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And They’re Off! How Racehorses Enter the Starting Gate

It is against a horse’s nature to enter the confined space of the starting gate, yet it happens before every race at racetracks all over the world. In our Gate to Great: Schooling for Success blog, we touched on the early days of training necessary for this daunting task to become old hat for young Thoroughbreds. Once a horse leaves our training center and arrives at the racetrack, these lessons will be put to the test.

Per Kentucky statute, first-time entrants will not be allowed to race unless they have logged three official workouts, one of which must be from the starting gate. This rule ensures that the horse can load, wait, and break cleanly in a race. A poor start can not only affect their individual chances but can also interfere with the rest of the field. Final approval of the horse's readiness is made by the gate crew, and some horses may need more than the three mandated workouts. The gate crew is a team of 10-15 horsemen who assist with morning training and handle loading on race day. They evaluate each individual’s progress on a case by case basis and issue "gate cards" to horses that successfully complete the approval process.

Any horse undergoing an equipment change, like adding or removing blinkers, will need to be reapproved as well. Once the horse has completed the reapproval process, the crew issue them a card with their equipment change and the date the horse last worked. Records are kept on each horse so that new and problem entries can be identified and handled with additional care.

The gate crew consists of the starter and assistant starters. On race days, an assistant starter is assigned to each horse and enters the starting gate with them to make sure that the jockey is secure, the horse’s feet are planted, and the horse’s head is pointed straight when the gates open. They stand poised on a 3-inch ledge waiting for the start. When all the horses have loaded, the starter looks for a moment of peace before unleashing the field.

Working with such large and powerful animals can be dangerous, and the gate crew prepares accordingly. Each member wears a flak jacket and a helmet on race day to protect against serious injury. They take extra precautions when handling horses that may have gate issues.

There are a number of different techniques for loading difficult horses. Most commonly, the assistant starters will link arms behind the horse, slide their arms down its hindquarters, and guide it into the starting stall. For this method, they position themselves at the horse’s hip to stay out of the way should they kick. Horses may also be blanketed, blindfolded, or led in with the front gates open.

At some racetracks, the gate crew has the added responsibility of moving the gate out of the way of the oncoming horses once the race has started. A crew member will jump off the gate after the break and straight into the truck or tractor, carefully pulling it out of traffic.

The gate crew has one of the most dangerous yet essential jobs at the racetrack. Having a solid gate crew ensures the safety of both equine and human participants.

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Make it Jockey Club Official: Foal Registration

One of the biggest steps toward becoming a racehorse in the United States is actually based on paperwork.  While a foal born to a Thoroughbred stallion and a Thoroughbred mare is genetically a Thoroughbred, it cannot be a Thoroughbred racehorse unless we register it with The Jockey Club. Big changes are coming to foal registration and we are excited to get on board.

Starting in 2017, in addition to the registration process already in place, The Jockey Club will require all foals to be microchipped. However, this year owners can voluntarily request the free microchips when reporting the birth of a live foal, and that is what we have chosen to do here at Stonestreet.

Although new to us, microchips are actually already used as part of the Thoroughbred registration process in many parts of the world, including in places like Great Britain, France, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, Germany, Italy, and New Zealand.

Microchips are just the beginning, though. In order for Thoroughbreds to be registered in the United States, all of the requirements listed in the Principal Rules and Requirements of The American Stud Book have to be met.

The first stage of the process, and perhaps the most important, is the fact the foal must be conceived via live cover, not artificial insemination, and its pedigree must authentically trace to horses recorded in The American Stud Book or a foreign stud book approved by The Jockey Club.

Making sure a foal is registered accurately is a team effort, and The Jockey Club’s web-basedInteractive Registration program has digitalized much of the process.  All stallion owners are required to report the mares that are bred to their stallions by August 1 of each year, and then within 30 days of the birth of a foal, we must complete a Live Foal/No Foal Report.

When the foal is three or four months old, we receive a pre-printed Registration Application and genetic typing kit.  We carefully mark down a foal’s color and any markings, but four color photographs must also be submitted, so all of the foals get their pictures taken, too.

These photos are vital because a horse’s markings and cowlicks help identify it throughout the course of its life. Now, the microchip will help with this as well. In order to maintain the integrity of the breed, genetic proof is also required for each foal. We do this by submitting a sample of the foal’s mane or tail.

Once we have submitted all the required paperwork and paid our fees, a Certificate of Foal Registration is usually issued within a month. However, that doesn’t mean we have named the foal. The Jockey Club allows everyone to wait to name their Thoroughbreds until Feb. 1 of their 2-year-old year, so most the time foals are registered without a name.

Assuming we meet The Jockey Club’s requirements within one year of a foal being born, the cost associated with registering each colt or filly is $225. To encourage prompt registration, the fees go up incrementally after that. If someone waited until after December 31 of a horse’s 2-year-old year, it would cost them $2,025, or nine times the original fee!

