Tuesday, June 17th, 2008
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
Thoroughbred Horse Weak Points:
- Terrible Feet (small, thin soles and hoof walls)
- Orthopedic Problems (DOD Developmental Orthopedic Disease)
- Weak Legs (stress fractures, bone chips, etc.)
- Temperament too “high” for average horse owner
- 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.
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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.
Tags: equestrian, tb, thoroughbred, warmblood
Posted in horse breeds | 6 Comments »
Thursday, May 22nd, 2008
Horse in snow
Now that we have figured out how to choose the right horse boarding facility for you, lets talk about how to choose the right boarding barn for your horse.
Though it’s YOUR money and YOUR hobby, your horse is the one who has to live at the barn. No matter what, you must have goals for you and your horse. Keeping your horse at a barn that isn’t right for him/her isn’t going to help you achieve your riding goals.
A horse’s surrounding atmosphere has SO much impact on their overall health and wellbeing. Maybe you are moving barns because you aren’t happy with how your horse is going, how his/her training is coming along, or maybe, you just need a change. Sometimes staying with the same trainer, at the same barn, for too long, can create monotony and boredom for you AND your horse. Everyone grows as a rider, and your horse grows as an equine athlete too.
Facilities:
The facilities are probably the most important factor for your horse’s overall health and happiness. How much sun gets in the barn? Are there windows in the stalls, and if not, are their skylights to allow plenty of natural light? Are the ceilings tall enough for your horse? Is there plenty of ventilation? Windows, open doors; does a breeze run through the barn to allow fresh air exchange? Can the barn stay warm enough in winter without closing every door and window? If the barn is heated in winter, is there still fresh air allowed in the barn? Is there a safe place to tack up? Grooming stalls, crossties in the isles; or are you stuck grooming in their stall? How are the riding areas? Is the footing too deep or too rocky? Are the rings level? Are the rings watered regularly to keep dust down? Are the rings over-watered as to cause slippery footing? Is there somewhere to ride outside of a ring? It’s always good to ride your horse “out of the ring” at least once a week, even if it’s just at a walk and only for 5 minutes. Even a casual switch-up in riding environment is great for their brain and their body.
Turnout:
I touched on my 2008 turnout opinion already. Does this new barn’s turnout policy jive with your horse’s needs? Does your horse do well in group turnout? Do they offer group turnout? Are their different herds for mares and geldings? Are there different herds for temperament? Maybe your horse needs individual turnout, or possibly, that’s all they offer. If so, do they get all day turnout? Are they out for a few hours, or maybe every other day? Are the individual turnouts too big, too small? Are the pastures and/or paddocks over grazed? Are the pastures and paddocks full of green grass that is perfectly manicured? Lots of pretty green grass is a sign of VERY limited turnout!
Maybe you don’t want your horse going outside, or maybe your horse can only handle an hour or two of turnout and then they run. Do they accommodate no turnout? Is there staff around during the day to corral running horses? Does the staff bring in if horses if they don’t seem happy outside, and is there a charge for such?
One place not to be a crazy boarder: turnout terrain. People get awfully caught up with rocks and evenness of pastures. If your horse is a turnout horse, hills, rocks, and trees are not going to hurt. You want them perfectly safe from outdoor harm? Leave ‘em in.
If your horse can handle all day turnout, doesn’t flip out, and doesn’t get too crazy, then the pasture terrain doesn’t really matter. Horses are resilient, if they are smart. Horses are able to handle very “difficult” terrain if they aren’t bonkers. A wacky Thoroughbred that paces, runs, and generally freaks out may pose a threat to themselves if the terrain is uneven, but if your horse is a lunatic anyway, you may want to consider individual turnout in a smaller paddock as is.
Outdoor runs off the indoor stalls can be a great alternative to turnout. If your horse gets worked often (5-7 days a week), and they don’t NEED to get out and run around with a herd, sometimes, just a run off the stall to keep them moving is plenty. Sometimes board is more costly with a stall and run, but this is one of my favorite options for a horse, especially if they don’t do well in normal turnout situations.
