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FW: [RC] Interesting article - Mike SherrellRegards, Mike Sherrell Grizzly Analytical www.grizzlyanalytical.com 707 887 2919; fax = 707 887 9834 -----Original Message----- From: Jean Sherrell [mailto:jeanindermark@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2008 12:32 PM To: mike@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: [RC] Interesting article They are. In the book I mentioned that I was reading this a.m., one of the trainers said she hated the obligatory attendance with her clients at "training sales" and "breeding sales." Once she commented on how heartbreaking it was to watch two-year olds galloping furiously around the course at top speed, damaging their still-soft bones and muscles and tendons so that they'd definitely break down after a few years of racing if that long. Also commented on the huge fat baby-to-yearlings wearing down their unformed very thin legs because that was the "look" that sells. Lots more specifics in book, if you can stand the plots and personalities of the players. One jockey's experience of a ride on a strong talented thoroughbred is almost like being there. It was a "claims" race where horses that look good are claimed and bought by other trainers for their clients. This particular horse was "claimed" by a trainer the jockey and current trainer knew would run the horse till it broke down. Incentive to put horses in "claims" races is to sell them so the owners see return on investment and it's the owners that decide whether or not horses go in this direction. Jockey described feeling through the reins the mouth of the bitted horse (which he never pulled on or even tweaked) as a remarkable sort of communication and, later after the ride, still felt it as a "gentle heat". They're breeding in weak bone by breeding the very fastest ones most famous ones, lots of line breeding, and leaving strength out of the breeding equation because once the horse is bought it's no skin off their nose if it breaks down on its owner. Sort of like Peruvians bred for smoothness so much that they lose other qualities. I guess the sport of kings (and of modern king capitalists with superbucks an an affinity for horses) has been ruined by the democratic expansion to anyone with enough money to waste being able to buy and sell these huge animals. Interesting to me is the different personalities and behaviors of these thoroughbreds described. The ones I rode in my youth were pretty much the disagreeable ones their owners didn't like riding enough to ride in the winter, so maybe my opinion is biased. The only one you could even remotely consider as "nice" (i.e. she didn't habitually try to bite me and only kicked other horses when provoked) was really pretty dumb and even more hysterical than the bad actors. I've never been exposed to "good" thoroughbreds. Did like the Irish hunters, half TB and half warmbloods, that were calmer somewhat and not crazy. It was a nice feeling jumping on one of those big horses sailing over fences until one day he got scared and suddenly stopped, and I went over the fence but only broke my arm. Thanks for sending this. Interesting. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Sherrell" <mike@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: "Jean" <jeanindermark@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2008 11:13 AM Subject: FW: [RC] Interesting article These breeding programs sound like veal raising operations. Regards, Mike Sherrell Grizzly Analytical www.grizzlyanalytical.com 707 887 2919; fax = 707 887 9834 -----Original Message----- From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of rides2far@xxxxxxxx Sent: Tuesday, May 06, 2008 10:19 AM To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [RC] Interesting articleThe "old guard" horses seemed to be much more durable andseemed to get better with age. There was John Henry, Forego, Kelso. Thenthere is Cigar - he retired after he ran second still sound. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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