Horse sense: what keeps horses from betting on people
Published: April 27, 2007
By: MICHAEL OSBORNE - Goffs Bloodstock Sales Ltd. (Courtesy of Alltech Inc.)
The origin and evolution of the thoroughbred racehorse of today has been the subject of scientific debate for hundreds of years, but there is no definitive conclusion other than general agreement that there are at least four distinct origins. Evidence from fossils shows that prehistoric horses existed over 50 million years ago in Asia, Africa, France, Germany, etc. and these fossil remains confirm that the horse was about 12 hands (48 inches at the highest point of the withers). These were miniature creatures when compared with the thoroughbred of today and bear little resemblance to the huge draught horses such as Clydesdales and Percherons that on average attain a withers height of 20 hands (80 inches).
During the 15th century the height of horses increased because of the demands of armour-plated soldiers of war and the change in agricultural practices from the spade to the horse-drawn plough. The fastest racehorse in western Europe in the 15th century was the Irish Hobby horse, a pony measuring about 14 hands. The importation of Arab pony stallions increased the height of the native breeds; and in the late 17th century the studbook was established to record the progeny of the four foundation stallions that are the progenitors of all thoroughbred horses. There were many more stallions in service in those distant days, and the veracity of registration was dependent upon the ease of communication and the truthfulness of the applicant. Recent research has shown that the integrity of the studbook in the early days was suspect. During the past 15 years the studbooks in the developed countries have required that all progeny for registration must be blood-typed, undergo a DNA screening in cases of doubt and have descriptive markings taken during the suckling stage and entered into an official passport. With these qualifications it is a reasonable presumption that the parentage of thoroughbred foals is much more accurate than their human equivalents. The geographical classification of horses into four divisions will highlight the differences in type. The four types are:
During the 15th century the height of horses increased because of the demands of armour-plated soldiers of war and the change in agricultural practices from the spade to the horse-drawn plough. The fastest racehorse in western Europe in the 15th century was the Irish Hobby horse, a pony measuring about 14 hands. The importation of Arab pony stallions increased the height of the native breeds; and in the late 17th century the studbook was established to record the progeny of the four foundation stallions that are the progenitors of all thoroughbred horses. There were many more stallions in service in those distant days, and the veracity of registration was dependent upon the ease of communication and the truthfulness of the applicant. Recent research has shown that the integrity of the studbook in the early days was suspect. During the past 15 years the studbooks in the developed countries have required that all progeny for registration must be blood-typed, undergo a DNA screening in cases of doubt and have descriptive markings taken during the suckling stage and entered into an official passport. With these qualifications it is a reasonable presumption that the parentage of thoroughbred foals is much more accurate than their human equivalents. The geographical classification of horses into four divisions will highlight the differences in type. The four types are:
- Marshland/Forest horses. These horses were up to 14 hands high, of solid build and a phlegmatic nature. Their round concave hooves, unlike the narrow hooves of the donkey, allowed the Marshland horses to travel through the wetlands and graze on the abundant grasses. These horses are believed to be the precursors of the great draught horses of recent times.
- Horses of the Steppes and Tundra. These horses were about 13 hands high, lived in open spaces, were fleet of foot to avoid predators and were grazers. They moved together in large herds and had wide optic vision, a factor in their survival in the constant battle against predators. Modern day examples of this type are the wild horses of the Camargue in France.
- The Eastern Horse. Fossil remains in the Indian subcontinent indicate that these were small horses of about 11 hands in height. Their physical attributes were somewhat different from the other types in that they had 19 pairs of ribs and different dentition. The Eastern Horse had a wide geographical distribution throughout Asia, North Africa and India. They are the precursors of the Arab horses of the desert, the Celtic pony and after centuries of selective breeding, the thoroughbred.
- The Mountain Pony. This group conforms to our understanding of what a pony should look like. They are the most numerous type in the world. They have survived by living in small groups in a mountain terrain that afforded protection from predators. Their physical shape was adaptable for all types of terrain and their hair coats were dense in winter. This type of pony was the foundation of nearly all light horses and they appear in the genealogy of thoroughbreds and heavy horses.
The introduction of the Arab stallions into western Europe brought a refinement in type and an increase in height. The foundation of Weatherby’s Stud Book listed three foundation stallions, namely the Godolphin Arabian, Darley Arabian and the Byerley Turk. All were of Eastern origin. All horses in the universal studbooks can be traced back to those three stallions.
