Okay, so I felt pretty dumb for constantly being corrected about where the Olympics were being held. It has been in my mind the 2008 Olympics were being held in Hong Kong. Much to my surprise, they are in fact officially being held in Beijing.
I received a link to the new controversy surrounding the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, coined “Olympic Haze”. On June 23rd, 2008, ESPN published a story about the Olympic Haze of Beijing and the horrible air quality of the city. Interestingly, I found that although the games are being held August 8th, suddenly a little over a month BEFORE the Olympics there is concern about the air quality and its effects on the athletes.
Hmmmm. Isn’t that something that would have been considered, well, before they chose a city? American human athletes are going to be given special masks to help with the detrimental effects the pollution in Beijing has on their lungs. I’m unsure if these masks are to be worn during competition or just prior to the athletes’ event, but suddenly athletes are voicing their concerns and previous experience competing in the icky Beijing air.
After being corrected on numerous occasions that the 2008 Olympics were in Beijing and NOT Hong Kong, my first thought was “I wouldn’t send my horse into that smog, and I can’t imagine any other rider would either.”
And here we have it; the equestrian events ARE being held in Hong Kong where there is less pollution. The FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale), the BOCOG (Beijing Committee for the Olympic Games), and the IOC (International Olympic Committee) worked together to come to the decision to hold the equestrian events in Hong Kong rather than Beijing.
Why?
Well, concerns of infectious disease contraction from the China horse population initiated the planning. But in 2005, the Hong Kong location was already in the works with disease being a concern, Beijing pollution woes up for consideration, and the proximity to the Hong Kong airport suggested easier equine transportation. Funny how the FEI was on top of the horses’ abilities to withstand the climate (including the air quality) for the 2008 Olympics, but apparently no one considered the human athletes ability to withstand smog.
Well, at least I realized WHY I would think the Olympics were in Hong Kong; the equestrian events are the only part of the Olympics that I have any interest in. Not really knowing why the Olympics were being held in two different cities, I just assumed the equestrian events were the lowest interest so who cared if they are in the same city.
Too wrong!
It’s almost hard to feel bad for the human athletes only because if the equestrian venues had taken air pollution into consideration AND made arrangements, why then didn’t the IOC take human athletes health into consideration? Is it because human athletes aren’t worth money? I’m sure each of the Olympic horses has a big price tag of liability attached!
I’m happy to hear these provisions were made, with a first ever Olympic air-conditioned training arena. I bet that would have been nice for the 1996 Hotlanta Olympic Games.
While I’m sure it will be sad to see, as American athletes have experienced in Beijing in the past, vomiting during competition, and dropping out due to exhaustion, I am happy to hear the equestrian athletes (both horse and human) will be in a better environment to compete healthily and comfortably.
Always testing authority. Severe ADD at times. Talented but not always focused. Enjoys being in control. Doesn’t always play well with others. Kind. Respectful.
That is the description of one of my horses of 11 years, and his personality almost mirrors mine.
I can say that goes for every horse that has been mine. Not horses I’ve owned per’ se, but horses that were mine; we had a lot in common. Were these horses a reflection of me? Did I create their similar personalities, or simply did I find a good match working with a like personality?
It’s funny, but true, you can tell a lot about a person by getting to know their horse.
Think about it.
A horse pins his ears until eye contact is made, then the ears go forward. The owner happens to be a behind-the-back talker, but always has nothing but kind words to your face.
A horse is calm but aloof. Very gentle, does what’s asked of him, basically has zero athletic skill. Couldn’t care less about treats, almost wooden while being groomed. Owner is sweet lady in her 50’s. Can’t ride to save her life, doesn’t care. She is also nice a cordial, but somewhat callus. Her and the horse get along quite well, and though there are lots of petting, brushing, and sweet talk, their shared affection is non-existent.
Then there is the insecure horse, not spooky, just a little needy; always looking for reassurance that they are doing a good job. They don’t take well to criticism and are often easily discouraged. The owner also is soft spoken, always trying to please, but under the slightest hint of anything negative, they crumble.
How about a spooky horse, not genuine spooky, just a horse looking for attention and always making a big deal out of everything. Often mistaken with being sensitive, they aren’t, they just don’t listen very well, take a long time to learn, and are easily distracted by the possibility of something better happening. The owner, often a hypochondriac horse owner, wants everyone to pay attention to them, their problems, and their news; sometimes going so far as making up interesting things about their lives just so they can be in the spotlight of the conversation, even if for only 5 minutes.
Or, a genuinely spooky horse scared of anything new, always waiting for something bad to happen. If a jump moves from the middle of the ring to the corner, it must mean a monster is playing tricks and waiting in the shadows just to eat them. The horse is nervous, untrusting, and insecure about themselves, their environment, and everyone they meet, is very clingy to their own kind, often magnetized by the leader of the herd, even if they are not treated kindly. The owner is also untrusting and assumes there is always an ongoing elaborate scheme to set them up for failure. Scared to try new things and absolutely unable to handle change of any kind, this person lives by routine and any deviation could ruin their whole year. Generally in and out of abusive relationships both with significant others and close friends, they are drawn to outspoken, strong people who often take advantage of their weakness (e.g. trainers).
