In this lovely work titled “Priam,” John Frederick Herring gives us a good idea of the old-fashioned galloping ­position used until the late 1890s. It depicts an upright body and straight legs, with the riders’ weight seated firmly in the saddle. If you Photoshopped an air vest and number onto these riders, it would be an unfortunate but ­accurate representation of the galloping position I see at events.

The normal Preliminary cross-country course has ­approximately 25 jumping efforts. At the same time, your horse will take well over 600 strides at the gallop while completing a two-mile Prelim course. Since you will spend far more time galloping than you will jumping, it follows that you need to study the galloping position. If your position is weak or inefficient, it will have a substantial ­effect on your horse’s performance. Fortunately, there is now scientific research to help you determine the correct galloping position.

In the August 2009 issue of Science, researchers from the Structure and Motion Laboratory at England’s Royal ­Veterinary College, in partnership with the British Racing School at Newmarket, published a study on the effects of ­human posture on racehorse performance (“Modern Riding Style ­Improves Horse Racing Times” by Dr. Thilo Pfau, PhD, and others, Science 325, 289). The study proved what horsemen have ­believed for over a century—that the ­position ­modern jockeys use is the most efficient galloping position.

American jockey Willie Simms first used this coiled, crouching position in England in 1895, but it was his fellow American James F. “Tod” Sloan who ­popularized the new position. Sloan’s ­success rate during this period (in 1898 he won an astounding 46 percent of his races) forced the rest of that era’s jockeys to abandon their traditional long stirrups and upright position. This new position led to the greatest incremental change in racehorse times ever recorded: In the decade between 1895 and 1905, average racehorse times improved between 5 and 7 percent. (Since then, times have only ­improved 1 percent.)

A Revolution in Riding
The 1895–1905 decade must have been an exciting time to be a horseman, considering that Federico Caprilli was inventing the “forward seat” during the same period. Caprilli had as transformative an effect on jumping as Simms and Sloan had on galloping. The obvious connection between the two revolutionary positions is that both place the weight of the rider over the withers in a poised, elastic connection with the horse.

The RVC study analyzed the workload on galloping horses, first using sandbags and riders seated upright on the horses and then using jockeys crouched over the withers in their typical galloping positions. The study concluded that when sandbags or upright riders were in the saddles, the metabolic and mechanical costs to the horses were proportionate to the loads carried on their backs. However, when jockeys crouched over the withers, the metabolic and mechanical loads were reduced. In effect, when riders use a poised position, horses have only to carry the riders’ weight, but they are not burdened by having to accelerate the riders’ weight during each stride. (As an aside, this study probably answers the long-running argument among horsemen about “live weight versus dead weight.” It looks to me as if the live-weight supporters win.)

One important finding of the study is that each time horses take a galloping stride, there is a vertical displacement of their withers as well as the horizontal reach of their legs. This means that if riders stand straight-legged, each stride horses take must push the weight of the riders up, as well as carry the riders’ weight forward. In effect, a straight-legged rider is driving his weight straight down into his horse’s withers, while a ­rider who gallops with a bent knee “floats” over his horse.

A coauthor of the study, Alan ­Wilson, noted that by floating above their horses, jockeys save energy that would otherwise be used to push the weight of the ­riders up during each stride. Wilson says that efficient jockeys “don’t follow the ­movement of the horse, but stay ­relatively stationary.” Wilson continues, “If he pushes at the right time, it looks as if they (sic) can drive a horse much like a child propels a swing.” He goes on to note that ­because the rider is using his legs as pistons or shock absorbers, “This is hard work.” Jockeys’ heart rates recorded during races have reached 190 beats per minute.

The RVC study referenced an interesting analogous human study done by Lawrence Rome of the University of Pennsylvania. Rome experimented with backpack design and established that suspending a backpack on bungee cords within a frame caused the weight of the backpack to move less in relation to the carrying human’s movement, with a corresponding lessening of the workload.

For centuries, managing the careers of Thoroughbred racehorses has been more art than science. Now, however, trainers can use a genetic test to determine the optimum racing distance for an individual horse based on a variation of a specific muscle-growth gene.

