http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2372448,00.htm
2006-09-24 01:37:19 · 7 answers · asked by http://hogshead.pokerknave.com/ 6 in Sports ➔ Horse Racing
There are plenty of genes to go around within the Thoroughbred breed, the problem is that a lot of breeders would rather use "fashionable" stallions for their mares. The complete domination of sons of Northern Dancer proves my point. There are plenty of "Northern Dancer free" stallions out there if you look for them.
As I am sure you know there are three founding sires of the Thoroughbred line (Byerley Turk, Godolphin Arabian and Darley Arabian), something like 85-90% of Thoroughbreds now are descended from the Darley Arabian but only about 2% are descended from the Byerley Turk, the remainder being descended from the Godolphin Arabian.
If people used more stallions that have proved themselves on the racecourse, more than unraced/unsound stallions who happen to have the "right" bloodlines, we would not have so much over-production.
People also need to be a little harsher with their mares. If they continue to breed from unraced mares or older mares that have not produced anything of worth, the breed will continue to weaken.
A good example of how you should choose your mares is with Newsells Park Stud: they only breed from mares that earned a higher Timeform rating than 90, and if the mares do not produce winners within their first 4/5 foals they are sold.
If we stop breeding bad mares to bad stallions we will strengthen the breed significantly.
2006-09-24 08:24:36 · answer #1 · answered by PNewmarket 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, I'd say not. There is a reason why the big wigs in horse racing demand that only Thoroughbreds may be used, and that is because they are usually extremely hardy and fast when it comes to racing.
Horses used in horse racing have been bred from winners for years and years and years that it would be difficult to bring a new breed that has never before raced into the lineage.
Alot of families that have been breeding horses for racing probably wouldn't extend the gene pool for tradition's sake.
Horses that wni alot of races generally have been bred from horses that have won alot of races themselves and it goes on and on and on. It's just the genetic make up coming into play. It's the same with people. Children are born with different types of intelligence depending on what type of intelligence their parents were born with.
I don't readily agree with horse racing though, alot of horses get injured and then put down each year, which is just cruel, I have workd with horses most of my life and I understand that alot of people involved in horse racing probably don't think it's time to extend the gene pool.
2006-09-24 08:46:54 · answer #2 · answered by Alax 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No I don't think the gene pool of Thoroughbred horse is limited.
2006-09-24 08:47:58 · answer #3 · answered by MJane21 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Gene pool is plenty big enough. And if you are wanting some other bloodlines you can always breed to something from another country.
2006-09-24 20:43:30 · answer #4 · answered by tlctreecare 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure. Why not! Everything else & everyone else seems to have been contaminated with crossbreeding & cloning & genetic experimentation, so what the hell could it hurt!!!? Besides, it's a great way for the breeders who have already done it to cover their tracks!
2006-09-24 14:41:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No horse racing is cruel and should be banned over 300 horses die a year because of horse racing! it is cruel and the horses would never! run that fast or that far in the wild. the running causes great problems in later life! and illness.
2006-09-24 08:46:03 · answer #6 · answered by horse.master 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
absolutely not. What are you crazy?
2006-09-25 02:33:45 · answer #7 · answered by jonesmarty 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