And think of the dud, the horse that doesn’t have much personality or talent, lacks interest in much of anything, is a slow learner because of limited intelligence, and, lack of motivation. This is a horse that would do incredibly well with clicker training, given focus, purpose, and simple motivational tasks to almost learn a personality. Then there’s the owner, a young gal without much genuine personality of her own, is often fake, rarely motivated, and is sometimes a know-it-all purely because they’re keenly aware of true talent and skill shortfalls. Professionally, they usually do freelance work, or maybe volunteer, you know, for the proof of purpose.
Any of those hit home? ‘Twas not my intention.
But with most animals, it’s true they’re windows into what the person is like. Think people about with ill-behaved dogs, schizophrenic cats, or pot-bellied pigs; how many parallels between human and animal can you draw?
Horses can have so many different personality traits that mirror many owners. Sometimes I think people actually buy horses with similar personalities unconsciously, and other times I think the horse picks up on traits of the owner. Or are seeing these parallels merely a work of fiction; an unconscious desire within the observer to draw connections and links?
Who knows for sure, but it sure is funny to guess what a person is like just by getting to know their horse. You do it too. How many times has your prediction been right?
And maybe more interestingly, what does your horse tell people about you?
American horse regions are more different than similar.
Hunter/Jumper horse care pressures and priorities take various shapes across America. I have lived in many states around the country and have always found the horse boarding, training, and showing communities so very different. Here are my observations:
Upper Midwest Horse World (Illinois & Wisconsin Vicinity)
Boarding here is straightforward. Priorities are very strange. The cost of board is relative to the amenities (indoor arena size and heat). Oddly, location doesn’t play much into the cost. Even if a barn is close in to a metro area, if they don’t have specific amenities or facilities, or a big show clientele, the cost of board is generally less.
Trainers here have very specific goals (or call them requirements). A shows, Open shows, no shows. Most of the time, you gotta fit within their regimen or else.
Big emphasis on coolness is the Midwest. Big thought that good riders are made by fancy tack. No, not just fancy tack, trendy, expensive tack. It’s gotta be an $800, brand new Edgewood bridle or the trendy saddle of the times (I think that’s Antares right now). One obviously can’t have that cool of a jumper if one doesn’t have cool jumper boots or the figure eight noseband. In the Midwest, “great” riders are not made by skill, talent, drive, or even major riding accomplishments (such as winning in Florida), it’s really about how cool you look.
Texas
Texas is a country onto itself, and though there is much to deservedly hate about Texas, they have a pretty well rounded, and large, Hunter/Jumper community. In Texas, there are many different boarding options depending on budget, and with trainers and barn, there is room for all different goals and budgets.
Texas, not just for cowboys or Western riding, has some really nice Hunter/Jumper barns. They don’t always LOOK that nice, in fact, some may even look quite scary, but overall the people and horses are more reflective of the actual Hunter/Jumper “quality” of the region.
Atmosphere is barn dependent. Super snobby, gossipy barns aren’t necessarily the bigger A show barns. Lots of room for the super laid back, do whatever, wear whatever, look however rider, and those aren’t even the backyard, Open show barns. When it comes to riding horses in Texas, there are lots of choices that don’t mean sacrificing quality for sanity.
So, good for Texas.
That being said, I hate Texas. Don’t move there.
The Rocky Mountains, or basically, Colorado
One of the most interesting areas of the American horse world. Actually more “cowboy” than Texas, it is also more laid back than anywhere else I have been.
The show community is unusually laid back with a very, very informal air. More of an emphasis on riding, having fun, and reaching goals than material objects, who you know, and talking bulls**t. Most importantly, even the well-to-do’s didn’t act as such and were always very respectful and helpful to those who weren’t.
That’s not to say there isn’t politics, backstabbing, and gossiping in Colorado. I mean, come on, we’re talking American women in the horse industry, right? But in Colorado, the great thing is one CAN actually stay out of snarky environments, where in many other areas it’s unavoidable on some levels.
One Rocky Mountain caveat though; lots of spoiled rotten California girls sent to Boulder for school with their “Colorado” horse. Yeah, I said “Colorado” horse. While not every one of these girls is intolerable, most of ‘em are not horse people, and more importantly, not riders. Simply the California influx into Colorado are good at sitting atop well schooled, very nice horses. Their numbers are growing exponentially.
All in all, the Rockies are a great place to ride and show horses. Outside of the West Coast transplants, the Colorado riding community is definitely a draw, but the drive to the barn is an absolute chore.
Pacific Northwest
Saddest state of American horse world. Completely divided quality, care, facilities, and amenities. No such thing as middle ground. Lots of money in hoity-toity A show barns, also lot’s of scary, backyard places. Middle places trade off amenities. 40 acres of great turnout, no ring. Huge indoor, terrible footing, scary turnout. Wonderful outdoor (six months a year), 80′x40′ indoor “arena”, no turnout.
Atmosphere in any case is completely intolerable.
Maybe it’s the influx of California blood. Yes, that is a huge negative. Even more-so than Colorado, The Pacific Northwest houses tons of spoiled California girls who suddenly aren’t in California anymore.
It rains a lot in this area, and older barns have not held up well. The strangest thing about the American Pacific Northwest is the amount of horses; they’re everywhere. Barns are everywhere, but, the knowledge is questionable at best. This poses a problem when you don’t mind being at a barn that isn’t “pretty”, the care isn’t all that pretty either. Not a good mix.
Can’t emphasize how much there is no middle ground in this region. You either are at THE Hunter/Jumper barn where you and your horse are only measured by your monthly budget (which better be large), or you are at a sh**hole.