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The Purpose is Parity; An Explanation of Race Types

Spring is here and we can’t help but get excited about our two-year-olds making their first starts this summer!

Most people are familiar with races like the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic, but how does a horse get to start in those races? In North American flat racing a classification system determines what qualifies a horse to start in a certain race. There are four main categories of race and each category is further divided by the application of ‘Conditions’, which include gender, age and previous performance:

CATALOGUE STYLE PEDIGREE

Stakes Race

Stakes races are the highest caliber of competition and consist of Graded Stakes and Listed Stakes. Graded Stakes races are designated Grade 1, Grade 2 or Grade 3. Listed Stakes races are a step below Grade 3 races in terms of caliber and quality of competition. Stakes races place no restrictions on entrants other than age and sex. The TOBA Graded Stakes Committee meets annually to “evaluate and affirm the quality of these races” and the result of this review is the upgrading and downgrading of races each year.

Due to the global nature of the Thoroughbred breeding and sales, stakes races must meet International Cataloging Standards criteria in order to be considered black type. Black type refers to the typeface used in a pedigree  and allows buyers to assess the quality of a pedigree with confidence.

There will be 109 Grade I stakes races run in America in 2016.

Allowance Race

Weight allowances for specific conditions are the defining characteristic of Allowance races. Conditions may include date since last win, earnings, or how many races a horse has won. In a Starter Allowance runners must have previously run in a claiming race at a specified price. Each horse in an Allowance race is assigned weight based on how they meet these criteria and some will carry less weight than others (i.e. they can have a lighter jockey). In theory this weight allowance, e.g. 5lbs, balances out the talents of the competing horses and evens the field making for a more interesting wagering opportunity.

Claiming Race

The majority of the races run in the USA are claiming races, where every horse may be bought for a set price. Claiming prices range from less than $10,000 to more than $75,000 and typically the higher the claiming price, the higher the prize money. The potential buyer must place the claim before the race starts and they will own the horse after the race, regardless of where in the race the horse finishes.

As the horses meet their grooms immediately after the race a racetrack official clips a tag onto any horse that has been claimed. The funds have been transferred through the horseman’s bookkeeper at the racetrack and the sale is effective immediately – the trainer representing the new owner will take the horse back to his barn and cool him out after the race.

An owner can enter his horse into any Claiming race in which it meets the conditions. However, if a horse runs against lesser competition for a better chance at the prize money the owner risks having the horse claimed for less than his true value.

Optional claiming races are a hybrid of allowance race and claiming race. If a horse has run through all his allowance conditions (e.g. he has won too many races) but would not be competitive in stakes races he can run in the optional claiming race, provided he runs for the claiming price specified. A horse in the same race that still has allowance conditions does not run for a claiming price and is not for sale.

Jess’s Dream breaking his maiden at Saratoga Race Course.

Maiden Race

Maiden races are exclusively for horses that have never won a race. Once a horse has won a maiden race he must move into one of the other categories described above. The majority of the Stonestreet Stable horses will start in Maiden Special Weight races and hopefully prove their ability justifies moving onto Allowance and Stakes competition.

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Keeping Up with the Kentucky Bluegrass

It might seem senseless to mow our fields and paddocks. After all, it’s the famed Kentucky Bluegrass that feeds our horses and provides calcium for growing bones, but we mow from April through September each year. Why?

The grazing habits of horses are different from those of sheep and cattle. Horses graze pasture much shorter than cattle and will repeatedly graze the same area unlike sheep which graze a field evenly. Horses will not graze close to piles of their manure which allows areas of tall grass to develop; chain harrowing paddocks helps to alleviate this issue. Along with other pasture management techniques and low stocking rates, mowing helps us develop and maintain great grass for the following reasons:

Not maintaining pasture keeps certain areas off limits to horses. The increased time spent grazing the same areas can cause over grazing, to a point where desirable plants may struggle to survive.

Mowing evens out grass height. This promotes grass growth of all species, particularly during a period when the field is being rested, by allowing equal access to sunlight.

Mowing encourages plants to produce more leaves and fewer stems. This develops thicker, more enduring ground coverage, which stands up better against horse hooves and is also more palatable.

Mowing controls weed species. By preventing weeds from growing tall enough to seed we control them with their competitors, desirable grasses, and avoid using herbicides.

Rotational grazing has many of the same benefits as mowing due to the contrasting grazing habits of different species. We do not use this as part of our land management approach but if you would like to learn more about rotational grazing read this great article from The Horse: bit.ly/thehorsegrazing

Unlike ruminants such as cattle, horses should not eat cut grass in large amounts or silage. The fermentation process, which follows grass being cut, carries an increased risk of mold and bacterial toxins, which may cause colic.