The purebred Arabian stallions are registered along with their progeny in a separate studbook. A comparison between the athletic performance on the racetrack of the thoroughbred and the purebred Arabian racehorse is illuminating. Over the course of five racing seasons in the United Arab Emirates the results show that on the same track, on the same night at equal weights the thoroughbred racehorse will be about 1.5 seconds quicker per furlong (200 meters) (Table 1).
The foregoing proves that thoroughbreds are much quicker than purebred Arabians over the shorter distance of horse racing; but over extreme distances the Arab horse is vastly superior. In a unique contest among 80 camels, 17 Arabian horses and 12 thoroughbred horses over the marathon distance (about 26 miles) through leveled desert terrain, the results showed that the Arabian horses won places 1 to 12. The 13th place and all subsequent places went to the camels. None of the thoroughbred horses completed the course. One thoroughbred ridden by sports commentator and retired jockey Brough Scott finished at walking pace leading his jaded horse across the line about one hour after the last camel, but the officials had left the judge’s podium long before. One of the thoroughbreds that pulled up after six miles had won a long distance (3200 m) Grade 1 stakes race in France.
The purebred Arabian stallions are registered along with their progeny in a separate studbook. A comparison between the athletic performance on the racetrack of the thoroughbred and the purebred Arabian racehorse is illuminating. Over the course of five racing seasons in the United Arab Emirates the results show that on the same track, on the same night at equal weights the thoroughbred racehorse will be about 1.5 seconds quicker per furlong (200 meters) (Table 1).
The foregoing proves that thoroughbreds are much quicker than purebred Arabians over the shorter distance of horse racing; but over extreme distances the Arab horse is vastly superior. In a unique contest among 80 camels, 17 Arabian horses and 12 thoroughbred horses over the marathon distance (about 26 miles) through leveled desert terrain, the results showed that the Arabian horses won places 1 to 12. The 13th place and all subsequent places went to the camels. None of the thoroughbred horses completed the course. One thoroughbred ridden by sports commentator and retired jockey Brough Scott finished at walking pace leading his jaded horse across the line about one hour after the last camel, but the officials had left the judge’s podium long before. One of the thoroughbreds that pulled up after six miles had won a long distance (3200 m) Grade 1 stakes race in France.
In its evolution the thoroughbred has developed more speed, but at the expense of stamina. The Arabian horse rarely suffers from laryngeal paralysis or paresis, a problem that is becoming more frequent in the thoroughbred. This impairment in laryngeal function reduces air intake into the lungs of the racing horse and reduces performance. A recessive gene transmits this hereditary condition. Since thoroughbred stallions are not subjected to a complete veterinary examination prior to a career in the breeding shed, this problem will manifest itself on a more frequent basis. The unfortunate side effect of the emphasis on speed and more speed in the thoroughbred has brought about a reduction in ability of racehorses to race at classic speeds over distances in excess of 10 furlongs. The people who write the program for racing take this factor into account; and as the average distance of thoroughbred races shortens, the unsound horse that ‘chokes’ if asked to race at distances beyond 10 furlongs may become a champion over the short distances to the long-term detriment of the breed. This trend will be impossible to correct as long as stallions are not subjected to a comprehensive veterinary examination prior to been given a licence.
This licence is issued subject to the condition that it can be withdrawn if the stallion’s progeny show an exceptional number of hereditary defects. Such a fundamental change in current practice is so drastic that it will meet fierce opposition from stallion owners. But if man’s destruction of the thoroughbred continues without any control, the athletic ability of the breed will deteriorate.
The tightly closed thoroughbred studbooks throughout the developed world do not allow for the introduction of a new unpolluted bloodline, because no such strain exists. The proliferation of similar bloodlines throughout the world of racing has eliminated the advantage of hybrid vigour except perhaps in Australia where the recent shuttling of very high quality stallions to mate with the indigenous mares may invigorate the breed.
Table 1. A comparison of athletic performance between thoroughbreds and purebred Arabians: results from January 2000 at the Venue Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in the UAE.
1Weight carried: 56 kgs
In spite of significant advances of veterinary science in the field of sports medicine and the improvements in horse training techniques and nutrition, the times for championship races have not improved to any appreciable extent - unlike those in human athletic competition. The basic unsoundness in the thoroughbred racehorse has stifled the development of the breed; and there is no current evidence that would indicate an imminent change. There is an old but true saying that “man is the greatest disease of the horse”.
