OBS Imposes New Crop-Use Restrictions, Tighter Vet Rules for March 2026

Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company will begin enforcing new control measures for its under-tack shows starting with the March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training, the company announced for the March under-tack window of March 4-7 ahead of the March 10-12 sale. OBS catalogued 816 horses for the March sale, and the changes center on riding-crop restrictions, stricter veterinary clearances, and tougher paperwork deadlines.

Tod Wojciechowski, OBS director of sales, framed the changes around vet certification and welfare: “The short of it is, every horse for the under tack show has to be examined by their attending veterinarian and approved for participation in the under tack show.” BloodHorse reporting cites OBS requiring that veterinary examinations be completed within 72 hours of the scheduled under-tack day and that results be submitted by 4:00 PM two days prior to the under-tack day.

OBS is tightening riding-crop policy with a specific prohibition on off-rein striking. Wojciechowski said, “we've removed the striking of a horse with the whip outside of their hand, hands being off the reins. We think that's a step forward in animal welfare and in preparing and presenting these horses.” The company has previously constrained medications; Wojciechowski noted, “Last year, we upgraded our medication rules so that there are no NSAIDs or corticoids within 48 hours of the under tack show. Any overages of those medications are returnable.”

Enforcement language in the OBS catalog is explicit. “Spurs are not allowed,” the catalog states, and any infraction may result in a fine up to $1,000 per incident to be paid by the consignor. Chronic offenders may be banned from riding on the sales grounds, and the sales company or its representatives retain “full, final and sole authority to interpret and enforce this rule.” The catalog ties several prohibited practices to return or withdrawal of horses, listing extracorporeal shock wave therapy, acupuncture or electro-stimulation intended to alter laryngeal function, possession of electrical devices designed to increase speed, and invasive practices intended to conceal defects. The catalog text also contains a fragment referencing “535.08 including being charged with a misdemeanor and barred from selling for a period of 2 years.”

OBS spelled out paperwork and biosecurity requirements: Coggins within six months, EVA test within 90 days, and EHV-1 vaccination dated between 14 and 90 days of the sale. Authorized Agent Forms and Digital Jockey Club Certificates assigned to OBS must be on file. The deadline to avoid a $100 late fee is Friday, March 6, and consignors are instructed to notify Sam Cook of any problems and to contact their bank regarding digital certificate assignment.

These measures carry immediate market and operational implications for consignors, buyers, and veterinary staff supporting the 816 catalogued entries. Wojciechowski predicted the changes would “benefit both buyers and sellers” and added, “I think it can only improve our segment of the market.” On the ground in Ocala, the updated safety regimen also reiterates that OBS requires all riders to wear an approved safety vest and helmet while on horseback, with vests zipped and helmet straps fastened at all times, including to and from the racetrack and in the shed row. Photographers on Feb. 17, 2026 captured Brant breezing at OBS (photo credit Judit Seipert) and jockey Samuel Marin smiling after a ride (photo credit @SV Photography), underscoring the human and equine faces affected by the new rules.

Regional racing context remains active: Florida-bred Little Thunder, ridden by Cipriano Gil, won a first condition $16,000 optional claiming at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 14, 2026, covering six furlongs in 1:08.95, 0.28 seconds off the 2012 track record. As OBS implements these rules for the March under-tack and March 10-12 sale, consignors, veterinarians, and buyers will be watching compliance, enforcement, and how the tightened standards reverberate through the two-year-old in training market.