Turnout Fencing
Aside from barn structures themselves, horse pasture fencing is expensive. One way to spot a low rent horse facility? Barbed wire fencing. One way to spot an uppity barn? Four rail white vinyl. Pick somewhere in the middle. Old fencing is not necessarily bad; just be sure to walk the fence lines during the barn tour. PVC fencing, and even 1.5″ electric tape fencing (if electrified) can provide great, and more importantly, SAFE pasture perimeter protection. No Climb fencing is good too, especially if topped with a wooden board and one electric wire.
Be wary of fencing too low, too loose, not electrified, or broken. STAY AWAY FROM METAL WIRE STRAND FENCING - DANGER DANGER DANGER!
Feeding Programs:
Many horse owners fail to research horse feeds and feeding programs and instead rely too much on trainers, barn owners, and barn managers to get horse nutrition right. If ever there was a need for proper horse care education, nutrition consultation would be top priority.
Not enough horse owners are involved in the care of their horses. I have asked so many horse owners how much feed their horse gets and they have NO IDEA!! This amazes me.
QUESTION: Does your horse do well on grass hay, or do they need the extra energy of alfalfa?
ANSWER: [blank stare]
QUESTION: What kind of grain does your horse do best on?
ANSWER: [shoulder shrug...guesses wrong]
Before you move barns, find out what your horse is currently eating, think about your horse’s weight, their energy level, their stamina, and their current and future work load. You would be surprised about how much of a difference grain and hay choices make on your horse’s overall performance, attitude, and condition. Most barns feed a standard “grain” whether that’s Purina Strategy, Nutrena Safechoice, or a plain sweet feed. Stay away from cob. If the barn uses a plain sweet feed, lookup the protein, fat, starch, and sugar nutritional data and sources. Overly “hot” horses, horses working VERY hard, fat horses, skinny horses, or sluggish horses should always have their feed evaluated, possibly by a veterinarian or horse feed product specialist (most are cool if you can find ‘em - check the feed company’s website).
Additionally, most feed bags suggest feeding A LOT of grain (wonder why?) Start with feed recommendations, talk with your vet, and watch your horse for improvements. Make adjustments when necessary, and ALWAYS make horse feed changes slowly!
Added horse supplements, additional grains, and roughage sources are a possibility for your equine. Find out if the barn will feed these additions, what charges are associated, if they want YOU to purchase the products, or if THEY’d rather purchase the products and bill you. Some barns require supplements to be bagged, others don’t mind as long as everything is labeled. Some barns will NOT feed supplements. Make sure you know what they feed, how they feed, when they feed, and of course, if their feed practices work for your horse.
Maybe a barn don’t feed supplements, but everything else is near perfect. If you’re already going out to the barn 5-7 days a week, you can always feed the supplements yourself. It’s a compromise, but at least you’re in charge. Of course, depending on the supplement and what it’s used for, missing days may be impossible. But, sometimes we definitely over supplement our horses.
Trainers sometimes can be the worst horse supplement advice givers. Always consult a veterinarian if you are unsure.
Hay is an important part of the feeding program, and with gas prices expanding, affordable land shrinking, and the plight of the American farmer increasing, grass hay is getting harder and harder to come by. In these economic times, there is no such thing as affordable hay, and there never will be again. If you find a barn that grows their own hay, good for you. Not every barn has 80 acres (that aren’t subdivisions, yet), and the equipment to cut and bale hay.
If your barn makes it’s own hay, be sure the hay is good quality (not weeds), clean, dry storage is abundant, and hay production is ample. If your barn buys hay - which most do these days - trace the hay source, type, and find out how stable their hay delivery is. Changing hay sources and types, unless done gradually, should be avoided. For picky horse or sensitive horses, changing hay, even if its grass hay to a different grass hay, can be difficult (eg. the runs, or worse).
Perhaps your horse can’t handle high quality hay. Arabians horses who don’t do well on rich hay may be faced with explosive diarrhea, or colic episodes; see if the barn can provide lower quality hay if necessary. If a barn won’t make special purchases for you (and you may be required to sign a lease so the barn can buy enough hay in advance), will the barn feed hay that you bring yourself?
Hay prices are astronomical, and if there is one place a boarding facility looses money, it’s on hay. If a barn is trying to save a few pennies on hay, make sure it’s not detrimental to your horse’s health.
