What is GSSA?

There is no sure fire method to pinpoint a superior racehorse. However, there is now significant data which points to tremendously improved odds in identifying Elite racehorses. It is called the Genetic Signature Selection Analysis.

We have teamed up with a leading research team which has performed extensive studies of the racehorse populations both in Australia and the Northern hemisphere.

We will not obviously disclose all our secrets, but here is a brief overview of our works. 

background

In current times the thoroughbred population is a healthy 500,000+  strong global breed, but in context of modern horse breeds there is an extremely low genetic diversity.

Northern Dancer is without question the most successful stallion of the 20th Century and has dominated Australian pedigrees since the 1990’s.

Over 97% of horses bred in Australia are stamped through Northern Dancer and his later sons in modern times – Sadler’s Wells and Danehill.

As such racehorses in Australia share a common genetic signature which relates to locomotion, skeletal muscle physiology, cardiac function and behavior.

Genetic Signature Selection Analysis usually affect several traits and contribute to shaping a breed. Elite Breeders, when selecting for these specific traits, have made choices which contribute to significant performance and ability in Australian racehorses.

We have partnered with the leading research team which has identified specific chromosomal regions which has led to significant performance on Australian tracks.

In short, there is 20,000+ genes in the Australian Thoroughbred genome. The reasearch team partnering with us has identified the set of genes most suited to horses racing in Australia.

Classique Legend hosts an ‘A’ Type Classification

What is history of results thus far?

The results have been astonishing.

If you would like to receive a full report of results, feel free to contact mark@regalbloodstock.com. Alternatively, I will be begin posting horses which cater favourable traits on weekly facebook posts. 

HAVE YOU SECURED ANY HORSES RECENTLY WITH THESE TRAITS?

Yes!

Bold Intentions, Twin Perfections and in current offerings – Shalaa x Tresor and Dundeel x Miss Twin Peaks fillys host these superior traits.

I will be begin posting horses which cater favourable traits on weekly facebook posts.

RACEHORSES FOR SALE

Racehorse conformation

Racehorse Conformation is one of the most important factors to consider before you buy. A racehorse is an athlete and therefore its physical appearance, known as the horse’s conformation,

Conformation is the mixing of the different body parts of the horse, and how well they fit together visually and physically to create a high-performing, talented racehorse. It is the arrangement of muscle, bones, tissue, and overall body structure that come together to create the horse and the resulting athletic ability of said horse.

Naturally, a lot of emphasis for conformation is placed on the horse’s legs. The front legs support the majority of the weight of the running horse and the hind legs provide the propulsion forward.

Furthermore, these requirements are very significant to look out for when buying a horse.

Pedigree

This is the very first area to review when buying a horse. Pedigree plays a part in determining a horse’s future, the ultimate factor determining any horse’s success in sport is its functional conformation.

An understanding of the race performance of the ancestors will also indicate whether it has been bred to sprint or stay.

It is vital to pay high attention to the Dam’s facet of the breeding.

The pedigree will probably show what number foal it is out of the dam, what date it was foaled, list the sire, dam, grandsire, grand-dam, and the most important thing is showing the race performance of relations on the dam side.

Another thing is It provides a good guide to what you should expect to see in the horse, what kind of physical or mental traits run in the family and which members of the family had ability but didn’t race or win a race for other reasons.

Every horse is attributed with relation to pedigree and conformation. The artwork of picking a horse out at public sale or in the paddock is identifying which bodily characteristics will have an effect on the horse’s capability to race.

Looking at the pedigree of the horse can provide clues to faults that may also have been handed down from generation to generation, and whether or not these faults have an impact on the horse or on the racetrack.

muscle tone

The power of muscle tone comes from a horse’s hindquarters so much attention to muscle and strength stretch comes from here.

Muscle definition across a horse’s shoulders additionally contributes to strength even though this is now not always built up when buying yearlings. A horse naturally develops from behind first with the shoulder being one of the last areas to develop.

Muscle is the powerhouse of a horse. It also adds support to horse’s skeleton and strength to its joints.

Everything about the muscle structure should reflect speed, power, endurance, and athletic ability.

Bone Structure Conformation

A horse’s bone shape needs to be in proportion and it’s important to inspect a horse from every angle.

Does it have a good, strong, nicely developed bone structure?