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Foal Firsts

Four Foal Firsts

Earlier this month we published a blog on foaling, but a lot more happens in the first 24 hours of a foal’s life than just arriving in the world!

1. Standing

Foal sits sternal shortly after birth

Very shortly after birth the foal will sit sternal. It is the beginning of his attempt to stand and he will remain this way until his forelegs are strong enough to lift his body off the ground. Foals are typically up on all four hooves around 30 minutes after birth and another 30 minutes until they are steady and taking their first steps.

2. Nursing

A foal nurses for the first time

As soon as the foal is up and moving instinct directs him towards mother and more specifically, her milk. After several failed attempts and some guidance from the mare the foal is typically nursing within 60 minutes of birth. The first milk produced by the mare is colostrum and it transfers immunity from mare to foal.

3. Passing Meconium

All babies, equine and human, do not pass stool in utero. The first manure produced after foaling is the meconium. Unlike any subsequent bowel movement meconium is hard, sticky and almost black in color. We administer enemas to every foal shortly after delivery; passing the meconium is an extremely important milestone and it should occur within an hour of birth. Passing the meconium as soon as possible increases the likelihood of successful nursing and the ingestion of colostrum to elevate immunity. Failure to pass the meconium can result in colic.

4. First Vet check:

Most foals are born at night, the next morning they will be visited by the veterinarian who will check them out. The vet looks at:

The Umbilicus – to ensure it is fully clotted and no longer bleeding, that it is not herniated and shows no signs of infection.

The Eyes – entropion is when the eyelid is folded inward causing the lashes to rub the eye. Fixed with a simple stich! Eye function is also checked.

The Ribs – to ensure no ribs were fractured by the contractions during foaling.

The Testicles – it is noted if one or both testicles are undescended in a colt.

The Limbs – the fetlocks are checked for contraction or laxity and whether the foal is knock-kneed (carpal valgus) or ‘over at the knee’. The turnout schedule will be dictated by the degree of conformational defect until it has resolved.

The Heart – to ensure that there is no murmur present.

The vet will also check for a cleft palate and draw blood for a CBC/IgG test to ensure the transfer of antibodies through the colostrum.

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Welcome to the World! Foaling

Last month we talked about the physical and behavioral changes in broodmares that precede foaling. These outward signs are indications of the internal contractions guiding the foal toward the birth canal. With his forelegs extended out in front of him, head rested between, and hind legs trailing behind, the foal begins to leave the uterus. The contractions trigger the rupture of the allantochorion and a rush of fluid indicates that the foal is on the way! Foaling is typically complete within 20 minutes of the waters breaking.

A foal gets in position for birth in utero.

The Broodmare Farm Manager and a Veterinarian are present during all the births at Stonestreet Farm. Once the waters have broken, one of the team members will examine the vagina to ensure that the foal is presented as described above. If two front hooves, one slightly in front of the other, and a muzzle are not present it is known as mal-presentation, or dystocia, and the team will work to correct the position of the foal.

Foaling Kit: all necessary items are kept on a rolling cart that can easily arrive to a stall when a foaling begins.

Assuming normal presentation is confirmed, progress is monitored with little human interference. Attempting to assist a mare by pulling on the foal may damage the cervix if the cervix is not fully relaxed. Cervical damage makes it more difficult for the mare to become pregnant in the future. If a mare experiences too much human intervention, there is a risk she will expect assistance during future foalings.

The team will begin to see the amniotic sac, which still contains the foal. The mare will lie down and her contractions guide the foal out and down toward her hocks.

Once the chest is fully out of the mare the amniotic sac is broken and the foal will take his first breath. The contractions help clear the lungs of amniotic fluid but it is important that the foal not breathe while his chest is still in the birth canal; the strength of the contractions can break ribs and the foaling team will intervene to prevent this if necessary.  The rest of the foal follows easily at this point, the hard work is over, and the mare will rest.

The umbilical cord still joins the mare and foal. A weak spot an inch from the foal’s stomach will break naturally with minimal movement by either horse. The stump is treated with a diluted iodine solution and an astringent to prevent infection. If the mare gets up while it is still attached, fairly common with inexperienced maidens, a team member will pinch the cord at the weak spot to avoid tension too close to the stomach wall, which could cause a hernia.

The portion of placenta that is outside of the mare is knotted into itself. This prevents the mare from stepping on it and prematurely pulling the portion that remains internal. The placenta will fall out by itself within an hour or so. Anything other than a velvety texture and red color can indicate a problem and a vet should be consulted. The placenta is checked to make sure its complete – any retained placental tags will release toxins as they degenerate and must be removed by a veterinarian.

In a future post we will watch as the foal accomplishes some major feats in the hours following birth.

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Foal Watch

The anticipation is palpable at the farm this time of year as we wait for the first of the 2016 foals to arrive!