Stalls and Bedding:
Horse stalls and bedding usually have more effect on horse owners than they do on the actual horses. However, there are a few points to consider while looking at a stall. The first few we already covered in the facilities section: ventilation and natural light. One more important factor is stall size. 18 hand horses don’t like 10′x10′ stalls. Heck, 17 hand horses don’t like 10′x10′ stalls (unless there is a run off the back). Most horses do fine in 12’x12’ stalls, but the bigger the better, and ceiling height makes a difference in both ventilation, and of course, a horses ability to stand up comfortably.
Many, many people get too worked up over bedding, the amount, and the quality. Yes, bedding and shavings are important. But, you must understand, most stalls nowadays have mats. If the stalls have thick rubber mats (preferably, not over concrete), bedding is not needed for cushion, only for absorption. Just because you wouldn’t lay down on the bedding doesn’t mean your horse cares in the slightest. The amount of bedding is only determined by your horse’s quantity of urine. SERIOUSLY! I know, at the horse shows, you always bed them deep, but remember, most of the stalls at horse shows don’t have rubber mats! Once again, with rubber mats, there isn’t a need to bed your horse incredibly deep. If the bedding is off-colored due to moisture, urine, or because your horse is a complete slob, as long as it doesn’t smell like ammonia, it’s fine for your horse. Your horse will survive in a dirty stall. Not all horses use the potty equally. If your horse is a pig and doesn’t go in one spot, it’s proof your horse doesn’t care if their stall is dirty! YOU may care, but your horse will be fine.
Trainer:
Choosing the right trainer for your horse is just as important as choosing the right trainer for you. Not all trainers work great with all types of horses, just as not all trainers work great with all types of people. Make sure the trainer’s philosophies work with the goals you’ve set and the needs you’ve identified for your horse. Maybe your horse has been “babied” a little too much and needs to be pushed, or maybe your horse gets scared quickly needs a trainer to gradually introduce new challenges. Some horses do much better with a VERY assertive trainer, while others respond better to simply consistent expectations.
YOU may not be the best person to judge what kind of trainer your horse needs. Some people think their horse needs one thing, when all along it’s an entirely different approach that the horse responds best to. Again, don’t make TOO many assumptions about horse trainers based on gossip. You need to judge for yourself, and ALWAYS watch a trainer ride! The best teacher in the world may be the WORST rider! If you are looking for a trainer ride your horse, make sure that trainer is a good, effective rider that is clear and consistent with their communication to the horse.
Preventative Care:
Sometimes people forget preventative horse care is important part in not only care of your horse, but the health of an entire barn. Vaccines, de-worming, night checks, experienced staff, and horse “traffic” all play a role in preventative care for your horse.
Of course, a barn SHOULD require proof of vaccinations prior to any horse moving in, but in reality, a barn owner, manager, or trainer can tell if you are up on your horse’s vaccinations by the barn you are coming from, if you have been showing (and what shows you are showing at), what vet you use, and of course, just by YOU. Depending on the barn, the barn’s vet, how many horses travel to shows and clinics, and the amount of new horses coming and going, the barn will require mandatory vaccinations. Of course, geographic regions also determine necessary vaccines. Always talk to your vet, find out if your vet has had any experiences with the new barn and the health of their “herd”. Don’t pry for personal questions, just ask how the horses are cared for from a veterinarian’s perspective. You probably won’t get any “dirt”, but you should get a clear picture of how and what your horse will need if you were to move them there.
Negative Coggins is something that is usually more area specific. If you are traveling to horse shows, a negative Coggins is generally required.
Many barns fall short on de-worming programs. I prefer a barn to either require the daily de-wormer (strongid C, strongid C2x, Continuex, Equi Aid CW, etc), or the every other month rotation recommended by the barn vet, with the BARN giving the de-wormer. Too many times I have seen the “reminder” to de-worm your horse and I know that half the people forget, are a month late, buy the wrong kind, or just don’t think it’s that important. Worms are real, worms are a big deal, worms can be controlled! So, make sure the barn has something to not only keep track, but enforce whole barn de-worming program.
Night Check is something that is imperative to a horse’s well being. Of course, 9 times out of 10 night checks will not find anything wrong in the barn. But it’s that 1 in 10 that can really catch something, like colic, a horse cast, an allergic reaction, a horse just not doing right. It’s a great way to make sure the barn is secure, the horses are good for the night, and you can sleep soundly knowing night check is routine.