New England Horse World
When I think of the east coast, I think HUNTER JUMPER CAPITAL USA! Barns here are very established, very limited new construction. Also like the Pacific Northwest, barns between A show crazy and backyard boarding are almost non-existent, but horse care and knowledge is much better.
Most all horse people in New England are nice, straightforward, and to the point (Citizen Horse doth appreciate highly!)
I see a lot of lower level Hunters with a bit of an uppity-tude. But generally, New England barns seem to lack a lot of personality, not in a bad way. There’s no air of anything in particular at most barns. The New England atmosphere is simple and uncomplicated, much like the people. There are horses, and barns, and people, and riders. Very little B.S. in this area.
Also, more part-time riders in New England; more leased horses.
Also, there is a FANTASTIC vet in Vermont. Lorie alone could make New England rule, but for the most part, the no-nonsense nature of the North East leaves it tops on my list.
As I said before, I’ve lived all over the place and shown competitively in even more spots. Based on my own personal observations on American horse boarding, showing, training, and environments across the country, your mileage may vary.
Though the Thoroughbred horse has been a strong force in the sport horse industry for decades, their presence in the Hunter/Jumper ring has given way to the stylish Warmbloods over the past 10 years or so. Outside of Hunter/Jumpers, Thoroughbred horses are also seen less and less in Eventing and lower level Dressage as well (Thoroughbreds never had much of a stronghold on upper level Dressage).
The Thoroughbred horse has changed dramatically in the past 30 years. At one time, most off-the-track Thoroughbreds were guaranteed to make excellent performance horses, as long as their racing career wasn’t ended due to a major injury. Today, Thoroughbreds aren’t bred to withstand the long term effects of racing, let alone Jumping, Eventing, or Dressage. Modern Thoroughbreds are merely built to (hopefully) win a few races and then are considered disposable.
A Thoroughbred has more heart than any other horse breed.
The average, off-the-track Thoroughbred 20-30 years ago was around 16hh-17+hh average height, came with a refined head, long neck, high withers, short back, good hindquarters, lean body, deep chest, long legs, and ample bone for their size in addition to a very uphill build, a nice long stride at all gaits, and were generally, very athletic.
The average off-the-track Thoroughbred of today is smaller in height, 15hh-16.2hh, has a decent head, is often built downhill with a lean body, narrow chest, average to long back, and very small bone for the build. All in all, the average ex-race horse today is not built for performance of any kind, thus explaining their frequent breakdowns on the track.
Simply put, the Thoroughbred horse has been severely overbred. Thoroughbred breeding is a science, but not the kind of science seen in German Warmbloods. Thoroughbred breeders do not reference generations of successful crosses, nor do they breed with the overall picture and conformation of each individual horse in mind. Thoroughbred horse breeders use theories, from statistical analyses to superstitions and, well voodoo, to determine sire and mare combinations. The average Thoroughbred horse breeder is dreaming of breeding the next Kentucky Derby Winner, and it’s not just the possible financial reward of such a win, they seek the prestige of having their name attached to such a winning horse.
Because of the recent media revolving around Eight Belles tragic injury and subsequent euthanasia, there has been a sudden “interest” in the injury statistics in the Thoroughbred Racing Industry. A new report covering catastrophic horse racing injury research has been made public, but only loopholes and excuses are found in the many articles, research, and surveys available. Without EVERY horse race track reporting injuries and having those injuries tracked and recorded by unbiased participants, the macro statistics on horse racing injuries are questionable at best. The racehorse industry cannot be responsible for accurately reporting their own problems (*more on horse racing injury statistics).
More importantly than faulty injury statistics, the Thoroughbred breed itself needs a serious evaluation. With all the conformational faults contained on the average Thoroughbred racehorse, it’s no wonder they break down so easily. Even non-catastrophic injuries need to be examined.
If a horse breaks down due to soundness issues related to conformation, is it really a good idea to retire that horse to breed? No matter how many races a horse has won, or how lightning fast the horse is, if the horse has soundness issues by and large, and absolutely is not conformationally sound, why are these horses being bred? Bloodlines and heart don’t cut it, and they certainly are not improving the Thoroughbred breed.
Thoroughbreds often get a bad rap because of their temperament. Although Thoroughbreds are definitely sensitive and “hot”, they need a job, they need consistency, and generally, they need confidence. Once a Thoroughbred has an owner or trainer that can provide a clear path to expectations, a Thoroughbred is not only willing, but genuinely wants to please. A Thoroughbred has more heart than any other breed of horse. Tapping the Thoroughbred heart is the key to unlocking their sport horse potential.
The Thoroughbred’s heart can also be it’s downfall in that self preservation often takes a backseat to unquestionable effort (e.g. Eight Belles). Eight Belle’s jockey never asked the horse to run on broken legs, and whether the jockey knew it or not, Eight Belles’ heart wanted to win, and nothing was going to stop her.
Moreover, here is a list of today’s Thoroughbred strengths and weaknesses
Thoroughbred Horse Strong Points:
Incredible Stamina
Powerful Speed
Great Agility
Often “Pretty”
Heart for their Job
Temperament can be perfect for rider and the job at hand
Often has vices if off the track (weaving, cribbing)
Often more susceptible to ulcers (especially if off the track)
Hard Keepers
There are still, even today, nice looking Thoroughbreds that don’t have all the above problems, but they are getting harder and harder to find. On top of Thoroughbred breeding weaknesses, their look is now even inconsistent. Thoroughbreds have, by and large, lost their once tall, long legged, uphill, and noble stature. There used to be a time one could look at a horse and know if it was a Thoroughbred or not, but now, Quarter Horses look like Thoroughbreds sometimes, and often, Thoroughbreds just look like your average, generic horse.
