How to Thrive as a Thoroughbred Owner
You may be buying a thoroughbred racehorse or you may be buying a share of a horse in a horse racing partnership or syndicate. Whichever you choose, you need to know exactly what your investment is getting you. This means learning about more than just the policies of your partnership, the cost of your initial share and the monthly fees. You must understand how to get the best investment 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. Balance is a measure of how well proportioned the horse is. Its frame and muscle should be suited for each other.
2. To judge bone structure look at the horse and decide whether it looks substantial enough and not too lightweight.
3. Intelligence can be determined by the control of the horse, its awareness of the surroundings, and its alertness.
4. The athleticism of the horse will make itself known by the physically fit appearance of the horse.
Some examples of specific conformation flaws include:
* 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 is when stride is affected by the front feet sloping inward.
* Toeing out is when the horses feet are sloping outward. This can be a serious problem that can cause falls and injuries. With this condition, the horse’s legs may hit each other when he runs.
* Pig eyes – horses eyes are small and set close together which can impair their field of vision.
* Sway back is a weak, long back that makes saddling properly a difficult task and will cause soreness.
There is no perfectly conformed horse, but, it’s important to look horses over and find one with the best combination of conformation. The horse with the best conformation will be the best horse to invest in. Possible conformation problems include:
* A horse with very little intelligence will be difficult to train and may not obey the jockey’s commands.
* A horse with bad physical fitness or with health issues will not be acceptable for racing and is not likely to win.
* Horses with too-dense bone structure have a greater risk of injury.
* If the horse’s body isn’t proportioned properly, their speed and balance could be adversely affected.
Conformation comes from genetics. Study each horse and look for the best one possible. This will result in a horse with good breeding that has a real chance to win.