From the rearview, the gaskin bone slant barely inwards between the stifle and the hock without turning the hock inwards as well. Working down the leg, the cannon bone must be shorter than the gaskin bone and align straight up with the factor of the butt.

It is additionally a top thought to experience the horse’s legs for any bumps or splints, or even worse any heat.

Good foot structure is incredibly important.

A horse must be in a position to lift its very own weight efficiently.

Many horse’s feet turn out (or in) barely or dish in circles in stroll and trot.

This leads to greater strain on joints which places them more susceptible to injury when under the pressures of training and racing.
A horse’s bone shape needs to be in proportion and it’s important to inspect a horse from every angle.

Does it have a good, strong, nicely developed bone structure?

From the rearview, the gaskin bone slant barely inwards between the stifle and the hock without turning the hock inwards as well. Working down the leg, the cannon bone must be shorter than the gaskin bone and align straight up with the factor of the butt.

It is additionally a top thought to experience the horse’s legs for any bumps or splints, or even worse any heat.

Good foot structure is incredibly important.

A horse must be in a position to lift its very own weight efficiently.

Many horse’s feet turn out (or in) barely or dish in circles in stroll and trot.

This leads to greater strain on joints which places them more susceptible to injury when under the pressures of training and racing.

Some of the areas to assess the structural bone conformation:

Legs – Start with straightness. When looking at a horse from the front with him standing quietly, the front legs should appear to be straight.

Cannon – The cannon should be short and flat when viewed from the side. It should have tight, well defined tendons set well back to give the appearance of abundant support below the knees

Bone – Bones in and leading to the knee should line up in a balanced manner; not tilting forward (“over at the knee” or “buck-kneed”) or back (“back at the knee” or “calf-kneed”), nor severely offset to one side or the other.

Pasterns – The pastern of the hind legs may be slightly longer than the front pastern and will slope at a greater angle.

Hoof – The hoof of the hind legs is sloped, slightly more than the forefoot. The angle of the hoof and pastern should be equal.

Length of rein – properly balanced and in proportion

Walk – does the racehorse have a pleasant flowing walk with an appropriate overstep

Hocks – It should be clean, well-defined, powerful, and having no soft tissue swelling or bony projections.

Back – The back extends from withers to loin or last rib. It should be short, straight, strong and muscular.

Balance

Balance essentially means how proportioned a horse is and how this relates to his athletic ability. It refers to equal distribution of muscling and weight from the front of the horse to the back of the horse, from its top to its bottom and from side to side.

Balance is essential for both quality of movement and performance in any event, and is determined by the horse’s bone structure.

When looking at balance, the neck, back, and hip need to be of equal size in order for a horse to be properly proportioned.

Younger horses are usually barely greater up in their withers or quarters but this is because there is greater development to come. Some even say horses aren’t wholly grown into themselves till they are 5-years old so anticipate seeing some traits in a 2-year old.

Overall balance is important for most equine work.

Below are the illustrations:

Neck
A well-balanced horse will have a long, smooth neck. The neck should: Be proportional to body size. Tie cleanly into the shoulders and withers. Tie high into the chest.

Back
The back extends from the withers to the loin and has to be short relative to the underline. Top: A short and solid back allows for carrying extra weight. Bottom: A long underline let on the rear legs reach far underneath for a long stride.

Croup and Hip
The croup and hip are essential parts of the hindquarters, which are the engine of a horse’s stride. The hip must be long and sloping. The croup has to blend smoothly over the hindquarters.

In Conclusion

This article provides only a very general guideline related to racehorse conformation.

The above criteria will assist you in your endeavour to select a potentially sound and capable racehorse.

Please feel free to contact me mark@regalbloodstock.com if you would like assistance in your search for a future champion

RACEHORSES FOR SALE

What is shin soreness?

We all know bone pain is a common hazard for all athletes. Horses are no exception and bone pain is very usual outcome in training horses especially for fast galloping competition and of course, racing.

The pain is due to the bone’s natural response as it adjusts to the struggle of training and working at speed.  

Shin soreness is a training injury in Thoroughbred horses especially 2 to 3 years old that is characterized by pain on palpation of the shin, or third metacarpal bone, and is often associated with an unwillingness to work at speed. The condition is certainly not new and has long been a birch of trainers of young Thoroughbreds.

