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The Thoroughbred - "Horse of Kings"
 Shards
of brittle sunlight sliced between the houses and
stretched hard edged fingers across the inky asphalt.
Crisp remorseless luminous slivers slashed the remnants
of the night into oblivion. Gentle cumulous vapours
formed and rose from his ample nostrils, ascending
tranquil and noiseless to cloak us, endorsing the
dream-like quality of this moment. The morning light
sparkled and flashed like fire on his skin, illuminating
the golden sparks in his crimson coat, as his skin
smoothly flowed over his frame, his muscles moving in
silky rhythm beneath. No fowl sunrise mantras, the hum
of civilization not yet forming the gel of reality, this
magical stillness held us both in an enchanted place.
A memory of a much less peaceful ride dropped unbidden,
into my thoughts, breaking the magical seal of
serenity. Two years had passed since I was gifted with
this amazing Thoroughbred gelding, whose veins coursed
with the blood of Mr. Prospector, Northern Dancer and
Man O’War. When I first met him, I thought, “Oh dear, a
RED horse.” Then I learned he was a Thoroughbred TOO
and thought, “No wonder he is such a head case!”
  All the labels that typecast this breed flooded my
thoughts – over sensitive, hyperactive, temperamental,
high strung, unmanageable -- but there was something
about his intensity that spellbound me, and I became his
personal visitor and playmate. His owner was very busy
and, loving him as she did, wanted someone to spend time
with him, when she could not. I had never had the
financial ability to own an animal with his breeding,
and was accustomed to the malleable and much more
affordable warm bloods. His slender physique was a
sharp contrast to the round fleshy bodies of the horses
I had known before him. Although he was lanky, he
appeared HUGE! Thoroughbreds usually reach 16 hands,
measured at the zenith of their typically high and well
defined withers (1 hand = 4 inches) I was told he was
17 hands and as I only stand 5’ on a “tall” day, having
that regal and erudite well formed head tilt down from
the uppermost apex of his long elegant neck, was
intimidating to be truthful. On our first meeting, he
watched me with curiosity, through intelligent eyes, as
I assessed him quietly. Observing him as he stood on
the level floor of his box stall, it was easy to
appreciate the gentle curve of his back as it fell
gracefully from his withers and sloped into the generous
hindquarter. The sharp incline of his shoulder balanced
easily on the long tidy front legs, well formed knees
pointing nicely forward. His hip muscles flowed
powerfully into the deep triangle formed by his hip,
thigh and croup.
 Thoroughbreds have been genetically
refined for over 300 years. Starting with three
foundation Stallions --
the Darley Arabian,
the Godolphin Arabian and the Byerly Turk -- named for
their respective owners–Thomas Darley, Lord Godolphin
and Captain Robert Byerly–they are recognized world over
for their ability to carry weight with sustained speed
over extended distances. Their foundation matriarchs,
the solid, versatile and precocious native English
mares, passed on qualities of temperament and solidity
that enabled this breed to be the most versatile in the
Equine Empire. Bred and born to float like wind on air
at speeds averaging 40 miles per hour, eating up 60 feet
of purchase per second, this breed revolutionized the
horse racing industry. This is what I was sure I knew
about Thoroughbreds, when I was asked by his owner if I
would like to have him. What I THOUGHT I knew, and what
most people told me about the breed was to be challenged
from that day onward!
 When I removed his shoes, I was
opposed both by his farrier and by a young rider at the
barn who had been taking lessons on him. Thoroughbreds
cannot go barefoot, as the hoof wall is genetically
fragile; the world around me said…two years later he has
the most sound and wonderfully strong hoof walls! Poof!
Another myth gets trod underfoot! Thoroughbreds, I have
since found out, actually have incredible hoof
structure, enduring roughly 100 times the force of
gravity with each foot fall. I am not the only one who
believes in the strength in Thoroughbred feet. In fact,
Eamonn Wilmont, put his belief to the ultimate test. He
ran his English Thoroughbred, Saucy Night, barefoot into
history, as the horse won the 2-½ mile Steeplechase
January 3, 2005...Click
Here for more details.