In my lifetime I have witnessed some fabulous performers on the racetrack. The immensely talented Secretariat, with his measured stride of 28 feet when winning the Belmont Stakes; Nijinsky winning the European Triple Crown; the great jumper Arkle, who was so much better than his contemporaries that the Rules of Racing had to be changed to give other horses a weight allowance greater than that originally provided in the Rules; and finally the great Ribot, winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 1956 and 1957. Will we see the likes of them again? I doubt it.
There has been a major change in the origin and type of stallion in the farms in central Kentucky. From 1945 to 1990, Kentucky farms purchased most of the best racehorses in Europe. Names such as Royal Charger, Nasrullah, Ribot, Blushing Groom, Riverman, Sir Ivor, Nijinsky, Nureyev, Vaguely Noble, Roberto, Sharpen Up and Diesis were top class racehorses in Europe and very influential stallions in Kentucky; and their progeny were very successful worldwide. As of today there are very few stallions in Kentucky with similar origins. The international success of Coolmore Stud in Ireland has halted the drain of prospective stallions to Kentucky. These changes have reduced the impact of American bred stallions on European racing because their racing success was based upon racing on dirt –a surface rare in Europe. That is not to imply that the current crop of successful stallions based in Kentucky such as Storm Cat, Seeking the Gold, Forty Niner, Gone West, etc. are not successful; but they are not in the same league of international performers as their precursors.
Irish breeding suffered a serious setback when Royal Charger left for Spendthrift Farm in 1951 where he continued his career with a total of 55 stakes winners. The great and very influential Nasrullah, bred in Ireland by HH Aga Khan, was shipped after a short breeding career to Claiborne Farm, where he enjoyed enormous success siring 95 stakes winners including the influential stallions Nashua, Bold Ruler and Never Bend.
The loss of Nasrullah from Ireland was due to two factors, namely the substantial purchase price and the fact that he was a notoriously slow performer in the breeding shed. By chance, the Irish staff realized that the only thing that would ‘turn on’ Nasrullah was a black and white (piebald) pony attached to the nearby gypsy encampment. On ordinary days the staff were in no hurry to get the job done because overtime payments were a welcome bonus, but on days when there was horse racing on the local track they would ask the gypsy to bring the piebald pony into view and the excited Nasrullah would complete the job in jazz time. The payment to the gypsy was one cigarette.
Thirty years later a descendent of Nasrullah called Royal Match exhibited the same fetish . This stallion showed a pronounced dislike for wellgroomed chestnut or grey mares and would take forever to complete the covering. One day, by accident a rough hairy dirty mare was brought in for covering and Royal Match got so excited that the covering was completed in seconds. For the remainder of that breeding season we used the rough mare as a decoy, and when Royal Match was fully excited we would introduce the pretty mare with an enthusiastic response from the stallion. When Seattle Slew started his breeding career in Spendthrift Farm he was a very slow breeder. His groom Clem induced him to perform by singing in a deep baritone a spiritual hymn learned in his childhood in the deep South while tickling the stallions undercarriage. We tried that technique on Seattle Song, who had the same idiosyncrasy as his father, but it did not work – obviously we did not have a singer of the tone and quality of Clem and the tickling was greeted with disdain by the horse.
Mention of stallions raises the question of the use of artificial insemination in thoroughbred horses. I can see no insurmountable problem with the use of this safe and proven technique provided that some basic rules are adopted and enforced. The basic rules are as follows:
This licence is issued subject to the condition that it can be withdrawn if the stallion’s progeny show an exceptional number of hereditary defects. Such a fundamental change in current practice is so drastic that it will meet fierce opposition from stallion owners. But if man’s destruction of the thoroughbred continues without any control, the athletic ability of the breed will deteriorate.
The tightly closed thoroughbred studbooks throughout the developed world do not allow for the introduction of a new unpolluted bloodline, because no such strain exists. The proliferation of similar bloodlines throughout the world of racing has eliminated the advantage of hybrid vigour except perhaps in Australia where the recent shuttling of very high quality stallions to mate with the indigenous mares may invigorate the breed.
Table 1. A comparison of athletic performance between thoroughbreds and purebred Arabians: results from January 2000 at the Venue Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in the UAE.
1Weight carried: 56 kgs
In spite of significant advances of veterinary science in the field of sports medicine and the improvements in horse training techniques and nutrition, the times for championship races have not improved to any appreciable extent - unlike those in human athletic competition. The basic unsoundness in the thoroughbred racehorse has stifled the development of the breed; and there is no current evidence that would indicate an imminent change. There is an old but true saying that “man is the greatest disease of the horse”.