Additionally, Thoroughbred horse breeders DO NOT take into account conformation, soundness, temperament, or anything else important to breeding sound, solid performance sport horses. The dosage index used in mathematical Thoroughbred horse breeding produces unsound, conformationally poor horses to say the least. Considering horse racing is one of the more physically demanding equestrian sports (for the horse), one would think producing sound, solid performance sport horses would be fundamentally prudent.
As with many aspects of the horse racing industry, their breeding practices alone incite much rage and head-scratching from sport horse equestrians, enthusiasts, and horse activists alike.
Simply put, the Thoroughbred horse has been severely overbred.
After acquiring a sound (or semi-sound) off-the-track Thoroughbred, re-starting an ex-race horse is a science unto itself. A proper “let down” period is necessary before an off-the-track TB can begin moving past his/her life on the track. There are many drugs and high protein feeds that all need to flush from their system so they can begin acting like horses. Turnout is something that many racehorses have never experienced. Since the majority of Thoroughbred owners acquired their TB’s off the track (or at least the TB was once on the track), a good un-training and re-training are, and were, essential to a Thoroughbred’s success in another career.
It’s unfortunate many people are not suited to handle and re-train ex-racehorses for sport horse disciplines. Seeing as the Thoroughbred temperament gets a semi-deserved bad rap, much of their demeanor and temperament is influenced by the environment in which they were raised. Many equestrians do not posses the personality needed to ride off-the-track Thoroughbreds and end up competing with the their “hot” temperament. Too many people have had bad experiences on Thoroughbreds that don’t have anything to do with the horse’s soundness. The Thoroughbred’s flightiness, spookiness, and nervous demeanor has made many a beginner and intermediate rider scared of the breed.
Despite modern Thoroughbred breeding practice failures, the Thoroughbred horse will always be an important icon to the performance and sport horse industry. Without the Thoroughbred, many equestrians could not have afforded to buy their own horse. Ex-race horses tend to be economical, though their possible health problems might outweigh discounts received in the purchase price.
All in all, I used to be a hardcore Thoroughbred lover. Hooked by their “do anything” for you heart, my loyalty has faded by the mis-handling from their human creators. Sure, there may be a few solid, sound, and great performing Thoroughbred sport horses still remaining, but heart just isn’t enough anymore to overlook the breed’s faults, some of which (bad feet) have always been issues.
Looking back at the Thoroughbred from 20-30 years ago, and then again today, I can say I will probably never own another Thoroughbred.
It pains me to admit that.
And unfortunately for the Thoroughbred horse, the future of the breed is quite dim, to say the least.
Plain and simple, the sport horse world holds an unacceptable intolerance of Arabian horses. Hunter, Jumper, Dressage, and Event riders are so…dare I say…racist when it comes to this breed. Although Arab horses may not be the “model” for any of these disciplines, it doesn’t mean that Arabians can’t hack it, can’t be competitive, or only signify rider inadequateness.
Horse people seem to have a love or hate for the Arabian horse. A few people that fall in the middle, but for the most part, you either own an Arabian, or you hate Arabians. Personally, I have heard and seen valid arguments both ways. On the love side, Arabian Breed Shows certainly do bring out the crazies [cough: Swayze], but haters: Arabs can make great sport horse mounts.
For the most part, you either own an Arabian, or you hate Arabians.
That said, the Arabian horse definitely isn’t a first choice for any of the sport horse disciplines. The Arabian is small. With an average height between 14.2 and 15.1 hands, their size is considered undesirable in the Hunter, Jumper, Dressage, and Event horse world. Especially in the Hunter ring, Arabians do not have the competition “look”. At a big Hunter show, it would be an AMAZING feat for an Arabian to win any class, even if that Arabian had a PERFECT round. Hunter judges, most particularly, hate Arabian horses (but remember, Hunters Are Not a Sport).
Talking about the Arabian horse and their size does bring up an important point about today’s sport horses: bigger is better almost everywhere. So is thought…
However, when considering a rider’s ability, a 17+ hand Warmblood isn’t easy for a 5’3”, beginner or intermediate rider to pilot. Concerning collection alone, many riders within this experience bracket do not have the ability, experience, and muscle to handle the task of guiding a big, fast moving horse around a ring. Jumping a course of any size takes a lot more work, adjustment, maneuvering, and steading of a big Warmblood than a smaller horse (like an Arab). At any barn, anywhere in America, too many junior and amateur riders mount horses that are just too big and too powerful for their abilities. In this instance, an Arab would be a good choice for a rider to get the hang of collection, adjusting, and lateral movements.
Additionally, there are many misconceptions of the Arabian horse. Many people think because Arabs are light boned and small they cannot “hold up” to the rigors of jumping. Do not be fooled: Arabians are very tough and generally very sound. Just like every other horse breed, conformation signifies soundness problems way in advance. Moreover, conformation “defects” of a particular horse are simply a product of poor breeding, not, in the Arabian’s case, a poor breed.
Arabs, too, even the small ones, CAN jump big. No matter what you point them at, there is no doubt Arab horses would try. But without an average or long stride length, most Arab horses are going to lack enough scope to jump around a big course.
Fashion has a lot to do with the Arabian and it’s unpopularity within the sport horse world.