Good overall common sense and experience from the staff go a long way towards happy and healthy horses. Even if it’s just the trainer, the barn owner, or the barn manager, someone who is there EVERY day when the horses come inside unconsciously performs the “everything okay check.” The lost shoe, the cut, the blanket falling off, the wraps taken off, the hot horse cooled, the horse not eating or drinking like normal, the sound of a lame horse walking in the isle. Whatever little idiosyncrasies, an experienced handler or manager will see it, hear it, or feel it! Of course, even something can go missed with 10 staffed people each with 20 years of horse experience, but if NO-ONE there knows your horse or horses in general, EVERYTHING is going to be missed.
Farrier and Vet:
Your horse may have special needs, or maybe you have special needs that are gratified through your horse’s farrier and vet, but let’s stick to your horse for now.
If your horse either needs special shoeing, special attention from a vet, or has a long history with a vet, make sure that the barn “allows” other vets and farriers to be used. If the barn move is “normal” and a horse’s feet and health generally “normal”, changing vets and farriers usually isn’t a big deal.
But, if you REALLY like your vet or farrier and your horse has been doing GREAT with both professionals taking care of him/her; make sure you can bring them along to the new barn and make sure both your veterinarian and farrier can make the trip to the new barn.
Environment/Atmosphere:
Very important for the person, it is actually important for your horse as well. Maybe in a slightly different way, but if the barn has a bad feel, if there is chaos, lots of drama, bad schedules, or inconsistencies, your horse is going to feel calm or stress whether its directly from the bad environment, atmosphere, or the effect on your mood. Either way, bad feelings can bring a horse down as much as a person.
There are probably a million more sub-topics regarding selecting the right horse boarding facility, barn, or stable for your equine. This is a good start.
When you are looking for a new barn, consider what is best for you and what is best for your horse. Make lists, compare, and don’t settle. Compromises are fair and reasonable, but sacrifices are not. Horses are too expensive; get your money’s worth for you AND your horse.
Related Citizen Horse Articles
- How to Choose the Right Barn for You
- Horse Supplements: The Evolution
- Leaving a Barn: The 30 Day Notice
Tags: boarding, thoroughbred
Posted in boarding, horse care | No Comments »
Monday, April 28th, 2008
I have been aware of horse slaughter since I was a kid. It was a well known fact Thoroughbred ex-race horses that came through the barn had one shot to make it in the hunter/jumper ring (as riding horses). If a horse didn’t stay at the barn, we knew the horse would end up back at dealers, and dealer returns meant the horse was going to slaughter.
As a child, horse slaughter was simply a fact. Now, it’s almost a necessity. I don’t agree with slaughtering horses, nor do I want any horse to end up at a slaughterhouse, but our society produces far too many unwanted horses.
I receive emails on a weekly basis from several different horse industry and horse welfare news streams. Every time I read one of these legislative “updates”, I wonder: When is horse slaughter legislation going to start with the cause of unwanted horses?
Though anti horse slaughter groups have successfully shut down horse slaughterhouses in America, horse breeding has only increased. If horses at auction don’t wind up at slaughter, where are all the “unwanted” horses going to go? As with the millions of unwanted dogs and cats who are euthanased every year, it would be nice if we could say unwanted horses are “humanely destroyed.” But, horses are just not that easy to put down. Besides being big, difficult to transport, to house, and to feed, horses cost several hundred dollars to put down. For “humane” treatment, horses need not only feed, water, and vaccinations, but also farrier care and often special nutritional, veterinary, and stabling.
When is horse slaughter legislation going to start with the cause of unwanted horses?
Horses end up at auction if they can’t be sold privately, can’t be cared for, or are (simply) unwanted. If a horse owner sends an “unwanted” horse to auction and the horse doesn’t sell, what happens to the horse? If the previous owner can’t or won’t care for the horse, who will?
It’s the same with the overpopulation of dogs and cats. It’s better to have a humane society take an unwanted pet and euthanize it than have a pet return to a home where it isn’t wanted or cannot be cared for. But again, horses are extremely difficult and expensive to care for. Some say re-homing unwanted horses is not a big deal since the total number of American horses slaughtered per year “only” equals about 1% of the total American horse population. Based on current horse populations (about 9 million in the US), 90,000 “homeless” horses is still a lot of horses. With hay prices up, gas prices up, and affordable land becoming more scarce, most horse people in any part of the country will tell you; “you can’t even give ‘em away these days.”
