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1.) In your opinion, is there a problem with overpopulation in the equine world today?
2.) Do you believe that horses, specifically Thoroughbreds, are being overbred?
3.) At what age do you believe it is responsible to be training a young horse under saddle?
4.) Would you ever purchase a horse with known soundness issues (short or long term) that have resulted from injury? If so, please provide a brief description of the circumstances you would consider this and the intended purpose of the animal.
5.) Do you personally know or work with any successful off-the-track thoroughbreds? If so, please elaborate.
THANK YOU! This is for a college research paper I am doing on the growing population of unwanted off-the-track thoroughbreds. 
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3.) At what age do you believe it is responsible to be training a young horse under saddle?
I believe that the proper time to start LIGHT training is 2 to (preferably) 3 years old. I do not believe that 2 and 3 year old Thoroughbreds should be racing at such a young age because there bones are not developed enough to handle that much stress on them. As far as showing, if its a light sport (like in-hand, english/western pleasure classes) its okay to start showing at 4. But if its a high-impact sport (like cross country, showing jumping, racing, and endurance) they should wait until 5 years old until going under a full showing regiment.
4.) Would you ever purchase a horse with known soundness issues (short or long term) that have resulted from injury? If so, please provide a brief description of the circumstances you would consider this and the intended purpose of the animal.
I would consider a horse with long term soundness issues if I was rescueing it from a bad situation or using it for breeding (as long as its condition is not genetic). I would consider a horse with short term soundess issues if it was going to recover in a certain amount of time and be able to do light work.
5.) Do you personally know or work with any successful off-the-track thoroughbreds? If so, please elaborate. The hunter jumper barn I used to go to had many retired race horses. Although some were high strung, many were very successfull showing horses. I've never worked closely with any of them but I would definetly consider an off-the-track race horse. ~Rachel
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Average Member
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1.) In your opinion, is there a problem with overpopulation in the equine world today? Ooohhh yes. Backyard breeding. Take a look! That are oodles of bad-confoed horses out there. Results of carless breeding by inexperienced individuals.
2.) Do you believe that horses, specifically Thoroughbreds, are being overbred?
Hmm.. No, I'd say more like QHs. But I do think that TBs are a bit overrated. They might be great horses and all, but yikes. O.o What's that horse? Oh, TB. What't that one? QH. Every single freakin horse I see is a dag-nabbin QH. I have one myself! But they just are way too overbred. At least breed nice ones, please. Not tiny-footed monsters.
3.) At what age do you believe it is responsible to be training a young horse under saddle?
This is such a complicated answer for me. See, every horse matures at different speeds, ages, etc. I think 3 is a bit young personally. I think 5 is a good age. Starting the horse (meaning ground work, maybe short walks around mounted by a light person) at 3 shouldn't be to much of a problem, but these scientists keep coming up with all these wacky numbers so it's impossible to remember what the official answer is. Probably because there is not one.
4.) Would you ever purchase a horse with known soundness issues (short or long term) that have resulted from injury? If so, please provide a brief description of the circumstances you would consider this and the intended purpose of the animal.
Well, if I wanted a pasture ornament, sure. If I was going to be riding her in the mountains and she'd foundered or had authoritis, no! But alas it depends on what they have an how bad they have it and what you are going to be doing with them. So I guess that's my answer: It depends. For me, vices are a big thing. Like cribbing. Because most of the time it can lead to worse stuff: like colic.
5.) Do you personally know or work with any successful off-the-track thoroughbreds? If so, please elaborate. Off the track TBs? No. Not personally. I've heard many people's stories of how well they love them.. So obviously there's a trick to it.
THANK YOU! This is for a college research paper I am doing on the growing population of unwanted off-the-track thoroughbreds. Interesting! |
    
I'm a violent person. 
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1.) In your opinion, is there a problem with overpopulation in the equine world today?
Yes. I think that we need to stop backyard breeding and re-open the slaughterhouses in the U.S.
2.) Do you believe that horses, specifically Thoroughbreds, are being overbred?
Overbreeding isn't a big concern to me. Inbreeding is, however. You would be surprised how many QH's are bred half-sister to half-brother or father to daughter. However I do congratulate the Jockey Club in only allowing live cover breeding. I don't think semen infertilization is a bad thing, but it is much easier to inbreed that way.
3.) At what age do you believe it is responsible to be training a young horse under saddle?
When a vet has cleared the horse's body mature enough to start riding, and when he is mentally mature enough to start being ridden.
4.) Would you ever purchase a horse with known soundness issues (short or long term) that have resulted from injury? If so, please provide a brief description of the circumstances you would consider this and the intended purpose of the animal.
I don't know if I would, but I certainly don't think it's a bad idea, under some circumstances. Some horses who can't be ridden hard are great therapuetic riding horses, for instance. And a horse who can't be ridden at all can be a great pasture buddy for a competition horse.
5.) Do you personally know or work with any successful off-the-track thoroughbreds? If so, please elaborate.