Another Arab misconception is their temperament is said to always lean towards spastic or hot. Certainly, Arab horses can be “spastic”, “spooky”, and “hot-blooded”, but I’ve met an equal amount of Arabians that were also quiet, calm, and very “dead broke”. As far as a comparison, the Arabian temperament is very similar to the Thoroughbred temperament. Arabians do seem to be more sensitive to their surroundings, and that also means their experiences. Unlike most “dumb-bloods”, Arabs generally can hold grudges against (bad) people and experiences (like cats).
If we generalize the good and bad points of Arabians, I would break it down like this.
Arabian Horse Strong Points:
Great Feet
Incredible Endurance
Incredible Stamina
Longevity
Above Average Soundness
Easy Keepers
Arabian Horse Weak Points:
The Look of the Arabian has to be Appreciated
Now, if I specify good and bad Arabian traits concerning the sport horse world, my list would look more like this.
Sport Horse Arabian Horse Strong Points:
They can be very good movers
Great Feet
Incredible Endurance
Incredible Stamina
Longevity
Above Average Soundness
Easy Keepers
Size Can Be Beneficial for a Smaller Rider
Temperament can be Great for a Beginner
Price
Sport Horse Arabian Horse Weak Points:
Size which can be Bad for a Long Legged Rider
Temperament can be too much for a Beginner Rider
Often Not Enough Scope to Handle the Bigger Courses
The Arabian Look doesn’t Work in the Show Ring
People Will Treat you Differently
So, to sum it up, fashion has a lot to do with the Arabian horse and it’s unpopularity within the sport horse world. There are some legitimate reasons to NOT ride an Arab, but there are also legitimate reasons TO ride an Arab.
Personally, I wouldn’t buy an Arabian horse. I like a big horse, I’ve got long legs, I am looking to hit big jumps, and I, honestly, don’t appreciate the Arabian look. But, there are some very, very, very great Anglo-Arabians (Arabian, Thoroughbred crosses) used in Warmblood bloodlines and winning high level Jumping, Dressage, and Eventing shows.
I used to own one.
And though I wouldn’t buy an Arab now, if someone does like Arabs, I would never look down on them. Unless someone wanted to jump 4′+, win in the Hunter ring, or their riding personality didn’t fit an Arab, I would never talk them out of buying an Arabian Horse.
Different strokes, really. None better, just better fitting.
And knowing that Arabs can be a great fit for sport horse riders, why not fully accept the Arab into the sport horse world? If a rider is enjoying the horse, and the horse is enjoying it’s job, we needn’t hold prejudice against the Arabian horse breed in sport horse riding or competition.
Sadly though, I’d surmise part of the “stigma” surrounding Arabians in a traditional Hunter/Jumper/Dressage/Eventing sense has to do with their overzealous legions I mentioned earlier. It’s a sad truth, but hard core Arab fanatics give the breed a really bad name outside of their fanatical world.
Although the Arabian will never be my choice for a horse, I thoroughly understand that some people are drawn to this breed, and for others, the Arab is a practical choice. Arab horses do have there good and bad qualities, and though they may not be the IDEAL sport horse, there are Arabians out there that can do the job, and do it well.
No matter what, if you see someone with an Arab, don’t scoff, and you don’t have to like the breed, just respect that someone else does. Though on average, sport horse competition Arab horses may not stack up on paper, there are, frankly, quite a few Arabs out there who can jump, pass, gallop, and leap their way past the fancy Warmbloods.
There are certainly more than a handful of quality stallions waiting for your phone call, but truth be told, most stallions are average, below average, or downright unworthy of passing on genes of any kind.
Some stallions are outstanding athletes; dressage and jumpers that stand out from all the rest. I am not going to name names, but most outstanding stallions, are imported. Sure, there are a few nice “homebred” stallions as well, but by and large, worthy stallion semen is only found in Europe (sorry).
Most stallions are average, below average, or downright unworthy of passing on genes of any kind.
Knowing there are some outstanding stallions to choose, regardless of discipline, my problem with sport-horse stallion breeding is the management of such stallions’ throws.
Without keeping great track of offspring, stallion owners already have their hands full. Owning a stallion is not a moneymaker, and sure, stallion owners need to make money off their investment. Stallions are hard to train, handle, and compete, but stallion owners are also faced with promotion, stallion approvals, breeding campaigns, and all the while - semen collection, and breeding demands. A performing stallion’s life (both in the ring and out of the ring) is tough on the stallion and tough on the stallion owner.
With that being said, maybe it’s just too hard to be picky and choosy about the which mares a stallion owners allows his “investment’s” semen to go out to. Keep in mind, however, knowledgeable stallion hunters always run into the problem of “proof”. I like to see what the stallion throws. What kind of performance horses has this stallion produced? If all I can see are some below average horses out of mares that should not have been bred to in the first place, how can I really tell how nice the stallion’s offspring are.
Some great stallions really “stamp” themselves on their offspring, and most, if not all offspring enjoy some grand quality. But all in all, most stallion owners have nothing to show in the proof “ring”.
If all I can see are some below average horses out of mares that should not have been bred to in the first place, how can I really tell how nice the stallion’s offspring are.