Most foals are born at night and we have an experienced staff that works the night shift to make sure that all the horses stay healthy and happy. During foaling season it is their responsibility to alert the Broodmare Farm Manager that a mare is about to foal.

We look for several physical and behavioral changes in the mares that indicate a foal is about to arrive. Some mares show more obvious signs than others, with maiden mares often showing no signs at all.

1. The udder will become fuller, this is known as “bagging up”

2. A waxy substance may appear at the end of the teats. This iscolostrum, the vital first milk that passes immunity from mother to newborn foal

3. Droplets of milk may be seen on the teats or between the hind legs

4. The pelvic muscles relax and the croup appears to visibly soften either side of the tail

The first four signs will appear in the mare anywhere from two weeks to two hours prior to foaling. These next signs typically indicate foaling is very close:

5. The mare may become restless, irritable or anxious

6. Repeatedly lying down and getting up. These movements help reposition the foal

7. She may begin to sweat

8. Pawing the ground, looking at her stomach – these signs of discomfort are a response to the contractions

Shortly thereafter the water should break, this indicates that the final stages of parturition are about to occur. We will visit foaling in a blog next month, stay tuned!

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Riders Up! 9 Steps to Backing a Yearling

October is a busy month at the Stonestreet Training Center in Florida. Yearlings have arrived from the major yearling sales and breeding farms all over the United States. After a week to settle in and adjust to the new routine it’s time for them to be “backed”, the term describing the process of teaching babies how to be ridden.

Thoroughbreds are extremely well handled from birth and this makes the transition quick and easy in most cases. The key, as with everything equine, is tweaking the process to suit the individual and letting the horse dictate the pace.

Surcingle

1. The yearling is introduced to thetack consisting of bridle, saddle pad and surcingle in the stall. Most yearlings will have already experienced a bit in their mouth, especially if they went to the Yearling Sales. One handler will hold the yearling while another places the saddle pad on the back and tightens the surcingle. A surcingle is an elasticated strap that fastens around the girth area. Once the tack is secured, the key is to keep the yearling moving in circles around the stall in both directions – horses are much less likely to get themselves in trouble or become upset when in forward motion and this principle is applied throughout the backing process!

2. Once the yearling is comfortable circling the stall with the surcingle and pad the saddle itself is introduced. They will circle the stall in both directions until they are used to the increased weight and coverage of the saddle and the movement of the stirrups against their flank.

A rider lays on the back of a yearling in the stall

3 .The yearlings will leave the confinement of the stall and walk the shed row while wearing the saddle and bridle.

4. It’s back to the stall for riders up for the first time. With a handler at the head, and continually circling the stall,a second handler will leg the rider up so that he or she is lying on his chest across the horses back. If the yearling is upset by this new sensation the rider can quickly and safely jump away. Once the yearling is accepting of the prone weight of the rider they are legged up into the typical seated position in the saddle, but keep their feet out of the stirrups.

5. With both rider and horse comfortable and calm they exit the stall and jog around the shed row without the handler. All the circling in the stall has taught them a basic understanding of the bit as a component of steering.

6. After a week jogging in the shed row the yearlings are ready to move to the small field. Graduating from Step 1 to Step 6 typically takes about 10 days however, some horses will need a couple of days off to absorb all the new information and will start back at Step 1.

Horses are herd animals and much more comfortable in company. We utilize this by ensuring that the babies learn all their new lessons in groups.

7. Once in the small field they jog figure of eights for one week. The turns of the figure eights refines their steering and keeps their minds busy.

8. The group transitions to a larger field where they canter figure of eights for seven days.

Yearlings jog in figure eights

9. The yearlings are ready to head to the racetrack itself and the entire process has taken 5 weeks. They will get used to the racetrack and its rules.

Many of the yearlings will be backed and then turned out for a several weeks, sometimes longer for a late maturing individual. The following year they will pick back up these early lessons quickly and get on with the job of being a racehorse.

All racehorses are taught to turn toward the center of the track and stand calmly. This signifies the end of training for the day. Never heading to the barn at speed prevents bolting for home mid-work.

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11 Things You Might Now Know About Thoroughbreds

1. Every thoroughbred foal is DNA tested to confirm his or her parentage. Hair is pulled from the tail and sent to a laboratory in California.

2. Pregnant and non-pregnant mares do not share paddocks. Care is different for pregnant and barren mares and separation makes this easier.

3. On an ultrasound machine used to check for pregnancy, a vet cannot hear the foal’s heartbeat. However, you can see it pumping at 28 days.

4. Teaser stallions are bred to nurse mares.

5. Horses are not typically named until they are about to be raced. Foals are referred to by their dam’s name and year of birth until then.

6. The Blue Grass Region is prime real estate for horses because of the high calcium levels in the soil. However, grazing fields are not 100% bluegrass, but actually a mixture of many grasses including rye grass and orchard grass.