I own one! I'm not sure what you mean by "successful" though, in the show ring or just successful as a general riding horse? My horse is both. He does Hunters, Dressage, Western Pleasure, trails, and has worked cattle before. Even though he is an OTTB, he is very calm. I have crawled under him and ridden him bridless before (though I don't think it's smart to do those things with any horse-but that's a different topic). The Thoroughbred is just another breed. You get some hot ones, you get some calm ones. I think that with the right handler, 99.9% of OTTB's can go on to succeed at another sport later in life.
Like a horse in open country, they did not stumble. ~Isaiah 63:13
But ask the animals, and they will teach you ~Job 12:7a
"You don't throw a whole life away, just 'cause it's beat up a little" ~ Tom Smith, Seabiscuit's trainer
Please join the Thoroughbred Owners and Enthusiasts Club if you love Thoroughbreds! www.thoroughbredtalk.webs.com
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1.) In your opinion, is there a problem with overpopulation in the equine world today? Yes, I believe there is.You have no idea how many people come to our stables asking if anyone is looking for a young horse to train.
2.) Do you believe that horses, specifically Thoroughbreds, are being overbred?Not around here, but other places I think there are.Around here, we have lots of Quarter Horses that are advirtised as grulla or buckskin and you go to look at them and they're really bays or chesnuts or something.
3.) At what age do you believe it is responsible to be training a young horse under saddle? 2.5-3 yrs old.
4.) Would you ever purchase a horse with known soundness issues (short or long term) that have resulted from injury? If so, please provide a brief description of the circumstances you would consider this and the intended purpose of the animal.Yes, I would.If I saw a horse that had ripped a tendon but would be ok after 2 months off of whatever, I would definatly purchase it.If it has a more major issue, then I would have to take alot more time to think bout it.I guess it really depends what the injury is.
5.) Do you personally know or work with any successful off-the-track thoroughbreds? If so, please elaborate. Yeah, my friend has a ottb that excels in western pleasure and english pleasure. He is an awesome horse and we might train him for over jumps.
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1.) In your opinion, is there a problem with overpopulation in the equine world today? Yes, for sure. but not quality horses, bad horses that nobody wants.
2.) Do you believe that horses, specifically Thoroughbreds, are being overbred? the overbreeding of track TBs, does not upset me as much as back yard owners breeding everything they think is kuuute and purdy. I think as long as the TBs have a retirement its ok, not my first choice to be breeding all of them,but ok
3.) At what age do you believe it is responsible to be training a young horse under saddle? maybe sitting on the horse at late 3, but really just groundwork. start riding at 4 lightly. then start really training at 5, jumping at 6.
4.) Would you ever purchase a horse with known soundness issues (short or long term) that have resulted from injury? If so, please provide a brief description of the circumstances you would consider this and the intended purpose of the animal. it would have to be a situation where i knew the horse. like if someone offered me my pony from x amount of years ago, i would probably take him just because i know the horse and it would be fun to have them back in the barn despite riding.
5.) Do you personally know or work with any successful off-the-track thoroughbreds? If so, please elaborate. yes, i know quite a few OTTBs, all doing well. some do trail, the others i know do dressage. all very talented. my friend used to rescue them from the auction, train them to be reliable trail horses, and sell them. i think they are good horses overall.
Proud to be owned by a thoroughbred.
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Thank you all very much! I really appreciate your time filling out these responses. :)
For anyone who hasn't taken the survey yet, I still need more responses! So if you have a little free time and want to help me out, please give me your opinions. 
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1.) In your opinion, is there a problem with overpopulation in the equine world today?
Yes, I believe there is. Sadly, I also believe there is a shortage of quality, well-bred horses; however, there is definitely an overpopulation of 'backyard breeding' type horses.
2.) Do you believe that horses, specifically Thoroughbreds, are being overbred?
I don't spend much time around Thoroughbred, it's mostly Quarter Horses and Paints in my area, but yes, I believe that horses, including Thoroughbreds are being overbred. It's worse in some areas, but overall, yes.
3.) At what age do you believe it is responsible to be training a young horse under saddle?
I believe that a horse can be started as a late three year old or four year old. Jumping, speed events, and other activities that are hard on the horse shouldn't be done until the horse is older.
4.) Would you ever purchase a horse with known soundness issues (short or long term) that have resulted from injury? If so, please provide a brief description of the circumstances you would consider this and the intended purpose of the animal.
Yes, depending on the situation. If I wanted the horse for breeding purposes then I would as long as genetics didn't contribute to the injury and pregnancy wouldn't be too much stress for the horse, taking the injury into account. That is, of course, assuming the horse was worth breeding. Also, if the horse would eventually recover from the injury then I may also consider the horse depending on the cost of both the horse and any extra vet attention required, what my current schedule was and what kind of schedule the horse would need, and what I intended to use the horse for and how likely a re-injury was.
5.) Do you personally know or work with any successful off-the-track thoroughbreds? If so, please elaborate.
