Thoroughbreds! <3

[WIChookchick]

Disney romanticizes alot of things. Watch Dreamer if you want to see a movie about rehab and a horse making a comeback. The mare couldn't be bred as she was sterile.
They were going to put her down from a bad injury. It is based off a true story.
Also the movie Phar Lap, it is a bit brutal to watch, but is also based off a true story and they don't pull too many punches.

When I lived in CA, I would go to an auction close by, and I would see TB's and QH youngsters standing in the stalls, their racing plates still on, being sold for pennies on the dollar.
There are over 4-50,000 TB's born and I am sure close to 20-30K QH's and tens of thousands STB's are raised, broke out to race, and don't make the cut.
In the Fugly blog, she has time and again mentioned how a horse will travel up the west coast from the top race tracks down in So Cal, and if it doesn't win or do well, it goes north, to
less prestigious tracks, ever northwards. If a gelding or old broodmare, often ending up in a kill pen.
There are so few places to take in unwanted horses, so few that can retrain them. And no market.

Its fun to love a breed, and to want a certain type of horse.
I do, and drool over Native and Northern Dancer, Bold Ruler, Secretariat.

DID YOU KNOW THAT Secretariat's first offspring was NOT a TB!!! they tested his fertility on an Appy mare.

Here is a link to his story- http://barnlot.tripod.com/firstsecretarynarr.html..

 

[halo]

Actually, 2010 foal crop numbers for Thoroughbreds will be the lowest its been in years, around 30,000. Quarter horses figures are quite a bit higher, in 2009 there were 112,000 registered. Standardbred registrations in 2007 were 12,000, and Im sure they havent increased.

 

[scbatz33]

TB registration has been down in just about every state in the last couple years except for PA. Something to be said for good incentive programs.

 

[Nivrocco]

My off the track mare, Frankie

 

[Bunnylady]

This is a rather interesting article about Secretariat's heart:

http://www.angelfire.com/jazz/nutbush/

In a nutshell, it says he had a bigger heart (read, better pump) because of a sex-linked trait known as the X-factor. He got it from his dam, and passed it on to his daughters. If it is accurate, it would explain why he (and, perhaps, a few other "superhorses") failed to produce a slew of sons as awesome as the sire, but still made a lasting mark in the horse racing world through their daughters and grandget.

 

[Baybrio]

Quote:
Couldn't agree more.

My favorite quote "The best way to get a million dollars with horses is to start with two million."

It is incredibly hard to make money with horses and keep the welfare the that animal, today and in the future, as your highest priority. It is not just racing, not just showing, not just pleasure/hobby owners. Ignorance is bliss - I wish I didn't know so much about what goes on in the horse industry.

On the other hand - so very many people really do care for their horses, learn how to take excellent care of them, breed with care and purpose, and plan for their horses retirement.

Watching Secretariat race still gives me shivers, what an athlete!

I believe the OP said she was switching her love of racing to show jumping - try and watch a tape of Micheal Matz competing on Jet Run. Lovely.

 

[RacehorsesRock]

pic of our new lil TB colt above,and yes,we race them,but we dont use whips,dont overbreed,dont drug,or do anything like that,and if the horse doesnt like racing,we either give it away to a good home,or use it as a pony horse.Weve never sent a horse to slaughter,and never will.We treat our horses like our children.heres a pic below of one of our pony horses

this is one of the horses who didnt like racing,but likes being a pony horse.On this day i had just taken him out on a trail ride,as im a jockey and an owner,but just an apprentice jockey