Everyone knows
Arabians have hooves of iron, and they are the
foundation of the elegant Thoroughbred.
  The next myth that unraveled as I
got to know the intricacies of this breed was that
Thoroughbreds are “hot, unmanageable, spooky, flighty”
horses. My new equine partner did exhibit many of these
characteristics, and I reminded myself time and again
that this was why I had never owned nor wanted to own, a
Thoroughbred. Over the past two years I have grown to
appreciate that it is actually their hyper sensitive
nature which allows them to be so versatile and excel in
so many fields of equestrian pursuit. They pay
attention to detail; they are the obsessive compulsives
of the horse world. True to the nature of O.C.
personalities, they are conscientious and have high
levels of aspiration, are reliable, dependable, orderly,
and methodical. If they lack security and comfort, then
they allow a certain inflexibility to take over, which
often makes them incapable of adapting to changed
circumstances, fretful, anxious and irrational.
Individuals with compulsive personalities are highly
cautious, weigh all aspects of a problem, and pay
particular attention to every detail, whether human or
Thoroughbred. When their feelings are not under strict
control, when events are unpredictable, or they must
rely on others who do not instill confidence, compulsive
personalities often feel a sense of isolation and
helplessness, sometimes panic and illogical fear – does
this sound like anyone you know? When blanketed in
security and confidence, they reach these great heights
with grace and aplomb, rather than like an atomic bomb.
These O.C.’s make the best use of their ultra sensitive
selves, seeming almost clairvoyant in their execution of
precise dressage movements, clearing phenomenal jumps
www.horsesdaily.com
, and out running the cream of the racing crop
www.tbredhorses.com/thoroughbreds.html.
I know this about my
thoroughbred now, but in the beginning I only wanted him
to experience less terror and alarm in his life.
 I began playing games with him
that were decidedly aimed at building his confidence and
courage. I was told my “style” of working with a horse
was very “Parelli”. I had not heard of the Parelli’s,
but I received a gift from a course mate while studying
for my
Equine Sciences Certificate
through the online
learning division of the University of Guelph. I found
even more games and ideas which really helped build my
relationship with this astounding horse. His incredible
intellect and memory left me thunderstruck, day after
day. I began to see that because he was so AWARE of his
surroundings, he noticed every minute alteration in a
game, in a command or in a question. His poise and
self-confidence grew daily, and like a chrysalis to
butterfly, he gradually unfolded his wings and came into
his own!
I have become a much more careful rider, aware of the
effect of the slightest change in my body position and
posture, in how I use my legs and hands. In knowing and
keeping in mind how perceptive Thoroughbreds are, I have
found delight in his recognition of the most
insignificant change in the world around him. He
notices when I wear a different barn jacket, recognized
my new car in a day, and “comments” when I change my
shampoo or even just my hair style! No other horse I
ever had was this sentient, alert and attentive.
  The joy I have every day, working
with him, has inspired me to research the breed more
intensely. I started with the
Jockey Club.
As the registry for the breed in North America since
1894, and my gelding being California born, it seemed
the right choice. I learned that the selection of names
gives owner/breeders a certain amount of freedom of
choice, but that the final decision is made by the
Jockey Club. Each name submitted for consideration is
checked against the more then 430,000 registered names
in active use. The name cannot exceed 18 characters,
have a vulgar meaning or a commercial significance, to
name 3 of the 15 guidelines comprising the name rules.
Most Thoroughbreds names carry some hint of their
pedigree, and my guy, Points Dancer, is a good example
of this. Entering the information from his registration
papers at
Pedigree Online's Thoroughbred Pedigree Database,
I was able to discover his pedigree back five
generations. His veins course with the blood of
historic Thoroughbreds such as NorthJet, Northern
Dancer, Native Dancer, Raise a Native (sire of Mr.