At a barn I used to board at, a lady had a very nice off-the-track Thoroughbred. Her husband was a retired race horse trainer and back when he used to train one of the horses he trained was injured and the owner was desperate to get rid of him. She loved the horse's temperament and thought that with time, treatment, and training he could make a very nice dressage horse. I'm not sure how they did in competition, but they were beautiful to watch and as long as she didn't push him, he stayed sound. He was a very sweet horse. |
"My treasures do not clink together or glitter; They gleam in the sun and neigh in the night."
-Arabian Proverb-
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| 1.) I do think there is an overpopulation problem. 2.) Throughbreds and Quarter Horses are definitely being overbred. Randon, un-experienced horse trainer wannabes think that they can just breed and get some foals then race them. 3.) I think each horse is different, so at the age when they are almost or mostly matured that they can start training. 4.) Personally, it depended how much I liked the horse. When I got my OTTB, she had a negative palmer, so she went lame some times. Now she's 15 and the vet said that she might only last another year Then, I had a jmper with a bad stifle, but I still kept her. I would buy a horse with soundness issues. 5.) I trained and owned my 1st horse, an OTTB, even though I was only 8! She was a champion hunter but with her bad feet, she can't go faster than a walk anymore
Canny11 A horse is worth more than riches.
Spanish Proverb
There is no secret so close as that between a rider and his horse
Robert Smith Surtees
To be loved by a horse, or by any animal, should fill us with awe-
for we have not deserved it.
Marion Garretty My heart galloped through the skies that night. Spirit:Stallion of the Cimarron Stop Horse Abuse!
 
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| 1.) In your opinion, is there a problem with overpopulation in the equine world today? Yes there is, like many other people posted, backyard breeding is a big issue. eventually this horses turn into unwanted horses since they cant sell for much, bad comfo etc.Now the people whom breed horses are rather careless and breed with the idea that there will be a profit out of that horse. it's sad to know that eventually they cannot handle it, breeding gets out of control and as a result neglect happens. My opinion, let horse breeding to real horse breeders who actually know wat they are doing.
2.) Do you believe that horses, specifically Thoroughbreds, are being overbred? yes, and as a cause, breeders have been focusing on speed, making these horses more frail, there's been a research made wich proved that TB's bone strenght had decreased, meaning that this animals were lighter, and more faster, yet their bone structure could brake more easier than that of a normal horse. Also Tb's tend to have more hoof problems due to the fact that breeders focus on faster animals and sometimes keep on breeding fast animals even if they know that the animal has problems and chances are he will pass them on.
The Tb industry has lots of babies on trial, for the first 2 years, they race them and only keep the best scoring horses of the bunch. the rest are taken to the horse market and as their final destination the slaughter house. as they say. time is money $$$ Many young horses are forced to race at such an early age, and theres a study made in mexico. over an 87% of the 3 year olds that where studied had knee injuries, and their tendons where under lots of stress. due to being forced to run before being 24 mnths old. even tough the horses looked fine, eventually they would develope some kind of disorder or illness. The flee gallop, as some people call it, puts lots of stress in tendons, especially in front legs and articulations. 3.) At what age do you believe it is responsible to be training a young horse under saddle? I forgot the name of the bones. but theres some bones in the knee that have space inbetween them, eventually as foals grow, these bones start to closen up and compact together. this happens during the first 24 months of the foal, or could even take longer. it is really bad to ride the foals while these bones havnt developed completely, since it damages it. i would recommend starting to preppare him for the rider, such as using long reins, presenting saddle etc. at the age of 2 and a half. and riding the horse at the age of 3 yrs of age. some horses take longer to mature, some horses mature early. it depends.
4.) Would you ever purchase a horse with known soundness issues (short or long term) that have resulted from injury? If so, please provide a brief description of the circumstances you would consider this and the intended purpose of the animal. if its a short term illness, that i know that can be cured, and that the horse will be fine with time, then yed, i'd buy it. but if its otherwise, chances are i wont. its also depending on how much their asking for it. I wouldnt pay heaps for an unsound horse. taking care of this animals might even turn out to be very expensive. since the vet will have to visit often at some point, or having to buy medicines and so on. it sounds heartless but lets be realistic.
5.) Do you personally know or work with any successful off-the-track thoroughbreds? If so, please elaborate.
I infact, own 2 OTTBs, they were a good example of racing abuse, bad trainning and neglect. We felt bad for them and bought them. Ottbs have very hard mouths, they like to run, and well you have to start all over again and retrain them. but other than that their brave smart horses with a big heart, and their just like any other horse but theres a catch. chanses are this horses might develope some kind of unsoundness in the future due to the trainning they had prior to being sold. so be prepared. thats in some casess, not all the times happens. one of my rescued mares, she was underweight, had a horrible cut on her hind leg. tough she is a happy horse now. and we love her.
Seize the Day... Never Trust Tomorow Proud owner of My beloved KWPN mare: Zunique aka Zuni
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