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Thoroughbreds in Other Disciplines, Breeding and More.......
The Thoroughbred is a natural athlete, with a generally strong work ethic, the Thoroughbred excels in many equestrian sports. While other breeds are currently more popular than the Thoroughbred in dressage, and show jumping, certain individuals of the breed are competitive at top levels. Flowing, long gaits and good jumping form makes the Thoroughbred a top show hunter as well.
The Thoroughbred mare, Touch of Class, helped with the show jumping Gold Medal for the United States Equestrian Team at the 1976 Olympics, and the Anglo-Arabians on the French dressage team helped earn that nation a bronze medal at the 1936 Olympics.
Of all the equestrian sports, the Thoroughbred is probably most suited for eventing, and dominates the highest levels: almost all Olympic or World Championship horses are full or part Thoroughbreds and are also the favorite breed for use in Polo. They are also seen in the Fox Hunting field as well. |
The Science Dilemma
Modern thoroughbred racing involves a science dilemma. The horses are bred for extreme speed, and a primary goal of this breeding has been to decrease the bone mass while raising muscle mass, as a horse "carrying" a light skeleton using abnormally strong muscles will travel faster at a gallop than one with a heavier bone load. As a result, the modern Thoroughbreds are muscularly powerful but osteologically delicate creatures. Three out of every 2000 races result in a career ending injury to one or more racers, typically due to broken leg bones, a ratio far in excess of almost all other human and animal sports. Of those injuries, more than 60% result in the horse being euthanized. Leg injuries, though not immediately fatal, are life threatening because a horse's weight must be distributed evenly on all four legs to prevent circulatory problems, laminitis and other infections. If a horse loses the use of one leg, it cannot function, its other legs will quickly break down as well leading to a slow death.
In the wake of the 2006 Preakness Stakes, in which Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, who was euthanized January 29, 2007, sustained severe fractures, which provoked animal rights groups to target the thoroughbred racing industry. The bioethics are seldom clean-cut, however. While Thoroughbreds are delicate and horse racing is hazardous, veterinary science is also developing, so that previously hopeless cases can now be treated successfully.
Breeding the Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred remains one of the most important breeds used in modern horse breeding. They have been incredibly influential on many of the favorite breeds of today, including the American Quarter Horse, the Morgan Horse, the Standardbred, the Irish Horse and other modern breeds. The Thoroughbred continues to be an improver of breeds. By far the two best breeds used to improve other types of horses are Thoroughbreds and Arabians. A cross of the two, the Anglo-Arabian, has a special registry of its own within the Arabian Horse Association.
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