“The test identifies which version of the myostatin gene [MSTN] a particular horse has,” explains Emmeline Hill, PhD, a genetics researcher at University College Dublin in Ireland and co-founder of the company Equinome. Myostatin is a protein that regulates muscle growth and development. “You can think of DNA as being made up of the letters G, A, T and C. The various combinations of those letters spell out a horse’s unique genetic code,” says Hill. “In the myostatin gene, a single change from a C to a T can lead to dramatic differences in when and how a horse’s muscle mass develops.”

When Hill and other Equinome researchers sequenced the MSTN gene from 24 unrelated Thoroughbred racehorses, they identified a variable spelling of the letters within the gene---at one particular position it could either be “C” or “T.” Because one copy of the variant is inherited from the sire and one from the dam, an individual will be either C:C, C:T or T:T. By comparing the racing performances at different distances of 179 Group-race winning racehorses to individual MSTN genotypes, the researchers were able to identify relationships between genetics and success over various distances.

“We found that horses with two copies of the ‘C’ variant of the gene, which we call C:C, typically have greater muscle mass as 2-year-olds and excel in sprint races up to one mile in length,” says Hill. In contrast, horses with the T:T variant are best suited to races longer than one mile and generally do not perform optimally as 2-year-olds. “That doesn’t mean they won’t mature into great horses; it just means that they take longer to mature,” she says. The final MSTN variant identified by Equinome is C:T, a mixture of speed and stamina, equally likely to win at both shorter and longer distances.

Identifying the MSTN variation a particular horse carries can help guide key training and racing decisions, says Hill. “If you know a horse is a T:T, you might choose to minimize racing during his 2-year-old year to let him mature, then enter him in longer races as a mature horse to maximize his chance of success.” And because a horse’s MSTN variation is genetically inherited from both his parents, a breeder can match mares and stallions based on the desired outcome. “If you have a mare that is a C:T and you’d like to get a sprinter out of her, you’ll have the best chances of getting one if you match her with a stallion that is a C:C.”

Hill stresses that the test cannot predict which horses will be winners; instead it simply suggests which race distances best suit them: “You could enter a C:C horse in appropriate races only to find that he’s still slower than the rest of the field. The real benefit of this test is that it allows us to treat horses as individuals---to manage them as they need to be managed, not how we think they should be or how we’ve always done it in the past.”

A blood sample is needed for the gene test, which costs approximately $1,250. Equinome is continuing its research. “We are also working on tests for Standardbreds and investigating whether or not muscle variations influence the power and ability of show jumpers,” says Hill.

One piece of information you can find out right away is what year the horse was born by looking at his Thoroughbred tattoo letter. The tattoo is a letter followed by five numbers. (Thoroughbreds older than 25 years old may only have four numbers.) The letter corresponds to the horse's birth year. Here's a handy Thoroughbred tattoo letter age chart to help you figure out what year your Thoroughbred was born. The alphabet starts over every 27 years, so a horse with an "A" tattoo might have been born in 1971 or 1997.

To find out how to identify a Jockey Club-registered Thoroughbred, see the August 2011 issue of Practical Horseman magazine.

Photos ©Katherine O. Rizzo	PHOTO 1: A vest of correct length covers your spine from the bump at the base of your neck (where I’m pointing) down to your tailbone, while following the curves of your spine. If it’s too short, you risk exposing key areas. And if it’s too long, it will hit the back of your saddle while you ride, making you uncomfortable. Although my model is standing here, a vest is best measured or fitted with the rider seated in a chair or saddle. The back of the vest should clear the saddle or chair by about 11⁄2–2 inches. The front should extend about 2 inches past your last rib.
	PHOTO 2: A safety vest is ­designed to fit snugly. Before putting on the vest, loosen the side laces (or hook-and-loop tape in some designs). Then put it on so it rests comfortably on your shoulders. Zip or fasten the front of your vest, then gently pull down on the laces as I’m doing here (or close the hook-and-loop fasteners) until the vest is snug around your ribs. The sides of the vest should meet. If there is a gap between the sides, you need a larger size vest, because any openings expose your ribs to injury. For comfort and function, you should be able to fit the tips of your fingers under the bottom of the vest. Any more, and the vest is not snug enough or you may need a smaller size. Finally, after you have it fitting snugly, tie the laces and double knot them for added security.
	PHOTO 3: After your vest is zipped and laced, check the fit at your shoulders. You must be able to pull gently on the shoulder area on both sides at the same time without the entire vest moving upward. This way you know the vest is secure enough while allowing you the freedom to follow your horse’s motion.

