Horse Racing Tips

Laminitis is a word that strikes fear in the hearts of every horse owner, be it family horses or racehorses. In 1989, the magnificent Secretariat was euthanized because of laminitis; a similar fate was suffered more recently by Barbaro, the people’s hero, who also contracted laminitis after suffering a broken leg. When humans decided to domesticate horses, their diets and workloads changed dramatically from what they were accustomed to in the wild, and this has opened the door to illnesses and injuries which would probably not have occurred had they remained wild. But there is hope for horses with laminitis, depending on the severity, and as more research is done into laminitis, the more is learnt and preventative measures developed.

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In 1986, the term Developmental Orthopaedic Disease, or DOD, was used for the first time. The term is a general description and can be misleading as DOD not only refers to bone diseases, but also to problems that are found in developing joints and plates. Developmental Orthopaedic Disease is therefore a diagnosis for any development issues of the musculoskeletal structure. Even though there is no specific general cure or treatment that can assist in all the various forms of Developmental Orhtopaedic Disease, problems can be treated and steps can be taken to prevent most DODs.

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The racing community and thousands of fans were waiting in anticipation for the prognosis of the hoof crack that was found on Big Brown’s left front hoof. The quarter crack was treated by Ian MacKinlay, a hoof specialist, and Big Brown should be back on track to take on the Belmont Stakes on 7 June 2008. The fact that the hoof crack could be repaired was a great relief to all those who are pinning their hopes on Big Brown being the next Triple Crown winner, and even though some hoof cracks are repairable, there are some that can cause serious injury and pain to horses.

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Racing and even training puts a vast amount of strain on the bones in the legs of horses. To understand the pressure that a leg is under during a full gallop, it is vital to point out that even though horses are much larger than human athletes, their bone structures are approximately the same size. When a thoroughbred is at full gallop, only one leg is in contact with the ground at a time. This causes the force of an estimated seven tons to be exerted on each leg as the horse moves through the stride. It is this force that can cause serious damage if a horse steps wrongly or is running on uneven ground.

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To understand the workings of a heart murmur, it is important to know how the heart operates in horses. The average sized horse has a heart that is the size of a basketball and it is the centre of the cardiovascular system. There is approximately forty-five liters of blood in the body of a horse that needs to be pumped by the heart. The heart pumps at an estimated rate of forty beats a minute and the valves that allow the blood to flood in and out of the heart causes the “lub-dub” sound that is heard through a stethoscope.

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The most important part of getting into the horse racing industry is purchasing a good racehorse. Most of the big stable yards send their bloodstock agents to the various sales to make a purchase on their behalf. Oftentimes smaller yards, or people just starting up, don’t have the finances available to have a permanently employed agent, and have to attend the sale themselves.

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Just as a home or a vehicle is seen as an insurable item for everyday members of the public, the horse racing industry sees horses as high value assets, and therefore owners and breeders are able to purchase insurance for their horses. Before choosing an insurance option for a racehorse, owners are advised to consult a professional equine insurance broker, who will be able to advise on the ideal coverage options.

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The horse racing industry is a fast paced world, and for serious owners to prosper they need the best staff available to them. From trainers to stable assistants, all play an important role. When it comes to the buying of new horses or finding the right stallion for breeding purposes, bloodstock agents are the people to turn to. Most racing stables have a bloodstock agent who is retained by the stables, not only to purchase and sell horses, but to provide information in regard to changes within the racing industry.

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Prospective horse owners need to look at characteristics and conformation so as to determine if a horse has the potential to become a spectacular athlete. Differences between individual racehorses can be very subtle, as most thoroughbred horses are bred for running. Thus, it takes an experienced eye to notice the small details that could make huge impacts on the racecourse.

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As with human athletes, horses need to build up fitness and strength over a period of time before running in any racing events. Once a satisfactory fitness level has been achieved, it is crucial for trainers to maintain the horses in that condition and to ensure that they remain free of injury or illness. As technology has improved, so have the methods of assisting trainers and horse owners to keep their horses conditioned. Heart monitors have become an invaluable device for everyone in the horse racing industry, and a friend to the health and well-being of horses.

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