Then there is stallion marketing. Why are most stallion videos so horrible? I cannot see the point in sending out some of the videos I have seen. I mean, don’t get me wrong, if you are lucky enough to have a stallion that is known for producing outstanding jumpers, you don’t need a video. But, if you’re offering a stallion based on his amazing qualities, let’s have some of those qualities on the video. I appreciate conformation shots, but if I’m looking for a jumper, let’s see some jumping. If I’m looking for a dressage horse, let’s see some under saddle action. Not in a dark indoor that is so dusty you can barely tell what color the horse is; go outside (hint, wait for a nice day to film) or go somewhere else. Oh, and cut the atrocious “stallion-y” music set at an ear breaking level (money doesn’t buy taste, right?).
And Websites! Come on stallion owners, why not put the video online?! Online videos would save you money because at least 50% of the people calling are just window shopping, and of those, most have high speed internet. Then there’s a question of your website altogether…oh what’s that? You don’t have a website? Your stallion’s webpage hasn’t been updated since 2005? Is this an Olympic horse that needs no introduction? No? Okay then - next!
But most importantly for the stallion owner, if you have a nice stallion, why not find even nice mares and offer discount breeding? Please, stop breeding nice stallions to ANYTHING.
Additionally, lets not forget the thousands of stallions that should have been gelded as weanlings or yearlings. Why do people think that loving their mare + well know stallion semen = a colt deserving to be a stallion? You know what happens then? The stud fee on that new “warmblood” colt is going to be $800, inexperienced horse people are not going to know any better and breed to that stallion, producing even more pointless horses. Now, I’m not saying that every stallion with a $2000+ stud fee is an exceptional horse, and lets face it, not every exceptional stallion will always mix with every type of mare. But, if you do have a young horse and you think he is a dream horse please, please get a second opinion before skipping that gelding appointment.
Please, stop breeding nice stallions to ANYTHING.
Remember, even quality breeding farms geld most of their colts. Your colt better be phenomenal in every sense to whisk off gelding.
Listen, I realize there is a lot of work involved in owning a stallion. There are a few stallions in this country that, although well known and popular, are not even the best stallions for temperament and soundness reasons.
If you do have a nice mare, a mare that is worthy of breeding, make sure you do your homework in finding the right match for your mare. Do some research on bloodlines, get references of people who own offspring of the stallions, and see if you can find information on soundness and temperament from someone other than the stallion owner/manager. Obviously, it would be great to meet the stallion in person, and though it may be impossible at times, if you can meet him, you should. Horse breeding isn’t something to take lightly, and it costs a lot of money to breed, raise, and train a horse. Make sure the investment you are making is going to be everything it can.
And one last note, please, stallion owners, get rid of your cheesy magazine designs; you don’t have to fit EVERY picture on one page. One nice picture should be enough. If you’re lucky enough to have one of those exceptional, great stallions, show them off properly by displaying offspring (not in hand).
Great stallions need good mares, and the not-so-great stallions should be gelded.
crazy horse people are way crazier than normal crazy people
You know you have seen them. You have dealt with them. And you have always pitied the poor horse owned by them.
The vet is out at the barn again, for the same grey mare that always looks healthy and happy, but is ailing from some serious condition. You wonder why the vet doesn’t just tell the person to get a second opinion. Yet, you realize you have actually seen more than one vet looking at the horse.
There is always a sob story: “She just isn’t feeling good, I think its allergies.” The allergy drop is always a good one for the hypochondriac horse owner because no one can REALLY dispute it. That is, besides the vet, but no one knows what the vet actually told this person. The worst part is, this person REALLY needs you to feel her pain, or her poor horse’s pain. The sympathy tends to feed the hypochondriac horse owner. It’s the attention they get.
The allergy drop is always a good one for the hypochondriac horse owner because no one can REALLY dispute it.
Hypochondriac Horse Owners are like predators and wait to pounce until another boarder arrives. They have been waiting for an hour for another person to show up at the barn. They get all tacked up with you and get on shortly before you.
You enter the ring and it starts:
“She doesn’t feel right today. I think it’s her back, maybe her hip. I don’t think she is lame, but she doesn’t have the usual energy at the walk.”
Even though you just want to ride, you feel bad for her because you know what its like not to be able to. She asks you to watch the horse go. You do, and you don’t see anything wrong. You tell her this and it seems to amplify her concern….somehow. Because if you don’t see it and she feels it, “it must be a very deep tissue injury”.
A week later, you ask her about the “deep tissue injury” and she almost blows it off, but now there is some “dermatitis” that has made her horse unable to ride. You think to yourself, “What? Dermatitis?” The vet pulls in again. The vet barely looks at the horse and is writing something down, hands it to the person and drives off. “Yes! She needs to bathe her twice a day for a week.”
Now you get to hear that looooong drawn out story. You don’t even care anymore.
Hint: Don’t care and don’t feel bad not caring. If you ignore her and if everyone else does the same thing….suddenly….the horse will actually have fewer ailments. If this person does not get rewarded they will act out less. Although, there are the ones who are gratified by the attention of the vet; whom they are paying.
You think to yourself, “What? Dermatitis?” The vet pulls in again…
If you are a hypochondriac horse owner, ask yourself these two questions:
1.) Are you afraid of your horse and just coming up with excuses to not ride?
2.) Do you need to feel important at the barn, and is this your only way to spark up conversation?
If this is you, THE HYPOCHONDRIAC HORSE OWNER, please do everyone else a favor (including your horse) and:
A. OPENLY ADMIT you are scared of your horse
B. SHUT UP and stop bothering other people at the barn
C. Seek professional psychiatry if the problem persists, and
D. Write your vet a big fat check with an apology letter.
love isn't a good enough reason to breed your mare
* * editors note: this is the first in a series of four articles aimed sport horse breeding * *
People love to breed things. I don’t understand the mentality, but this goes for dogs, cats, horses, and the obvious….people. Just because a living thing has a reproductive system doesn’t mean said living thing should be reproducing.
