had to pay $500 for the chute fee. If they had said that up from it wouldnt have been a problem but it was never said/put anywhere on the raffle info. Plus none of the other stallions required this, just the one I won. My luck.

They can be great but you ABSOLUTELY MUST do your homework before bidding!

Contact the stallion owner and inform them you are considering purchasing a stud fee on an auction, and ask what fees will in addition.

I paid $2,000 on a stallion auction for a stallion with a $2,000 stud fee. Didn't bother me that I didn't "save" any money - I was going to breed to him regardless if I won the auction, and I liked the idea of my money going to support a barrel racing organization. However when I came to fill out the contract, there was a chute fee that was tacked on. If I would've bypassed the stallion auction and went directly through the stallion owner, the chute fee was included in the stud fee. It is what it is, but just do your homework. 

Thanks for the input! I bet this happens alot. 

I don't blame them for trying to re-coup some money. Just make sure you factor that into your maximum bid :) 

SSA's USED to be a great way to get a discounted breeding to some nice stallions.  You only paid for shipping semen, board and vet work over and above the purchased breeding.

But in the last 10 years, the industry (barrel) has changed to be more like the cow horse industry in that many times the stallions are not being handled by the owner. When they donate a breeding it comes with baggage (chute fee, farm fee, booking fee, etc...).   If you don't do your homework, it can turn out more expensive than going straight to the managers of the stallion. In addition, many SSA's aren't collecting the 5 panel results for the stallions, so you have to investigate that too.  I've quit bidding on breedings through SSA's because it's just too much work to protect myself from unexpected expenses. I wish this hadn't happened because SSA's are a good way to benefit the industry, get a deal on a breeding and advertise your stallion.  

I've bought as a mare owner and sold as a stallion owner.  I won't participate on either side of it anymore.  Its cheaper/less work from the stallion side to just give them cash to be part of the program.  I'm not a fan of them at all.  

Good to know! Thank you!

Check on live foal guarantee, re reeds, selling of breeding contract , etc.  do your homework

I won't do it again either.   And what exactly is the farm fee supposed to cover?   Auction ad stated charge for shipped semen only.   Stallion owner was close so I hauled mare there which is what I have done before since I had bred mares in the past with this stallion owner.   I was always charged individually for each semen insemination, ultra sounds, board, and any thing else that was done in addition to the breeding fee.  But since this was won through an auction I was hit with a $300 farm fee also.    SMH.

I've bought and sold. My stallion is in 3 and this is our 2nd year selling his breedings. The first year went well. 1 ladies old mare didn't settle so we are trying again this spring. She contacted me in advance and knows what the mare care is and I still send out contracts. To me the point of a stallion auction is to get a discounted fee and/or to have a chance to breed to a stallion that has closed books.

As long as you do your homework you shouldn't have any surprises.