In my lifetime I have witnessed some fabulous performers on the racetrack. The immensely talented Secretariat, with his measured stride of 28 feet when winning the Belmont Stakes; Nijinsky winning the European Triple Crown; the great jumper Arkle, who was so much better than his contemporaries that the Rules of Racing had to be changed to give other horses a weight allowance greater than that originally provided in the Rules; and finally the great Ribot, winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 1956 and 1957. Will we see the likes of them again? I doubt it.
There has been a major change in the origin and type of stallion in the farms in central Kentucky. From 1945 to 1990, Kentucky farms purchased most of the best racehorses in Europe. Names such as Royal Charger, Nasrullah, Ribot, Blushing Groom, Riverman, Sir Ivor, Nijinsky, Nureyev, Vaguely Noble, Roberto, Sharpen Up and Diesis were top class racehorses in Europe and very influential stallions in Kentucky; and their progeny were very successful worldwide. As of today there are very few stallions in Kentucky with similar origins. The international success of Coolmore Stud in Ireland has halted the drain of prospective stallions to Kentucky. These changes have reduced the impact of American bred stallions on European racing because their racing success was based upon racing on dirt –a surface rare in Europe. That is not to imply that the current crop of successful stallions based in Kentucky such as Storm Cat, Seeking the Gold, Forty Niner, Gone West, etc. are not successful; but they are not in the same league of international performers as their precursors.
Irish breeding suffered a serious setback when Royal Charger left for Spendthrift Farm in 1951 where he continued his career with a total of 55 stakes winners. The great and very influential Nasrullah, bred in Ireland by HH Aga Khan, was shipped after a short breeding career to Claiborne Farm, where he enjoyed enormous success siring 95 stakes winners including the influential stallions Nashua, Bold Ruler and Never Bend.
The loss of Nasrullah from Ireland was due to two factors, namely the substantial purchase price and the fact that he was a notoriously slow performer in the breeding shed. By chance, the Irish staff realized that the only thing that would ‘turn on’ Nasrullah was a black and white (piebald) pony attached to the nearby gypsy encampment. On ordinary days the staff were in no hurry to get the job done because overtime payments were a welcome bonus, but on days when there was horse racing on the local track they would ask the gypsy to bring the piebald pony into view and the excited Nasrullah would complete the job in jazz time. The payment to the gypsy was one cigarette.
Thirty years later a descendent of Nasrullah called Royal Match exhibited the same fetish . This stallion showed a pronounced dislike for wellgroomed chestnut or grey mares and would take forever to complete the covering. One day, by accident a rough hairy dirty mare was brought in for covering and Royal Match got so excited that the covering was completed in seconds. For the remainder of that breeding season we used the rough mare as a decoy, and when Royal Match was fully excited we would introduce the pretty mare with an enthusiastic response from the stallion. When Seattle Slew started his breeding career in Spendthrift Farm he was a very slow breeder. His groom Clem induced him to perform by singing in a deep baritone a spiritual hymn learned in his childhood in the deep South while tickling the stallions undercarriage. We tried that technique on Seattle Song, who had the same idiosyncrasy as his father, but it did not work – obviously we did not have a singer of the tone and quality of Clem and the tickling was greeted with disdain by the horse.
Mention of stallions raises the question of the use of artificial insemination in thoroughbred horses. I can see no insurmountable problem with the use of this safe and proven technique provided that some basic rules are adopted and enforced. The basic rules are as follows:
- The registration authorities must be notified on the day of insemination by the supervising veterinarian who checks the passport and/or the computer chip number of the mare.
- All resultant foals must be blood-typed and subjected to DNA analysis.
- The number of mares inseminated must be limited by the registration authority.
- All stallions must be subjected to a thorough veterinary examination prior to receiving a licence; and that licence would be withdrawn if the stallion transmitted hereditary diseases.
The international movement of stallions for breeding in both hemispheres in one year will bring greater risk of a new venereal disease or the proliferation of contagious equine metritis or equine viral arteritis. If and when that dreadful day arrives, the bloodstock industry will have to resort to artificial insemination. The Boy Scout motto rings true: Be prepared.
Author: MICHAEL OSBORNE
Goffs Bloodstock Sales Ltd., Co. Kildare, Ireland
Goffs Bloodstock Sales Ltd., Co. Kildare, Ireland
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