John Nunn is the owner of Bit of Britain tack shop in Oxford, ­Pennsylvania, which caters to the needs of event riders and horses. www.bitofbritain.com.

This article first appeared in the May 2009 issue of Practical Horseman.

Secretariat and jockey Ron Turcotte enter post parade at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. en route to winning the 1973 Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown.

Photo by Bob Coglianese

The new movie "Secretariat" brought back all the memories and the wish that I'd saved a few dozen of the race programs. Wouldn't that have been an eBay bonus! I probably have just one, buried deep among the boxes in my cavernous attic (think of the anonymous crate into which they put the Arc of the Covenant in "Raiders of the Lost Ark" before wheeling the box into a vast warehouse where it vanished into the gloom.)

At the start of that special Saturday, I hung out with a few dozen other members of the media by the barn where Secretariat was stabled, happily aware of the great privilege my newly bestowed press pass imparted, though I wasn't too sure what to do with it.

My initial in-person glimpse of Secretariat was fulfillment. His presence was far more powerful than it had been on television, where I first made his acquaintance. You've read the adjectives; they all apply, from the striking color of his coat to his rippling musculature and look of confidence. He definitely knew who he was.

When the time arrived for the walk to the paddock, I became part of the parade, buoyed by the feeling--growing every minute--that something far beyond a mere horse race was about to happen. There was just one question hanging over the proceedings: Could Secretariat win the prize that had eluded every great horse since Citation swept the crown in 1948?

I wore a distinctive black and white dress with big polka dots. The wardrobe choice paid off, as it enabled me to spot myself in photos of the march to destiny by Sec (as headline writers called him) and his entourage.

The tree-shaded paddock at Belmont, where Secretariat's statue now stands, is at once grand and intimate. The horses are close for a turn or two after being saddled before stepping out on the track. In those days, the race's theme song was "The Sidewalks of New York," and it struck a chord in me that was untouched by the anthems of the previous two triple crown races, the Kentucky Derby's "My Old Kentucky Home" and "Maryland, My Maryland" for the Preakness.

This was it, the big moment. How big it would be, I never guessed and I doubt that anyone else did, either. I wish I had every one of those minutes back, so I could polish and appreciate them properly. Watching a movie just doesn't do it.

I stuck close to Penny Chenery Tweedy, the elegant Meadow Farm owner played in the movie by Diane Lane, who was only eight when Secretariat took the crown. I see that Penny is now 87; I hate to think how old that makes me.

Nothing would get between me and my quarry. Football linebackers were my inspiration as I turned aside interlopers while following her to the box from which she would view the race. She was grace; I was determination. I had yet to develop the tactful hovering technique eventually perfected for other horse races as the years went by when I did the sidebars on owners. Eventually, I came up with a way to remain on the fringes without being too obvious, yet close enough to eavesdrop when necessary for "color" and quotes.

My approach with Mrs. Tweedy (I still tend to call her that, though she is long-divorced and goes by her maiden name) was respectful but persistent. She was quite patient with me, giving thought to all my questions, despite the fact that they were similar to queries she'd answered dozens of times along the path of Secretariat's many triumphs. Rather more forthcoming than I expected someone of her standing to be, she still commanded respect. I'd call her an approachable aristocrat, always ladylike, but kind, though perhaps a bit less soft than Diane Lane's portrayal.

Mrs. Tweedy had been here before; her less glamorous Riva Ridge won the Derby and Belmont the previous year, missing out on the Preakness when the track came up muddy and not to his liking. I, however, had not been to Belmont previously, nor had I ever seen a race of this caliber anywhere but on TV. For me, it was like going from zero to 60 in 10 seconds of elevation to the big time.

February 2, 2009 -- Animal Planet is ratcheting up its hybrid "docu-soap" format with the compelling drama of JOCKEYS, a penetrating look at the riders who make Thoroughbred racing run. The series, which begins February 6 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, is guaranteed to hook viewers right out of the starting gate.

You'll remember "Horsepower: The Road to the Maclay," that groundbreaking 2006 Animal Planet show. Its episodes enabled us to be on the scene for the rivalry between trainers Frank Madden and Andre Dignelli while getting to know Brianne Goutal, Maggie McAlary, Maria Schaub and many of the other young riders seeking that ultimate hunter seat equitation prize, the ASPCA Maclay.

