Ya know... I've never figured out why race horses are so fragile compared to those that don't race. I've seen thoroughbreds on rough, hard, uneven ground and it seems like they do just fine, especially if they are raised on rough ground. It's almost like the horses that are babied due to their value are most likely to be injured.
Because they start riding them as long yearlings, and racing them as 2 year oldsl. No horse should run a maiden before 4 years old, and the derby should be for 5 r 6 years old. DFamned greedy owners fight this because they don't want to have to wait another 2 years to run one.Ya know... I've never figured out why race horses are so fragile compared to those that don't race. I've seen thoroughbreds on rough, hard, uneven ground and it seems like they do just fine, especially if they are raised on rough ground. It's almost like the horses that are babied due to their value are most likely to be injured.
On the other hand... there is insurance involved. That may skew any outcome.
Insurance papers rubbing together have caused lots of calamities.Ya know... I've never figured out why race horses are so fragile compared to those that don't race. I've seen thoroughbreds on rough, hard, uneven ground and it seems like they do just fine, especially if they are raised on rough ground. It's almost like the horses that are babied due to their value are most likely to be injured.
On the other hand... there is insurance involved. That may skew any outcome.
Maybe man's selection of traits and use of thoroughbred epds [speed figures] in breeding selections.I've never figured out why race horses are so fragile compared to those that don't race.
Breeding for refined bone (speed) heavier boned sturdier thoroughbreds don't have injuries as frequently sturdier = longer distances vs speed, but speed could also be compounded with drugs used in horse racing allowing for more injuries.E=MVsquared has a lot to do with it. The energy of a moving body is the mass times the velocity squared. The velocity squared is the key factor, other horses never get up to the speed of racehorses and if they land on a leg the wrong way that energy can cause the bone to explode.
Ken
17 of the 18 horses in the race today have Secretariat in their pedigree.Inbreeding?
The range of ages of AI bulls used this year is likely 20 to nearly 60 years old. No worry about me falling in to that rut of the young and unproven bull lemming race to the cliff's edge!17 of the 18 horses in the race today have Secretariat in their pedigree.
He was a heavily used unproven young sire who never had much success in replicating the freak that he was.
p.s.
I hid a warning in there about heavy use of young unproven bull of the month club sires... can you find it?
Is there any difference between that and cattle producers breeding heifers so young because they think they are losing money if she is not bred?Because they start riding them as long yearlings, and racing them as 2 year oldsl. No horse should run a maiden before 4 years old, and the derby should be for 5 r 6 years old. DFamned greedy owners fight this because they don't want to have to wait another 2 years to run one.
No difference, I agree. It is exactly the same mindset.Is there any difference between that and cattle producers breeding heifers so young because they think they are losing money if she is not bred?
At the age these horses are getting trained they're pretty fragile and can be greatly injured. An athletic horse will try to do things their bodies really aren't prepared to do and are easily injured. Most of the "deaths" listed are usually injury related euthanasiaBecause they start riding them as long yearlings, and racing them as 2 year oldsl. No horse should run a maiden before 4 years old, and the derby should be for 5 r 6 years old. DFamned greedy owners fight this because they don't want to have to wait another 2 years to run one.
How young is too young?Is there any difference between that and cattle producers breeding heifers so young because they think they are losing money if she is not bred?
For what? A heifer should be at least 2 years old before breeding. Any kind of performance horse should not be started til it is 4, and should not be entered into competition before 5 yrs old. There is absolutely zero difference in the modern 21st century TB racing horses, ad those 50, 100, even 20 years ago. Times are virtually the same. Records have remained unbroken for as long, for some, and when they are broken, they are in fractions of a second. TB's were developed in England in the 16th and 17th centuries, and perfected i9n the 18th century. Where as, say human athletes, which have NOT been selectively bred for performance, are continually setting and breaking and re-setting performance records. There is noHow young is too young?
You are correct sir that he could not sure his equal or close. Same with many good race horses. Similar to affirmed who won the triple crown yet never made it as a sire. Yet alidar who ran second in every triple crown race made many times over the better sire. All in all Warren was correct, to much pressure on young horses17 of the 18 horses in the race today have Secretariat in their pedigree.
He was a heavily used unproven young sire who never had much success in replicating the freak that he was.
p.s.
I hid a warning in there about heavy use of young unproven bull of the month club sires... can you find it?