“I love my mare”. That, along with many other statements, does not qualify your mare to reproduce. I realize breeding seems tempting with the availability of quality stallions, but just because you have a mare doesn’t mean that you should breed her. Most mares are not that nice, and most nice mares need to be bred carefully.
Example #1: A woman owns a mare, she’s a cute mare. Let’s say the mare had done some hunters in the past, the big shows, let’s even say the mare did pretty good in the adult amateur ring. Now, the mare is doing dressage. Let’s say the mare is doing okay at 2nd level, but the mare is definitely not going to be progressing any further than 2nd level. The woman has seen all these fancy Grand Prix dressage stallions in the magazines. She loves her mare. Her mare is a 15.2 hand TB mare, 12 years old, chestnut, small frame, cow hocked with very small hocks, has Navicular but is sound with corrective shoeing (hence the inability to jump anymore), very small, shallow feet with no heal. Cute head, downhill, pretty straight shoulder even though she moves better than she is built to; pretty flat gaits, short neck, and long back (not extreme). But, she is a sweet mare, not mare-ish, very nice temperament, not “hot”.
This woman wants a Grand Prix horse. She rides at a pretty nice dressage barn. Most of the other boarders have Warmbloods. There are a few exceptional Thoroughbreds that are doing some of the upper level stuff, but this woman is definitely one of only a few to own a horse that isn’t going to go much further than 2nd level (we aren’t talking about rider ability at this point). Finances don’t allow this woman to buy a “going” Warmblood with upper level potential, nor is she able to fork out 10-20k for a young horse. So, she figures “I’ll breed to one of those REALLY fancy Warmbloods in the magazines that are doing Grand Prix dressage and I’ll have my next star!
Most mares are not that nice, and most nice mares need to be bred carefully.
Let’s examine this scenario. First let’s start with this woman’s “experience” in breeding. None, she has none. Her trainer knows of two younger “up and coming” stallions that aren’t approved yet, but are “gorgeous”. Her trainer also, has no experience breeding. So, the woman starts calling stallion owners. I’m not going to cut on stallion owners (at least not in this segment), but the woman hears nothing but rave reviews about each of these stallions. She picks one, a 17 hand Hanoverian, big boned, fluid movement with lots of impulsion, rhythmic gaits, has a large head though it fits him, long neck, average back, sloping shoulder, uphill build, straight legs, big feet (all from pictures and from inspection results), but all in all a very nice looking horse.
What is she going to get out of this breeding? A Grand Prix dressage horse (chances are much less than 1%)? Is she going to get the equivalent of her mare? Now that is much more realistic. But, with the conformation of the two, there is a much better chance that she is going to get much less than she had in her mare. There is a chance of course, slim, but a chance that she could get a tad nicer than her mare. But, with the clash of conformation, build, & movement, the chances are she is going to get a 16h horse with a long neck, long back, big head, big body, small frame legs, terrible feet, that doesn’t have much for athleticism. Of course, this horse has a good chance of being sweet (though we didn’t discuss the stallion’s temperament), but is this woman going to be happy with something less than her mare? If so…..great. But with the money this woman spent breeding her mare, raising the foal, and paying for training, she has probably already spent 15-40k when it is ready to be ridden.
Is she going to get the equivalent of her mare? [Not with the] conformation combo; she’ll probably get much less than she had in her mare.
Example #2: A jumper mare maxes out at about 3’6”. This mare is pretty fast and has done pretty good in the AA jumpers with several owners. She has never been able to get a lead change and has had many lameness problems. This mare also is a bitch. She HAS to be on Regumate. The only reason she has done well in the AA jumpers is because it took her 10 years to get there. She is 16 years old now. She has only been doing the AA jumpers for about 4 years. Before that she went from owner to owner because she is such a pain to train, ride, and generally deal with. She is spooky, she is hot, she is nervous, she is herd bound, she has a nasty buck AND rear. But, now she is a little better. I mean, she doesn’t like to be brushed, or tacked up. She pins her ears, swishes her tail, and often gives you the warning hind leg in the air when you have done anything more than she can tolerate. You cannot use spurs, but a crop is okay. She has never been “abused”, she is just that mare….the one that is just a bitch!
But, it might be retirement time. The woman who owns her is moving up in the jumper ring and she can’t part with the mare. She has bought a nice warmblood gelding that she is hoping to show in the A/O jumpers in the next year or two. So the mare, an appendix quarter horse, 16.2 hands, with great conformation throughout the body; nice shoulder, nice croup, nice back and neck, nice head, great topline, kind of falls apart in the legs. Not terribly, but she has sickle hocks, toes in, has terrible “tube” quarter horse feet (surprisingly no Navicluar detected YET), long cannon bones, short, and very short pasterns (astonishing that she can jump 3’6”).
The woman decides to breed the mare to a stallion that was shown in Grand Prix jumpers. She wants the mare to have something to do in retirement and she would either like another horse once her Warmblood gelding has to retire, or she will sell the foal. Either way it will be a great horse…right?
