How to Be a Smart Thoroughbred Owner

January 29th, 2009 by C. Anne Baker

by C. Anne Baker

Whether you are a member of a horse racing partnership or syndicate or you are buying a thoroughbred racehorse alone, you need to know many things before you buy the horse. You need to know far more than the initial costs, the monthly maintenance fees, and the partnership structure and policies. You must know what to look for in a horse.

Do you know what a horse’s conformation is? Would you know if it was acceptable or unacceptable for racing? By definition, conformation simply means body shape. According to the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA), when considering a horse you should look at their balance, bone structure, intelligence, and their level and the athletic abilities. TOBA defines these four attributes as follows:

1. The balance will depend on how well proportioned horse is and whether its frame and muscle are well-suited.

2. Bone structure can be assessed by judging whether the horse is sturdy or lightweight.

3. Intelligence can be determined by the control of the horse, its awareness of the surroundings, and its alertness.

4. Athleticism – Does the horse look physically fit and capable?

Here are a few specific flaws in conformation that you should be aware of:

* A horse that is back at the knee has knee joints that are situated too far back. This stresses the knees and can cause toward ligaments and tendons and even chipped bones.

* Toeing in front feet appear to slope inward, causes stride problems.

* Toeing out is apparent when you see the horse?s feet facing outward. This can cause serious injuries from falls and bone spurs. When toeing out, one leg may hit another when running.

* Pig eyes is an obvious condition that means the horse’s eyes are too small and too close together, impairing the horse’s vision.

* A sway back is a back that is too long and weak. This can make it difficult to saddle the horse properly and can result in soreness.

Keep in mind that no horse is conformed perfectly. However, you must look for the best possible combination of the aforementioned attributes in order to get the best horse possible. For example:

* A horse with very little intelligence will be difficult to train and may not obey the jockey’s commands.

* If the horse is not physically fit or has a health problem, it will not be capable of racing, much less winning.

* Horses with too-dense bone structure have a greater risk of injury.

* If the proportion is wrong, the balance and speed of the horse can be negatively affected.

Conformation is a result of the horse?s genes. Keep looking for the best possible horse in order to find one with the best shot at winning.

About the Author:

C. Anne Baker’s life has included thoroughbred horseracing and bloodstock for many years. She also contributes to horseracing charities. For a limited period, visitors to her website PartnersInThoroughbreds.com can receive her notable report Becoming included A horseracing Partnership

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