7. Once a mare is retired from the racetrack and joins the Broodmare Band, she is no longer ridden. However, some farms have their stallions ridden to keep fitness levels high.

8. Horsehair bleaches in sunlight and horses can get sunburnt. When a horse is being prepared for a sale, they are turned out at night and brought up during the day to make sure they look their best at the sale.

9. Male horses have canine teeth while female horses do not.

10. Horse teeth never stop growing. Chewing naturally grinds down the teeth and dental maintenance is necessary for all horses.

11. The majority of foals are born at night.

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The foundation of successful preparation of sales yearlings is established when a mating is chosen and must be followed by proper care and nutrition during pregnancy and parturition, and subsequent good management of the foal. This base of best of practice care should (hopefully!) bring us to June of the yearling year with a crop of sound, well grown, athletic individuals. Yearling Sale Preparation refers to the three months preceding the sale and our aim is to prepare the yearling, physically and mentally, for shipping to the sale grounds and being shown to prospective purchasers for approximately three days before they are sold at auction.

Sales preparation is not intended to bring the yearling to peak fitness but rather offers potential purchasers a more obvious impression of what the horse will be like as an adult. Tailoring preparation to the individual horse is key, just as with training at later stages of life.

We offer approximately 60 yearlings at public auction each year, the majority at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. We were very proud to be the leading breeders by gross yearling sales in 2014 with our 52 yearlings bringing a total of $7,730,000! We are currently in the midst of the 2015 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and topped session 2 of Book One with a $1,525,000 colt by Distorted Humor, who went through the ring as Hip 277.

Every time a foal is handled from birth is an educational opportunity, over the Winter and Spring they have been introduced to bits in their mouths and the colts have been separated from each other into adjacent individual paddock, the fillies will remain in small groups. Overseen by our Yearling Farm Manager at our 600-acre facility in Versailles, Kentucky, yearling sale preparation begins in earnest in June and focuses on four areas:

Nutrition

Feeding the yearling is an art and close monitoring of each individual is the key. Due to the low stocking density on our Kentucky bluegrass pasture much of the nutrition is received whilst grazing, the remainder comes from 14% sweet feed and good quality hay. It is key to supply youngstock with the nutrients and calories essential for development but the overweight yearling must be avoided, overfeeding can cause issues such as OCD’s and epiphysitis. Great nutrition is our focus from before a foal is even born but once exercise begins calories are increased accordingly and oil is added, the high fat content helping produce a good coat. Our Yearling Farm Manager closely monitors progress visually and tweaks the feed accordingly.

Exercise

It is important that yearlings spend a significant portion of their time turned out but to supplement this exercise we use a mechanical horse walker. The walker is hexagonal in shape; mesh gates suspended from the roof create six separate areas and the entire area is enclosed with a high fence. Each yearling is loose in its own area and jogs around to keep pace with the gates. The mechanical walker allows us to adjust speed, travel clockwise and counter-clockwise and exercise six yearlings simultaneously. We customize the intensity and duration depending on the individual’s needs.

We want horse to look at its best for the sale, but not at the expense of future athletic ability. We are extremely careful not to overstress immature ligaments, tendons, joints or muscles with too vigorous of an exercise regime. We exercise only to ensure our yearlings are fit enough to show at the sales grounds without tiring.

Grooming

Our turn out schedule becomes 7:00 pm to 7:00am; this avoids the bleaching effect of the sun on the coat. Our yearlings are groomed daily, this helps with a glossy coat but is also an ongoing educational opportunity for these youngsters. Each yearling is groomed for approximately 45 minutes every day.

Showing

Our foals are used to being led by a handler from birth but we put a lot of effort into ensuring they behave professionally at the sale. At the sale they are expected to purposefully walk away from a prospective buyer, make a good, smooth right-hand turn and return on the same track. They then stand in standard conformational pose in front of the buyer (left side facing buyer, right front hoof slightly behind left, right hind hoof slightly in front of left). Practicing walking, turning and standing at home is key – there are a lot of distractions at the sale, some buyers will look very quickly, others for much longer – the yearling must be happy to take all this in his stride.

Our yearlings will remain barefoot until final shoeing a week before the sale. We then wrap their legs and load them onto the trailer for the short journey to the Keeneland sales grounds hoping that all the preparation leads to a good sale and a great racing career for the new owner!

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Foal Farrier

Shortly after birth, a foal will make its first attempts to stand and, before long, succeeds. While starting off a little wobbly, that same foal will be running next to mom in a paddock in no time. Still very small and developing, the hooves are the foundation of a well-built horse and it is important to care for them.

The first six months are an important time for a foal’s hooves. At two weeks of age the foal will meet the farrier for the first time. The foal has been familiarized with human contact since birth and is used to having his hooves handled by a groom. A hoof pick, wire brush and rasp are the only tools necessary when addressing a foal’s hooves.

