Category: Horses

The foundation stallions, or foundation sires, of the Thoroughbred breed are those to whom all, or nearly all, modern Thoroughbreds can trace their paternal bloodline. Although by no means the only stallions to be imported into England in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries – according to the General Stud Book, first published in 1793, there were over 200 – the names that have gone down in history are the Byerley Turk, Darley Arabian, and Godolphin Arabian.

Believed to have been foaled in, or around, 1679, the Byerley Turk was a dark brown or black horse whose breeding was unknown; despite his name, he was almost certainly of Arabian descent. He was reputed to have been confiscated by English soldier Captain Robert Byerley during the Great Turkish War and later served in the Jacobite-Williamite War in Ireland, including at the Battle of the Boyne. When Byerley retired from military service, the Byerley entered stud at Middridge Grange in Heighington, County Durham and, later, at Goldsborough Hall, near Knaresborough, Yorkshire, where he remained until at least 1701.

Far and away the most influential of the three foundation stallions, the Darley Arabian was, as his name suggests, a bay Arabian horse. He was bought by English trader Thomas Darley in Aleppo, Syria in 1704 and imported to England, where he stood at stud at the family seat at Aldby Park in Buttercrambe, North Yorkshire from 1706 onwards. By 1722, he was the leading sire in Britain and Ireland.

The Godolphin Arabian – so-called because he was eventually bought by Francis Godolphin, Second Earl of Godolphin – was, unsurprisingly, another stallion of Arabian descent. A bay colt, he was foaled in the Yemen in 1724 and subsequently exported to Tunisia, where he was presented to Louis XV of France by the Bey of Tunis. He was subsequently acquired by Englishman Edward Coke and exported to England to stand at Longford Hall, Derbyshire. Coke died in 1733 and the stallion was transferred, via bloodstock agent Roger Williams, to Babraham, Cambridgeshire.

Of course, in Britain, the Fillies’ Triple Crown consists of the two Classic races restricted to fillies, namely the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Oaks at Epsom, and the fifth and final Classic of the season, the St. Leger at Doncaster. Sun Princess did not, in fact, win the Fillies’ Triple Crown, but did win both the Oaks and St. Leger.

Owned by Sir Michael Sobell, in whose famous pale blue and yellow colours she raced, trained by

Dick Hern in West Ilsley, Berkshire and ridden, in most of her races, by Willie Carson, Sun Princess was a daughter of Irish Deby winner English Prince out of a dam by French Derby winner Val De Loir. As such, stamina was always likely to be her forte and, after running once, without success, over six furlongs as a juvenile, she made her three-year-old debut in what is now the Fillies’ Trial Stakes, over a mile and a quarter, at Newbury in May, 1983.

Sun Princess was beaten on that occasion, too, but the step up to a mile and a half and beyond proved to be the making of her. As a twice-raced maiden, the filly was sent off 6/1 fourth favourite for the Oaks, behind Alexandrie, Ski Sailing, who had beaten her at Newbury, and Royal Heroine. Nevertheless, what followed was, in the words of commentator Graham Goode, ‘a win, in most convincing and emphatic fashion’. Sun Princess made ground at the top of the hill, took up the running just after halfway and gradually drew further and further clear, eventually winning by a record 12 lengths.

Despite unfavourable soft going, Sun Prince was made 11/8 favourite to win the St. Leger and, while she had to work a good deal harder than in the Oaks, win it she did, by three-quarters of a length from Esprit Du Nord. For the record, the last filly to win the 1,000 Guineas, the Oaks and the St. Leger was Oh So Sharp, owned by Sheikh Mohammed, trained by Henry (later Sir Henry) Cecil and ridden, in all three Triple Crown races, by Steve Cauthen.

In short, Desert Orchid ran his last race on December 26, 1991, in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park. By then a 12-year-old, ‘Dessie’ was attempting to win the Boxing Day showpiece for the fifth time in six years, having prevailed in 1986, 1988, 1989 and 1990 and finished second, albeit at a respectful distance of 15 lengths, behind surprise winner Nupsala. However, on his final foray at the Sunbury-on-Thames course, despite being sent off 4-1 joint third favourite of the eight runners, behind Remittance Man and Sabin Du Loir, the iconic grey never really looked like winning and had already weakened out of contention when falling at the third-last fence.

It would be fair to say that it a disappointing end to a long, illustrious career, which saw Desert Orchid win 34 of his 70 races and over £650,000 in prize money. No slouch over the smaller obstacles, he was actually sent off second favourite for the 1984 Champion Hurdle, famously won by Dawn Run, but it was a bold, front-running steeplechaser that he would eventually find fame. Hugely versatile, distance-wise, Desert Orchid won the Tingle Creek Chase and Victor Chandler Chase, both over the minimum trip, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, over an extended 3 miles and 2½ furlongs, the Irish Grand National, over 3 miles and 4 furlongs, and the Whitbread Gold Cup, over an extended 3 miles and 5 furlongs.

It was testament to his status as a steeplechaser that, on March 16, 1989, despite being a stone better going right-handed, according to jockey Simon Sherwood, Desert Orchid was sent off 5/2 favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, run on unfavourable heavy going. He looked beaten on the run to the final fence, but rallied gamely on the climb to the line to beat Yahoo, who relished the conditions, by 1½ lengths.

