NOW that Congress is Involved Thoroughbred Industry Claims Interest in Declining Equine Soundness Seven Years After Major Report

Today, the Thoroughbred industry reaches new heights of ridiculousness after patting itself on the back for performing an "investigative report" examining "possible" declines in the breed's soundness over the last 30 - 40 years. Releasing a report titled "Losing the Iron Horse", TB industry trade magazine Blood Horse claims to be on the forefront of detecting racehorse breeding practice problems by referencing historical Jockey Club records.....

To finish reading this article visit Citizen Horse

The Standardbred - Unharnessed

When thinking of re-training an ex-racehorse, you think of a Thoroughbred. Thoroughbreds have been taken off the track and turned into Hunters, Jumpers, Eventers, Dressage horses, pleasure horses, gaming horses, and just about every discipline you can think of. Thoroughbreds have excelled at all these disciplines at one point or another, but, as we know, the Thoroughbred breed isn't what it used to be.

So, why not consider a Standardbred?

"They don't know how to canter, just trot or pace."

Yeah. That may be true, but in all fairness, what does an off the track Thoroughbred really know (other than gallop)? A Standardbred IS still a horse, and all horses know how to walk trot AND canter. They have just been trained to trot and pace. Therefore, they need re-training to learn how to carry themselves and a rider through all the gaits. Not all that much different than a Thoroughbred, just a different approach....

To finish reading this article and submit your experience on the Standardbred as a Sport Horse visit Citizen Horse

The Morgan Horse - A Little Horse That Can!

When you think of a sport horse, the Morgan isn't the breed that first pops into your head. Morgan horses don't receive any ridicule like the Arabian, and the Morgan is often dismissed as an unworthy mount for any sport horse discipline. Morgan haters are few, Morgan lovers are fewer, and most equestrians scratch their head in even reference to the Morgan.

Here's the best Morgan horse description I can give:

* short
* stout
* uphill
* powerhouse build
* mostly unflappable
* great character

I am not an expert in this breed, but after meeting only a few Morgans, I can pick a Morgan out of a herd of horses, so long as I'm told there's a Morgan to be found. Morgan horses are similar to Arabians in that they really have a type. Just how Arabians look like Arabians, Morgans look like Morgans.

Since so much American sport horse breeding has become haphazard, I appreciate the Morgan horse's definition. It's just, well they're aren't many around (only about 130,000 around the world)....

To finish reading this article and submit your experience with Morgan sport horses visit Citizen Horse

Thoroughbreds Then and Now

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.....

To finish reading this article and submit your experience with the Thoroughbred visit Citizen Horse

Plain and simple, the sport horse world holds an unacceptable intolerance of Arabian horses. Hunter, Jumper, Dressage, and Event riders are so%u2026dare I say%u2026racist 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....

To finish reading this article and submit your opinion on Arabians in the Sporthorse world visit Citizen Horse

Ponies Are Evil!

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....

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SCHOOL HORSES - THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE LAME

School horses are worth their weight in gold. They are the foundation of most every rider's beginnings. They come in all shapes and sizes, temperaments, and soundness levels....

To read this entire "shout out" and give a shout out to the school horse you learned to ride on visit CITIZEN HORSE