Our farrier examines each hoof and how the shape of the hoof is affecting the entire limb. During this first examination the foal is stood on a solid, level surface. While standing the farrier views the foal from the front and from the side. By drawing an imaginary line from the elbow down to the toe, one is able see how straight the legs are. The foal is also observed at the walk to assess how evenly each hoof touches the ground.

Proper alignment of the limbs is important for a consistently sound racehorse. If any abnormalities are detected, the farrier and Broodmare Farm Manager will decide if the problem stems from the hoof or misalignment of the joints in the limb.

Conformational issues of the foot include “Toeing In”, where the toe of the hoof points inwards, “Toeing Out”, where the toe of the hoof points outwards, and a “club foot”, where a flexural deformity of the coffin joint causes a raised heel, or upright angle to the hoof.

During the walk, the farrier and Broodmare Farm Manager are looking to see if the horse is placing each hoof on the ground evenly. When a horse walks, each hoof hits the ground at a different time, but at this slow speed, the entire hoof should hit the ground all at once. In some cases, a hoof may be hitting on the outside or inside wall first before the rest of the hoof makes contact due to a misalignment.

Farrier visits are especially effective in the first 6 months of a foal’s life. During this time, the hoof and bones are growing rapidly. Because a foal’s hoof is very small, picking out is quick and a rasp is used to file, or shape, the hoof. If no abnormalities are found, the hoof will be trimmed evenly and level. Trimming at an angle is a technique used to correct any conformational issues. For example, if a horse is “Toeing Out”, the impact side of the hoof (the inside wall) would be trimmed lower than the outside wall making the hoof come in contact with the ground evenly, correcting the misalignment.

Until a foal is 90 days old, the farrier will continue to visit a foal every two weeks. As the foot grows and matures over the firsts year of life, farrier visits will reduce to once a month. By trimming frequently in these early stages, a farrier is able to correct or minimize misalignment issues from the beginning, giving every foal the opportunity to start out on the right foot.

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The Weaning Process

Driving the scenic roads of the Bluegrass Region, thoroughbred horse farms flank both sides. With field upon field housing the mainstay of Kentucky’s breeding operations, you start to notice a disparity between the number of mares and foals; the weaning process has begun.

Weaning is the separation of a foal from its dam, which can be a very stressful process if not navigated correctly. As with all mammals, it is natural and necessary for a foal and mare to separate. Deciding when to wean a foal depends on the temperament and health of the mare and foal, but generally takes place when the foal is between four and six months old.

There are many methods for weaning a foal, including abrupt and gradual separation. Abrupt separation is completed by removing all the mares from a herd, leaving just weanlings. Alternately, two or more mares are removed from the herd at a time leaving a few mares to act as nannies to all foals. This latter approach, referred to as interval weaning, is less stressful for both the mare and the foal.

Gradual separation is started by separating a mare and foal for minutes at a time and then moving up to the eventual permanent separation with the idea the foal will become more and more accustomed to being without their dam. With either weaning method, it is important to have the mare ultimately removed from the foal’s surroundings completely so that they will not be able to smell or hear each other.

To reduce stress, it is always important to separate a mare and foal for the first time in a familiar environment, such as their stall or field. At weaning age, foals are familiar with the routine of turn out and the majority share a large field with other mares and foals of the same age making up their herd.

Preparation is key: It is important to have the foal familiar with the feed they will receive after they are weaned when nursing will not be an option. Every foal has a unique personality and therefore a unique response to weaning. While some foals may continue on with no reaction, others may be anxious and pace in their stall or field. Weaning is completed in the mornings on a preferably cooler day to reduce stress.

At Stonestreet, two to four foals are weaned at a time so that there will not be a single foal or mare alone in the weaning experience. The mare and foal are led from their stall and out of the barn like they do regularly for morning turn out, but the foal is led to the field while the mare is led to an awaiting trailer.

The mare is taken to one of our other farms where she will live until returning for the next breeding season. The new “weanling”, a term used to describe a foal under one year of age that has been weaned, will continue with their regular routine.

Mares have unique personalities and this is taken into account when deciding which mares will be removed last from the herd. Mares with calm, even temperaments are best left with the herd until last, as they will take on a “nanny” mare role. These nanny mares help guide the weanlings as they are used to following their dam’s lead throughout the day. They also aid in reducing stress during the one to three week period where a weanling will miss their dam.

It is important to take the stress level of weaning seriously because of stress’ effect on a foal’s immune system. At this age, the immune system is still developing and will continue to do so until they are over a year old. Extreme stress weakens the immune system leaving a foal susceptible to illness.