Some anti-slaughter activists like to claim horse “kill buyers” are outbidding nice families in search of a pet. Really? If a “nice family” is only willing to spend $100, maybe a $150 on a horse, will they be willing to spent another $150 on vaccines once the vet comes out? What about hoof care every six weeks? Hay, grain, shavings? Proper fencing? Does the nice family have money set aside for emergency transport and thousands of dollars worth of colic surgery? Kill buyers, yes, may be out bidding families (occasionally), but this does not mean the family has means to care for the long term health of the horse.
To minimize horse slaughter and unwanted horses, we need a better plan.
Currently, there are no horse slaughterhouses operating in the United States. Despite anti-slaughter group efforts, American horse slaughterhouses have been successfully shut down, but now horses are just sent over the border to Mexico and Canada where the treatment and killing of animals is even less humane than under American standards.
In many ways, the U.S. slaughter ban has already hurt horse welfare.
For reference, American slaughterhouses used retractable pneumatic bolts to render horses unconscious (in theory) before slitting their throats. However, in Mexico, it’s common practice to stab horses in the back repeatedly until their spinal cord is severed. Watch this video from the Humane Society of the United States for more info on Mexican horse slaughter.
In many ways, the U.S. horse slaughter ban has already hurt horse welfare. Now, anti-slaughter groups are attempting to ban horses exported for slaughter altogether. Despite the fact this new law could be easily circumvented by horse “kill dealers” simply labeling horses transported across the border as “for riding” instead of “for slaughter”, we need to first think about minimizing the unwanted horse population before tackling the issue of horse slaughter.
Lets look at some facts:
- According to the USDA, 45,000 horses went to slaughter in Mexico in 2007, and another 26,000 went to Canada (total, 71,000+).
- According to the Jockey Club, 56,000 Thoroughbred mares were bred in 2007.
- According to the Thoroughbred Times, Thoroughbred race horses averaged 25 starts per life in 1950; by 1994, the average Thoroughbred ran just 14 races.
What does this mean? More Thoroughbreds running less races equals more waste. Due to over breeding of the Thoroughbred, not only does the Thoroughbred Times conclude Thoroughbred races horses are less sound than 60 years ago , but also, they are less used.
Moreover, why have we not had a Triple Crown winner in Thoroughbred horse racing since Affirmed in 1978? Could it be that the only requirements for breeding a Thoroughbred horse are a papered mare and money for a stud fee?
I imagine, even in 1978, horse breeding and racing wasn’t an incredibly easy or cheap “hobby”. Then, not every backyard horse owner could afford a.) a papered Thoroughbred mare, or b.) a 500 mile haul to the stallion. Today, cheap, seedy racetracks are numerous and vastly outnumber the celebrity packed racing events profiled on T.V. It is perceived as “easy” now for anyone to think they can breed the next Kentucky Derby winner. For $250, someone can pick up a lame and unproven (and possibly even unraced) Thoroughbred mare and breed her to an equally lame or unproven Thoroughbred stallion for as little as $300. Boom! For less than a beater car, you too can own the next derby champ!
Wrong.
Of course, many Thoroughbreds going for meat are actually well bred, expensive horses. Some may have stud fees of $500,000 or more. By and large, racehorses don’t retire to green pasture if they don’t win. They mostly go to auction. Even when trainers try their best to find a new owner and a new job for the horse, Thoroughbreds off-the-track are not just for anyone. Most of them need experienced handlers and trainers.
With the 2008 Kentucky Derby ready to hit the starting gate on May 3rd, what is the average American going to see of the racing industry? Horses worth millions of dollars? Shiny, lucky horses cared for better than most people?
I wish happenings at an average American Thoroughbred Racetrack were televised. Horses running at tracks not called Churchill Downs, Belmont Park, or Pimlico don’t have the luxury of being considered anything but expendable or replaceable. And besides, with reality TV all the rage, is there anything more cut throat [pun intended] than watching broke down horses running in races that are paying out $500 with the losers highly unlike to get another chance?
