UR Thoroughbred Breeding

When discussing pedigree, I'm naturally drawn into the larger subject of breeding as a whole. My personal philosophy is to conscientiously breed the most correct and durable thoroughbreds possible, because longevity creates ethical profit. However, on the business side of horse-racing, some owners are looking for a quick turnover on their investment, rather than love of the horse or respect for the sport; meanwhile, breeding fast, fragile-boned babies gives no thought to their future or the reliability of any offspring they might produce. This is not to say that being business-oriented implies carelessness in the industry--on the contrary, breeding big, solid, sound horses will ultimately reward the owner far and above both financially and ethically than any one-race wonder ever could. Without strength and soundness, a horse will not likely make it past its 3 y.o. year, and miss out on the many opportunities older horses have in their division to win large stakes race purses. On international tracks, it is much more common to see 5 and 6 y.o. thoroughbreds who have been bred and raised to acclimate to the pressures of racing through strong bone structure, size, and correct conformation. However in American racing, all too often young horses are retired from racing after one big win for the sake of recouping expenses in the short-term. Yet what does that mean for the thoroughbred? The best scenarios are all too rare; many beautiful animals that worked tirelessly for their owners are simply led to slaughter when there is no profit to be made from them. A perfect example of this kind of brutality is the recent tragedy caused by trainer Ernie Paragallo, who allowed the starvation and neglect of 177 thoroughbreds, many of which were valuable, prize-winning horses in recent years, on his New York farm. To me, the real question is, how many horses have been neglected or slaughtered that don't make it to the news? As a part of the industry, I am appalled at the trend of these kind of practices. This is why I approach breeding, owning, and managing racehorses with the greatest degree of care and humane treatment as possible, and this process begins with pedigree.
A legacy of successful lineage is of course, the best place to start when getting involved with breeding, but taking a hard look at the physique and attitude of a potential stud is also important. Without practically flawless conformation, I personally will not consider breeding to any thoroughbred no matter what the hype is surrounding him. He needs to be big, durable, and sound of body and mind. I am not looking for a baby who might win a race or two early in his career, but rather, an athlete made for endurance and stamina that will provide consistency I can bank on over time. Broodmares should also be selected with lineage and conformation in mind, and if timing allows, taking a look at her skills as mother is helpful. Some mares are more attentive and protective than others, so choosing one with intelligence, a good attitude, and excellent care for her babies is practically like buying another form of insurance on your potential foal.
If and when you decide to get involved with the exciting process of thoroughbred breeding, think about the future of the horse you aim to bring into the world. Protect that future by making smart decisions about pedigree that will carry your colt or filly firmly through his or her career and beyond. It will prove rewarding in every sense!

Things to Remember:

--After studying up on the lineage of potential studs and the history of their careers, take visits to as many farms as necessary to really get a solid grasp on what your options are; looking at conformation and attitude should be critical in finalizing your decision!

--Take a stand on humane measures within the industry by being an example. The higher the quality and durability of the thoroughbreds you produce, the more you are advocating for positive change. Overpopulation benefits no horse and no person within racing, so choose wisely and carefully.

To many new owners, the word conformation seems foreign--you know you've heard it interjected in seasoned horsemen's conversation before, but the true meaning seems a bit hazy. Is it the way a horse moves? The shape of his or her legs? The physical characteristics that pass down from a dam or sire? An eye for conformation takes time to master, but ultimately it is one of the best ways to determine a horse's ability to return on your investment in his or her career. The heart and soul of the horse and the preparation of the people in his life are what crosses the finish line--but he needs the physique to carry him there! Conformation is also the key factor is selecting bloodstock for breeding. As described in the Unbridled Racing blog, I recently spent a day out with one of my own partners clueing him in on conformation at work, and I'm happy to share that knowledge with you.
The first thing I look for in a thoroughbred is firm, strong bone structure--it takes a solid horse to succeed on the unforgiving pace of the track. He or she should have a flowing, straight walk with the hind end coming gracefully, but powerfully to the front. In order to maintain a steady gallop with an adequate amount of thrust from the hip, a well-curved gaskin and wide, strong hock must support the hind quarters. Big, wide hips should be balanced with a 45 degree angle at the shoulders. On the front end, the horse's second portion of power, long forearms, short, stout cannon bones, immaculately correct knees, and 45 degree pastern angles are necessary. Knees, in particular, are critical to choosing a horse--he or she will injure easily and tire out quickly without strong, straight knees. When looking at a horse from the front, a broad, muscular chest is important. Also, this is best way to judge the quality of a horse's forearms--a straight line from the center of the forearm to the center of the hoof is paramount without any deviations. In a galloping horse, the lead foreleg takes the entire weight of the horse for about 1/10th of a second; any aberration will be damaging as the full weight of the horse breaks over the leg. This kind of extreme pressure on the joints is but one of many in racing--the cannon bone also receives about 175% of the animal's body weight in every step of a gallop; that's typically 6,000 lbs! This is yet another reason why I am such an advocate of proper hoofcare, as I have discussed in other articles. With so much literally weighing on the hooves, the value of high-quality, frequent farrier visits becomes obvious. Beyond the shoulder, the neck should be well-connected at the withers, and proportionate to the body; particularly not too thick, short, or low. The head should be attractive and have an intelligent face, with a wide forehead, big, well-set eyes, and large nostrils. Big nostrils and jaw wider than a fist underneath suggest the ability to intake the large amounts of oxygen to keep a horse fueled in a race.
All of these characteristics and qualities of movement should imply one thing--the athleticism required to reach maximum speed with the least possible strain and opportunity for injury. Speed and endurance are both achieved with efficiency in motion: covering the most ground with the least effort.
Selecting horses with proper conformation is the best initial insurance you can have for a good future on the track. It also promotes good decision-making about breeding later on, by preserving the quality of the breed as a whole.

Things to Remember:

--Spend time for yourself at the track, particularly during morning workouts, to observe the way horses carry themselves and move at different speeds and over different styles of ground. Over time, you'll develop your own eye for what contributes or detracts from a horse's ability to gallop as compared to others.

--Superstition may work for the occasional fun bet, but it takes more than a pretty name or an expensive trainer to win at the track. Really familiarize yourself about conformation or surround yourself with proven, experienced people before committing to an investment on a horse.