Eventually each foal will be weaned and settled into their new life. Turn out will be a time with friends to play and enjoy to the fresh air. As these young horses test the parameters of their new freedom, by maybe hanging out in the farthest stretch of their paddock at feed time instead of making their way to the gate for the handlers like mom used to do, they learn and mature. Before they know it, they will be yearlings and on to a whole new adventure.

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A Breath of Fresh Air: Soil Aeration

At Stonestreet our horses spend most of their time in fields and paddocks, enjoying the fresh air. This time outside is important for fitness as well as nutrition. The time spent grazing is essential to the health of every horse on the farm and making sure that they are receiving the best grass possible begins with aeration.

Aeration describes the use of a tool to puncture the ground. The small holes created allow oxygen and water to permeate further into the soil, reaching the roots of the grass. Aeration also breaks up any compacted ground that prevents sufficient root growth. Deeper roots mean stronger grass.

You may have an aerator for your yard at home that has rotating disks with small teeth that pierce the ground. With just over 1800 acres of fields and paddocks in Kentucky, we use a specially designed pull behind aerator. The aerator is pulled by a tractor and has a width of 10 feet. Rotating spikes between 6 and nine inches long called “tines” are pressed into the soil by the weight of the aerator and can pierce as deep as 8 inches into the ground.

Aeration is performed three times each year: in early spring before the first mowing, mid summer, and early fall. It is important that the ground is soft enough for the tines to break the ground. If the ground is frozen or there has been little rain and is too hard, the tines can break. As the tractor pulls the aerator through a field, the operator will monitor frequently during and after each pass to check for broken or weak tines.

With 10-foot wide aerators, two tractors work large fields in a pair while a single tractor aerates the smaller paddocks. The tines enter straight into the ground so that the grass roots can access water and oxygen, but are not destroyed. The three tractors go from farm to farm and have every inch of grass aerated at a rate of one farm per week.

For their safety, horses are kept inside when aeration is being performed on their paddocks and fields. The farm is completed in sections so that each horse can return to turn out as quickly as possible. The slits created by the aerator are very small and the ground remains even meaning there is no effect on the horses’ ability to walk and run safely once they return to their fields. ­­

Without aeration, grass will not receive the optimal amount of oxygen and water and ultimately does not grow as strong and tall. Aeration offers a chemical-free, effective solution that causes no harm to grazing horses while providing them optimal nutrition.

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Race Tack

Standing on the rail at any racetrack paddock will give you a view of horses preparing for their race. Walking into the paddock, the horse will be wearing only a bridle. In the saddling area, which can either be in a designated walking area or in a stall, the valet arrives with the tack which is then fastened to the horse. Once the tack is in place, its riders up and on to the track.

Tack is the equipment used to ride a horse and comprises of the saddle and bridle with their components. Every rider, whether they are heading out for morning works or to the paddock for race day, tacks up.

The components of TACK:

Bridle: the headgear used to control a horses movement and direction through the use of a bit and reins

Bit: a mouthpiece that is most commonly made of metal, but can be made of other materials including rubber and plastic (There are several hundred varieties of bits)

Martingale or Yoke: leather strip that connects to the reins and girth that gives the rider control over the height of a horse’s head

Reins: Long straps that attach to the bit and thread through the martingale rings. The rider holds the reins tin their hands to guide the horse.

Headpiece: a component of the bridle that is made of leather and goes across the head to secure the bridle

Noseband: a component of the bridle that is made of leather and goes across the nose to secure the bridle

Saddle: a seat that is fastened to the back of a horse on which a rider sits

Girth: a wide strap that goes across the horses barrel and keeps the saddle in place by attaching to both sides

Irons: metal pieces attached to the saddle using leather strips that a rider puts their feet in

Leathers: the leather strips that attach the irons to the saddle

Saddle Pad: a foam pad that sits between a horse’s back and the saddle to provide comfort to rider and horse a

There are many different materials used for tack, but leather is the most common. In a training operation, each rider is responsible for their own tack. To extend the life of tack, cleaning and conditioning is carried out daily.

A “tack room” is a small room located in most barns that houses the tack allowing each rider to organize and care for their tack. Tack rooms also store cleaning supplies and specialized or spare tack.

It is important that each piece of tack is fastened correctly for the safety of rider and horse. For example, a girth that is not tight enough could mean the saddle slipping while a rider is up. Tack is universal across all horse disciplines, but has some variation. With several different types of martingales, several hundred bits, and even more bridle combinations, the perfect tack combination can be made for any horse.

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Foal Vaccinations

It is hard to believe that it has been five months since the arrival of our first foal! During the first 90 days of a foal’s life, the colostrum received when nursing provides protection. As we learned in a previous blog, antibodies are transferred from the dam via the colostrum and offer immunity from disease, but what happens when this protection begins to dissipate?

Once he or she is 90 days of age, a foal will receive their first vaccinations. Providing protection from many illnesses, vaccinations are the best way to ensure that a foal builds a strong, long lasting immune system.