No, of course not. Why would you breed this mare? This mare has a terrible temperament, which WILL get passed on at least a little bit to the foal, and the conformation ALONE is not okay to breed. Worse case scenario, you get a horse that is WORSE than the mare! Best case scenario, you get a horse that is equal to your mare! You cannot improve on BAD faults. Sure, every horse has its conformation and temperament “imperfections”, but if there are blatant FAULTS, NO! Don’t breed!
Through equine reproduction, you cannot improve on BAD faults.
Example #3 (this is my all time favorite and probably the most common): Mare, lame, career ending (but not from an accident); Navicular, Ringbone, Sidebone, OCD, Torn Suspensory (over at the knee being the cause), Bowed Tendon (poor lower leg conformation causing the weakness).
Of course, this mare was not proven in sport in any way. She were started and then had lameness issues because of poor conformation. This is the exact reason NOT to breed, but the most common reason for a person to breed. “Well, she’s retired and only 8 years old, I can get 7 foals out of her.” NO!!!!!!!
Basically, what it boils down to is that a mare isn’t for breeding unless #1 she has proven herself in sport (upper level, dressage or jumpers) or #2 she has an outstanding temperament with equally outstanding conformation. Of course, conformation alone doesn’t qualify an upper level performance horse, nor does temperament, but it’s a good start. Also, not every rider is riding at upper levels, and there is a huge market for the middle of the performance scale, along with the lower end of the performance scale. But, you still want to be producing a physically sound horse that is also mentally sound.
Lameness is the exact reason NOT to breed, but also the most common reason given for breeding.
There are plenty of horses that qualify for the lower level without the need for you to breed to this level. There are also enough horses that performed at the upper levels and are done with that caliber of performance due to age, wear and tear, and rider ability to be passed on to the middle levels. You should not try to breed a lower level horse, or even a mid level horse.
And hey, two high level performance horses (mare and stallion) don’t always add up to offspring that perform, win, and hold-up at the upper levels, but you definitely have a much better chance.
Of course, there are always the horses that beat the odds; terrible conformation, terrible temperament, but manage to overcome those obstacles and win in the Grand Prix ring. But, odds are against those horses. And don’t forget, a horse still need heart, good training, and good riding. But guaranteed, starting off breeding with sound, sane horses and proven athletic abilities is a step in the right direction towards breeding quality offspring.
Let’s try to keep breeding to a minimum. Let’s breed quality, not quantity. Let’s REALLY figure out the costs involved with breeding and buying. If you own a mare, have someone who is knowledgeable, honest (brutally), experienced, and unbiased take a look at your mare and give you their opinion.
I would suggest taking your mare to a breed inspection, but I am unsure how strict they are these days. Anymore, American Warmblood, ISR, and a handful of other “registries” allow anything in their “books”. An evaluation from one of the TRUE, Warmblood breed associations would be a better start; though I have not been to a breed inspection in years.
Ponies are good friends. Ponies are also evil. Ponies are evil friends, yet still friends. But still evil too.
I remember fondly my pony as a child, Rikki, a 5 year old Section A Welsh (small) bay pony gelding. Rikki bit me, kicked me, bucked me off, dumped me, and drug me around, but boy did I love that pony!
Rikki also jumped around and got his lead changes (if I happened to spur him just right). He nuzzled me, took me on trail rides, went swimming with me, tolerated my hours and hours of riding, hours of grooming, and played dress-up (new tack, blankets, coolers).
Ponies are evil. Ponies are friends. Ponies are evil friends.
Despite our fun, Rikki-the-Pony was really good at stepping on my foot, knowing exactly when to poop (when I picked out his back feet), scraping me off the outside arena wall under saddle, and of course, biting my finger and NOT the carrot.
I will never forget that pony; I loved him as much as I could have loved anything. Yes, he tortured me, yes he hurt me, but he was my best friend and I learned so much from him……and every kid should have that little torture device that teaches us so much.
But make no mistake; ponies under 20 years old are torture devices for little kids.
If there is one part of English riding that I loath, its the Hunters. Not because there isn’t some style, grace, and purpose; I think everyone should start in the hunter ring. But, the politics involved in the pre-green through regular working hunters is a joke. I have been to many horse shows where you didn’t have to watch the rounds; as long as there wasn’t anything major that happened (refusal), you knew who would be in the top three to five by the names of riders, and sometimes, the owners.
Anymore, hunters are a political, status driven competition with barely any merit. If winning proof is subjective, judged sports cannot truly be sports? What, because judges are “approved” said judgment carries weight? NO! Its still subjective!
If winning proof is subjective, judged sports cannot truly be sports.
The hunter world is a dirty world, lots of pressure to have the right “look”, the right amount of flash in the horse, the right size, color, brand. I mean, what happened to all the thoroughbreds that zipped around a hunter course and made it look more like a HUNT course than an outside, diagonal, outside, single fence, diagonal, boreathon?
There is a definite importance to start in the hunter ring whether you are a kid or an adult. The hunter ring is where you earn your wings. But, there comes a time when you have to question the actual pertinence of such competition.
The hunter argument is that accuracy and perfection are derived from a great hunter course. But, if you really watch 30-40 hunter rounds in a row - good, great, and mediocre - they all start to look the same (I don’t care what commentary you are listening to).
Hunters should be used as a stepping stone for horse and rider. I will never consider hunters a sport, and except for green horses and green riders using the hunter ring for experience, miles, and steps, hunters are a joke.
If you want to jump….ride in the jumper ring; fear shouldn’t keep you from trying….the great thing about it….you aren’t being judged.