While it’s fun to romanticise the idea of owning and caring for a horse, it is an immense responsibility that requires much time and money. If you are thinking of becoming a horse owner, consider the following responsibilities you will need to assume to ensure the animal’s well-being.

Daily Care Routine

Horses require a great deal of daily care to keep them happy and thriving, including meeting their daily nutritional needs and giving them opportunities for socialisation. A daily horse care routine should include the following.

Feeding & Nutrition

Like people, horses require a well-balanced diet. Since the dietary needs of a horse will change throughout its life, it’s essential to speak with a vet or expert about the feeding needs of your horse at its age. While the specific needs will vary based on horse size and activity level, on average, horses need roughly 20 pounds of food daily (or about two per cent of their body weight in food). Food can consist of grain or roughage (such as pasture grass or hay), which provides the necessary balance of essential nutrients.

Horses have delicate digestive systems that require them to graze on small quantities of food throughout the day rather than large meals. Your horse should never be fed right before or after exercise, as its digestive system isn’t well-equipped to handle this. In addition, they need access to clean water throughout the day to aid digestion. Most horses need at least eight gallons of water each day.

Both food and water intake should be monitored to ensure the horse receives everything it needs to thrive. Changes in appetite may also signal that the horse may need medical attention.

Grooming

Horses are known for their stunning coats and flowing manes, and these require daily attention from horse carers to keep looking their best. Daily grooming is also essential for the horse’s health and cleanliness and can help strengthen the bond with your animal.

A typical daily grooming routine should include a mane comb, hoof pick, body brush, dandy brush, shampoo, and soft brush. Each comb and brush detangles hair and removes dirt that can irritate the horse’s skin, and each has a specific purpose. Grooming should be done before and after riding or exercising the horse. For hoof care, ensure a blacksmith trims and reshoes your horse every six to eight weeks.

Exercise & Training

Daily exercise and training can help maintain your horse’s mental and physical health. It also helps build stamina and strength while reducing injuries. A typical exercise and training routine comprises various forms of exercise, such as walking, running, and swimming. A racehorse’s routine may include strength-building work, such as walking or running through sand or water.

A proper routine will incorporate warm-up and cool-down periods to keep the horse’s muscles and joints safe and include stretching to improve a horse’s range of motion. These activities will vary based on the age and abilities of the horse. Rest periods are also crucial for a horse’s recovery and strength and should be included in the routine.

Turnout & Socialisation

‘Turnout’ refers to taking your horse out of its stall to pasture or exercise, and this is an essential daily practice for your horse’s well-being, even if it’s not a formal training day. It allows your animal to socialise with other horses, get fresh air, and engage in natural behaviours like grazing and wandering that are essential for its well-being.

Health & Medical Care

All horses require medical care to ensure they’re healthy, including regular check-ups, vaccinations, preventative care, injury prevention, and, in some cases, injury treatment or rehabilitation.

Regular Veterinary Check-Ups

Horses should have a general veterinary check-up every year; this should increase to twice a year for horses over the age of twenty. These check-ups will examine your horse’s overall health, from dental to hoof health. You should also get a veterinary check-up if you notice changes in your horse’s typical behaviours or eating habits.

Vaccinations & Preventative Care

Horses require various vaccinations to prevent them from contracting serious illnesses or spreading them to other horses they encounter. These vaccines protect against diseases like tetanus, encephalomyelitis, influenza, and rabies. Horses born to vaccinated mares begin their vaccine schedule at roughly six months old, while horses born to unvaccinated mares need to start vaccinations sooner. Once the initial vaccines have been administered, most vaccines require yearly boosters to maintain their effectiveness.

Horses are prone to many parasites, making parasite treatment and prevention essential to their medical care. Unless symptoms of a severe infection require immediate treatment, parasite treatment and prevention will be incorporated into the regular check-up.

Injury Prevention & Treatment

Most daily care practices, such as stretching and adequate rest periods, are primary injury prevention tools. When treating injuries, several interventions can relieve any discomfort your horse may be experiencing and help it recover. These interventions can include pain relief medications, cold hosing to reduce swelling and inflammation, ultrasound therapy, physiotherapy, and extended resting periods. The interventions used will vary based on your horse’s specific needs, and a veterinarian can help you identify the right course of action.

Stable Management

Maintaining your horse’s stable is an essential daily task to keep its environment clean and safe. A clean environment helps prevent the spread of disease, reduces unpleasant odours, and creates a comfortable environment for your animal. Stalls should be cleaned out twice daily, with fresh bedding added each time.

Dividing Responsibilities

With so many tasks and schedules to follow, caring for a horse is far more than a full-time job. It leaves little time for other essential activities in your life and even less for fun and entertainment, such as visiting casinos.com to get the top bonus offers or going on holiday. Because of this, most horse carers share the responsibility with others. This may involve dedicated roles for training, stall maintenance, and overseeing medical needs, dividing the workload to make it more manageable without sacrificing the quality of care your horse requires.

Conclusion

From daily grooming and exercise to yearly appointments and medical needs, there is a long list of requirements for adequately caring for a horse. Ensure you’re fully prepared for these responsibilities before bringing a horse into your life.