Prospector), and greats such as Snow Star, Geisha,
Hyperion, Blenhiem and Man O’ War! Reading the accounts
of the lives of these horses helped to clarify and melt
away the rest of the hype and myth from my mind. It is
astounding, the misinformation about this breed that
pervades the equine world, and it had profoundly
influenced my attitude towards this breed. We all fall
trap to stereotyping, and we admit it to varying
degrees. I see all horses in a different light, thanks
to a great and noble Thoroughbred, Point Dancer. I see
Thoroughbreds in the dazzling spotlight and realize I am
hooked on this breed. I guess we O.C. personalities go
together like wine & cheese…refined, sophisticated,
elegant, and don’t tell anyone, but sometimes crazy too!
Perhaps you have also
fallen in love with a member of this most regal breed,
or perhaps you have not yet been given the real gift of
Equine Excellence (I risk being stereotyped as true
convert!). Either way, if you want more information on
the ins and outs of every aspect of the breed, you may
find these websites as interesting and helpful as I did.
Commissioner D.G. Van Clief Jr.
welcomes you to the NTRA -
National
Thoroughbred Racing Association website
with these words;
“The
NTRA is both league office for a big sport and trade
association for a big industry, including related
businesses like breeding. Mostly, the sport of
horseracing -- and the associated game of legal,
pari-mutuel wagering or "handicapping" -- is a great
source of entertainment, enjoyment, occasional
bewilderment and frequent fun for millions of fans. If
you are one already, that's great.
Please let me know
what you think of the site and any suggestions. If you
are a newcomer to the game, this site in many ways is
designed for you, as a way to learn about horseracing
and handicapping at your own pace and convenience.”
I found it a
terrific, user friendly site that really helped me to
understand the intricacies of the “Sport of Kings”. |
Another noteworthy website for
Thoroughbred enthusiasts is the
Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association
(TOBA). Their Mission Statement is
“to improve the economics, integrity and pleasure of
the sport on behalf of Thoroughbred owners and
breeders”.
  I found their owners page a real
eye opener into the expenses involved in keeping and
running one of these miraculous descendants of Pegasus.
They have really done a great job of providing
information on all aspects -- from how to acquire a
racing Thoroughbred, the costs one might expect to
incur, and the injuries, medications, tests and trials
and tribulations -- all in a format prospective and new
owners can readily appreciate and truly make use of.
The other website I return to time and again is that of
the
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
I can never thank Petra Wingate enough for the gift of
this aristocratic and affable wunderkind of a horse. I
can never thank Point Dancer enough for the true equine
understanding he has helped me find, through his gift of
trust, confidence, loyalty and real friendship and
affection.
I love the sentiment in the comment by
Heather
Larson of Quite Woman Farm, LLC. Although their primary
business in training, they do keep 2 stallions (the most
famous being RIVER KEEN, winner of the Breeders Cup) and
breed about 30/35 mares a year presently. She so aptly
states the sentiment of breeders large and small world
over when she says,
“To
retain the dream that your foal, one of thousands born
each year, may one day go on to represent the pinnacle
of success in thoroughbred racing. . . that is what
breeding a thoroughbred is all about."
 I
would like to say this in closing… My Thoroughbred is my
therapist, my friend, my obsession, and inspiration. He
is my motivation, my encouragement and my delight.
Together we rise in partnership above the everyday and
sparkle in the magic of grand passion. No other horse
has given me so much; no other breed could have made me
want to give so much back. To fly without wings is the
gift my child of greatness gives me. If you are not in
love with a Thoroughbred, it is only because you haven’t
let one into your soul….yet! by Carol
Lewis
Visit the sites of
our featured Breeders to learn more of these beautiful
horses. Also visit the following organizations who
dedicate themselves to finding homes for retired,
abandoned and rescued thoroughbreds.
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