A core group of four vaccinations are recommended by veterinarians for foals; Tetanus, Eastern/Western Equine Encephalitis, West Nile Virus, and Rabies.

Tetanus is a bacterial infection. It is caused by a bacterium found in soil and enters the body through cuts or wounds creating a toxin, which attacks the nerves controlling the muscles.

Eastern/Western Equine Encephalitis (EEE/WEE) is a disease that is transferred via mosquitos or ticks and attacks the central nervous system.

West Nile Virus (WNV) is also transferred via mosquitos or ticks and causes encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) in horses.

Rabies is a disease that also attacks the central nervous system and is transferred by either a scratch or bite from an animal infected with rabies.

Beyond this core group are vaccinations including Botulism, Influenza, Rotavirus, and Rhinopneumonitis.

Botulism is a neurological disease caused by a bacterium found in soil

Influenza, or the flu, is a spreadable virus that causes fever, coughing, and loss of appetite, a familiar feeling if you have had the flu before.

Rotavirus is a virus that attacks the digestive track causing maldigestion, malabsorption, and diarrhea.

Rhinopneumonitis affects the mucosa of the nasal cavities creating inflammation.

Foals will receive a series of vaccinations throughout their first year of life. Administering vaccinations on a schedule is important to make sure they are effective.

This is the schedule followed at Stonestreet. Some of these vaccinations are required because of our geographic location and diseases prevalent in our area.

Vaccinations are administered by intramuscular (IM) injection. The needle is inserted into the large mass muscle at the base of the neck. Just like humans, foals may not enjoy the feeling of vaccinations being administered so no more than two are given at once. Afterwards, they are rubbed on the spot to relieve any discomfort.

Many of the vaccinations are a series, meaning they receive once a month shots of a single vaccination for a certain period of time. These include Tetanus, Rhino, Botulism, EEE/WEE, and WNV. Other vaccinations are administered once only including Rabies. Geographic location based vaccinations like Botulism may be administered annually for the rest of their lives.

While viruses can be scary, vaccinations are a simple preventative measure and mean a safe horse and peace of mind.

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Breezing Two-Year-Olds

The fastest workout a horse will accomplish prior to race day is a “breeze”, when a horse will travel approximately 1 furlong in 12 seconds. It is the final step for the two-year-olds at Stonestreet Training Centerbefore they move to various trainers at the racetrack. As we learned in the blog “Race Track Training”, breezing is used to maintain and assess the fitness of all racehorses.

There are various lessons learned before a breeze. Style is prioritized over speed while these babies are still learning. When yearlings first arrive at the training center in September or October, they begin the education process called “breaking”. Cardiovascular fitness, musculature and bone building is achieved through exercise under tack and with regular paddock turn out.

Once the two-year-olds have learned the basics of being ridden and are comfortable galloping in a paddock, the next step is the jogging ring. The jogging ring is a small circular track where all horses jog to warm up before they head to the track. This is an opportunity for the Training Center Manger to assess each horse before a gallop or breeze. Once the two-year-olds are comfortable and confident in the jogging ring they move to the track for the first time. Several weeks of galloping on the track follow, fitness continues to increase until the two-year-olds are traveling 1 to 1 1/4 miles. The two-minute-lick is next before moving on to an actual breeze.

When breezing begins, the purpose is education. Unlike horses on the track, two-year-old works at our Training Center are not published. Traveling easy quarter miles in 13 or 14 seconds, the two-year-olds breeze in company. The first breezes are meant to get them into the bit and to teach switching leads at the turn, a maneuver needed on race day. “Into the bit” refers to the horse’s willingness to move forward under their own power with a steady, relaxed contact with the rider’s hands via the reins. Switching leads refers to altering which set of legs advances forward to the greatest extent when a horse is galloping. Switching leads can be crucial at the end of a race; switching the lead from left leg to right can give a horse a burst of renewed energy in the stretch run. This early education will allow a horse to relax on the track and enjoy their work. Two-year-olds will breeze alone for their final couple of breezes before they graduate from our training program.

Two key aspects a trainer must take note of during the process leading up to a breeze and when breezing begins are the mental and physical states of each individual horse. A horse that is physically strong with good conformation may not mentally enjoy breezing. Alternatively, a horse that looks forward to going to the track may not be able to withstand the physical pressure.

When a horse is compromised in either capacity, they will not be their best on the track. In these cases, the road to breezing is taken at a slower pace. This will reduce the impact of any physical problems as well as ensure the two-year-old maintains a happy attitude about training. By paying attention to the horse, a trainer will see signs of physical or mental stress.

When a two-year-old graduates from our training program, they will be familiar with many aspects of training. New experiences await them as they move on to their racetrack trainer with busier tracks and new routines, but they are prepared for their first recorded breeze with a solid base of fitness and a relaxed mind.