A History Of Breeding Excellence
Centuries of selective breeding practices have produced and unparalleled equine athlete....
Our ancestors valued the Thoroughbred's speed and stamina. Records show how carefully these early breeders selected mares and stallions to ensure offspring of superior athletic ability. Today, Thoroughbred owners continue to benefit from this legacy of breeding excellence.
Horse races must have started one day when two horsemen began to argue about who owned the best horse. Obviously, going faster than one's neighbor represented some personal triumph. Since that day, the care and breeding needed to obtain the fastest equine has been the main concern of many generations. In fact, throughout history, the improvement of the Thoroughbred has often been a primary consideration of kings and presidents.
During the Restoration of England, one of the first acts of Charles II was to restore the Royal Stud. Funds were spent "without count" to obtain breeding stock. And on American soil, the Thoroughbred was imported before the Revolution; the first racecourse built in 1664 in now Nassau County Long Island.
Because of its athletic ability, Thoroughbreds later became valuable to the U.S. military; the United States Army Remount Service held them in the highest regard. In 1943, 606 stallions were kept for breeding; 569 were Thoroughbreds. (Colonel S.P. Walker, Horsemanship and Horsemastership. The Cavalry School, Fort Riley, Kansas, 1944. P. 63).
There has been an almost universal goal in the selection of Thoroughbred breeding stock. Knowledgeable breeders sought to create a durable animal who could withstand the rigors of racing, and whose body was put together in a way that could propel itself forward with the least amount of strain, resulting in faster speed.
Even though it is almost always true that the beauty equals correct confirmation, some horses have been bred for aesthetic reasons alone, like color, or current fashion in equine beauty. This can result in some unfavorable characteristics. For example, some breeds fell victim to the trend of breeding horses exclusively for halter, without concern for the horse's usefulness or longevity. The end result was a bulky horse on small feet. This sort of thinking was never forced on the Thoroughbred because the objective for breeders was always to keep a sound horse that could run fast for as many years as possible. Thoroughbred breeders recognized early on the importance of choosing stock that would transmit good feet to their offspring. It is improper shoeing practices, over-stress from excessive race training, and poor track conditions that have contributed to the reputation of the "bad" Thoroughbred foot. No horse's foot will endure mismanagement. Actually, knowledgeable Thoroughbred breeders have consistently tried to develop a sound, durable foot of good size and weight carrying ability.
The study of the hoof and structure of the foot is a good way to examine the relationship between form and function. The Thoroughbred is an excellent example. The hoof of the Thoroughbred is developed for its major, important functions:
to support its body weight
to send the animal forward (propulsion)
to be strong functionally
to reduce concussion to the limbs
to aid in bringing blood back to the heart
We also see the advantage of intelligent breeding in the Thoroughbred's unique skin and venous systems. The veins in their skin are almost 60 percent more numerous and 40 percent larger than most other horse breeds. When blood slows in the veins of the skin, it prevents the horse's lungs, brain and heart being choked with blood during great physical activity. This enables him to maintain this extraordinary speed over great distances. your Thoroughbred should be well up to the task of a strenuous ride, jumping in a hunt or any other activity.
The original Thoroughbred breeders, by making numerous and large veins a point of confirmation, demonstrated truly thoughtful breeding techniques. Plentiful reserves of blood vessels in the skin also absorb glucose, slowly releasing it over a six month period.
Another consideration in the breeding of the Thoroughbred hose is in the development of it's gaits. God movement has always meant good function. Starting from the shoulder, which needs to move freely to maintain an easy and energetic stride, the Thoroughbred has been bred to have good confirmation because that meant good action, and good action meant good speed.
Straightness, which is desirable in all performance horsed, has been bred into the Thoroughbred because straightness again meant speed and less shock and trauma to legs and hooves.
As we breed future generations of Thoroughbreds, especially as we become more appreciative of their value as performance horses, it is important to remember and maintain the integrity established by past generations of Thoroughbred breeders. We must keep in mind the importance for soundness of body and mind, so that superior usefulness of the breed can continue.