Shin Soreness is properly known as Dorsal Metacarpal Disease. The bones of the horses change eminently as training executes. Nevertheless, while the bones go through this transformation, there may be pain and stiffness which can lead to sore shins.

The bones of young Thoroughbreds are very soft and spongy. Due to high impact training, it can be resulted in increased inflammation within the bones. The bones will start to swell and might cause stress fractures. Shin soreness should be treated immediately as it can be a serious problem and might end the horse’s racing or performance career.

Young race horses are the most affected. Why? Because they are always galloping at a high speed on hard tracks. Shin soreness will start to develop when the front of the cannon bones in the forelegs are forced to a high impact training.

Symptoms of Shin Soreness in Horses

Heat within the shin of the horses is one of the first symptoms of shin soreness. It would be helpful to have a daily examination to bring any changes to attention. The shin soreness can only be noticed in quite some time as the changes within the forelegs of the horse may be mild and hard to detect. Once you notice some changes, it’s very important to contact the Veterinarian for a full assessment and consultation. Some of the other symptoms to look out for include: 

• Lameness
• Stiffness within the forelegs
• Pain when touched
• Swelling
• Shortened stride
  

What causes shin soreness?

Shin soreness occurs when the cannon bone attempts to repair any damage caused by high impact exercise that has overloaded the forelegs. The cannon bones will grow new, spongy bone when the bones breakdown. This causes inflammation, swelling and soreness within the front of the cannon bones or the shins. 

Horses that are trained on hard and compacted dirt tracks are most likely to develop shin soreness than those trained on wood fiber tracks. 

Below is the sample image for Wood fiber tracks for horses. 

how to prevent shin soreness?

Good horse management can help to prevent shin soreness in horses. It would be advisable to not push young and athletic horses to work beyond their growth capacity. Ideally, wood fiber tracks that are properly banked will help prevent increased strain on the cannon bones. Studies have shown that shin soreness is less likely to develop in young horses galloped on straight tracks. 

Although financial considerations often drive training that allows young horses to train and race beyond their maturational development, consideration should be given to training horses in such a way as to increase their longevity by setting performance standards that do not trade the physical well-being of the horse for an early start on any promotional circuit. 

If you notice some changes in the forelegs of the horses, it would be best to take the horse to the Veterinary Clinic. The more you don’t take actions to cure the shin soreness, the more the horse will suffer. 

The veterinarian will begin their assessment by doing a thorough physical examination. They will also ask you to describe the training process and the track that your horse currently trains on. 

X-rays will also be needed to look for hairline fractures and any secondary bone formations within the forelegs. Based on the findings from the x-rays, your veterinarian will develop a treatment plan that is fit for your horse.

treatment of racehorse shin soreness

 The recommendation to ease the pain of the shin soreness on your horse is the application of cold compresses using ice packs. The cold compress should be applied to the affected shin at least two or three times a day for approximately fifteen to twenty minutes. This will help reduce inflammation and ease discomfort. 

In acute cases of shin soreness with severe swelling and lameness, the horse should be confined to stable rest to avoid the risk of long-term bone damage. 

A veterinarian may decide that a course of phenylbutazone is also needed. What is phenylbutazone? It is often referred to as “bute” which can last around 8 to 12 hours, is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for the short-term treatment of pain and fever in animals. Once the inflammation and the pain have diminished, your veterinarian will most likely re-examine your horse’s cannon bones. This is done to assess the severity of any secondary bone deposits that may have developed

X-rays may be necessary to check for secondary bone formation and hairline fractures. The veterinarian will recommend treatment depending on the findings.

Following the veterinarian’s recommendations, the horse can be reinstated to a creative exercise program designed to keep the horse sound and encourage active and long-term modeling to permanently adapt the cannon bones to fast exercise. 

recovery of shin soreness in horses

Great horse management and not pushing too hard the horses to train can easily prevent from having shin soreness. Early detection through daily examination combined with appropriate treatment and training techniques much reduce the chance of sore shins and other musculoskeletal conditions occurring. 

The veterinarian will provide a treatment plan and also an expected timeline for returning to a full training process. The treatment plan should be strictly followed as it is prescribed and give them time to heal – this could be anything from 6 weeks to 4 months, depending on the severity.

When they return to training, they are galloped over shorter distances to ascertain what they can handle and their training program is progressed from that benchmark.

RACEHORSES FOR SALE