The large majority of horses who will not see the glamorous camera lenses pointed at them (beside closed circuit monitoring) are only bred to be good for a year or two. These “modern” Thoroughbreds, the ones at your average, dirty, shady, tracks, aren’t bred to run the Kentucky Derby; they are bred to MAYBE, MAYBE win their owners and investors a couple thousand dollars. The main purpose of the average Thoroughbred is to honor the owner with the distinction of owning a racehorse. Thoroughbreds, by their nature, are bred to be hot, a trait which does not to serve them well outside of running. They are no longer bred with long lines, or big strides even. They are bred to run and move flat, fast, and that’s it. Outside of the few races they MIGHT run, Thoroughbred racehorses serve limited purpose.
Interestingly enough, even Kentucky Derby winners aren’t safe from slaughter. With the 2002 slaying of 1986 Kentucky Derby winner Ferdinand at a Japanese slaughterhouse, the horse racing industry has proven time and time again it does not even value it’s most prize assets.
Thusly, even well bred but only “medium” caliber racehorses, such as those bought and sold at the Keeneland Auction for an average of $100K, may not ever win, even at a small racetrack. With the hopes of “cleaning up” at the ghetto tracks, these “Kentucky” bred horses still are without value unless the winnings come in early and frequently.
The main purpose of today’s “modern” Thoroughbred is to honor the owner with the distinction of owning a racehorse.
Luckily, there is a good chance a Kentucky bred Thoroughbred horse could posses some very nice athletic attributes that could result in a nice hunter/jumper, dressage, or eventing home. Still, the original breeders, owners, and trainers of racehorses are generally unconcerned with where the horses end up. The racing industry wipes their hands clean of losers without regard for the welfare of the horses. Slaughter, new career, loving home - who cares! Whatever gets them off the training and boarding bill, its fine by the racehorse owner.
As an American horse community, we need to start looking at a way to fund “unwanted” horses that are considered “garbage” with either euthanasia, or when applicable, retraining programs. Or more importantly, let’s limit racehorse breeding to owners and trainers who only commit their funds to providing for a horse throughout the duration of its life, regardless of its winnings. If the racing community had to fork over money for the lifetime care of its horses, the unwanted horse population would dry up.
The horse industry needs a plan, a good plan, to help lower unwanted horse numbers. Stopping horse slaughter is only going to be beneficial once we stop having too many horses. In order to stop horse slaughter, the Humane Society of the United States should do one of two things:
1.) Provide the shelters and means necessary to retrain or humanely euthanize unwanted, unadaptable horses
2.) Take giant steps forward to limit the breeding of all horses, not just racing Thoroughbreds
In addition, the HSUS should go after the racing community for some money to start covering the humane destruction or lifetime care of the horses it produces. Now that the Kentucky Derby is underway, why don’t some of these trainers, owners, breeders, and jockeys making BIG money in horse racing industry give some money back, to the horses themselves?
If the racing community had to fork over money for the lifetime care of its horses, the unwanted horse population would dry up.
Let’s stop breeding low quality Thoroughbreds, shut down the seedy racetracks, and start a rehab and retraining humane society that can help with these unwanted horses either through re-homing (realistically), or humane euthanasia.
And frankly, lets stop breeding low quality horses of any kind. The Thoroughbred racing industry is not solely to blame for horse slaughter or unwanted horses altogether. However, Thoroughbred horse racing is the highest grossing and highest profile entity of the horse world. For naysayers of horse slaughter, Thoroughbred racing is an easy target because of its money, power, and fan base, but there is no better time than to call out an institution on it’s dirty little secrets than when shone national media spotlight (rest assured, if Premarin horses ended up with global coverage on the Oxygen network, we’d be all over that too).
Please, lets organize a cause with a better, more logical, long-term answer for unwanted horses than taking on American horse slaughter. Though the last three horse slaughter plants were shut down in 2007, bottom of the market horse welfare has not increased. Once we gain control over the source of the unwanted horses, only then will we produce effective measures against combating horse slaughter.
Tags: horseracing, kentucky, kentucky derby, politics, slaughter, tb, thoroughbred
Posted in breeding | 16 Comments »
Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008
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.
Tags: breeding, equestrian, equine, horse, mare, reprooduction, sport horse, thoroughbred, warmblood
Posted in breeding | 3 Comments »