JOCKEYS employs a bigger stage and a tougher tag line ("Win or Die Trying") as it follows a group of the wiry athletes during the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita racetrack in California. These men and women aren't riding to have their names engraved on a silver bowl; they're riding for big money and the chance to do something that's in their blood. Too often, though, jockeys pay with their blood, and the docu-soap never shies away from telling it like it is--and showing it like it is. There's no script, just 12 episodes of guts and glory.

"It was pretty much fly-on-the-wall," executive producer Jason Carey said of the way the show was done.

Whatever your opinion of racing, you can't help rooting for these real-life stars as they strive not only to make their dreams come true, but also to stay in one piece as they do it.

For many people, the show will be easier to follow than "Horsepower," as the concept rises to the next level and viewers get to know the key players in a sport where all that counts is crossing the finish line first.

Cast of Characters Everyone has a nickname. Mike is "The Icon," while Chantal is "The Breakout Female Star." Then there's "The Hotshot," Joe Talamo, who won nearly $4 million in purses in one season; "The Working Man," Aaron Gryder, with more than 3,000 career wins; "The Elder Statesman," Jon Court, a veteran of 30 years in the saddle; Kayla Stra, "The New Girl" from Australia, and Alex Solis, "The Comeback Kid," who rebounded from a broken back. Pick your favorite and cheer them on as you watch JOCKEYS.

"Over the past year and a half, we've been pushing the envelope on the type of stories we want to tell, and JOCKEYS fits that concept," Jason observed.

"We're really digging into the realities of horse racing and the relationship between the jockeys and horses and the partnership they have to build to win races.

"As Animal Planet, we care about the safety of both the riders and horses. We know it's controversial, but we're not afraid of that. We feel the relationship between the horses and jockeys is what we're digging into; we're not telling an investigative piece on racing. Luckily, we did not have any horses hurt in the races that we shot."

The staff from Go Go Luckey productions that put the series together started interviewing jockeys, and the group they finally came up with were the ones who rose to the top.

There are some great stories from "a diverse group of characters," said Jason put it.

Animal Planet is interested in doing a Season 2, so if you get hooked, there may be more to come.

Asked about the origin of shows such as JOCKEYS, Animal Planet's senior vice president of marketing, Vicki Lowell, explains, "We get ideas all over the place and typically, we as a team talk about which ones fit with the brand and where we're taking it, as well as what's going to be compelling television and great stories. Then we do research and get feedback on the concept," she says, noting that focus groups often are used.

The aim is to make the shows "more buzz-worthy, more contemporary, going into areas where maybe in the past we didn't go. An area that is controversial is also an area of great passion and engagement for the viewer," she adds, citing Animal Planet's "Whale Wars" as another example of this type of show.

One of the key characters in JOCKEYS is Mike Smith, featured along with his girlfriend, Chantal Sutherland, who occasionally competes against him in races.

Officials would not release the name of the individual involved, but according to Chief Operating Officer Chip Tuttle, the person was asked not to return to the East Boston, Mass., facility after attempting to sell two horses at a Pennsylvania auction frequented by killer buyers.

In early September, officials "were tipped off by a woman who keeps an eye on auction facilities and identified the horses and realized they were last at [Suffolk Downs]," says Tuttle. "We sent this person who transported the horses, and owns at least one of them, a letter of disinvite. It's essentially a legal correspondence that says that they are no longer welcome here."

Suffolk Downs officials purchased the two horses at the auction and have donated them to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation in New York. Tuttle says Suffolk Downs has been against selling horses at "slaughter auctions" for years but formally raised awareness of its policy last June.

Most owners and trainers support the track's approach, he says: "The vast majority of our horsemen are responsible and caring. There are always a couple of bad apples who try to game the system."

This article originally appeared in the December 2008 issue of EQUUS magazine. For a brief update, see "Tracks Adopt Antislaughter Policies" in EQUUS, January 2009.

After a horse is injured at a participating track, the racetrack veterinarian will complete a standard reporting form detailing the type of injury, track surface conditions, the site of the injury along the course and other factors. Information from the forms will be entered into a central database, which will be used to create composite statistics.

"Most racetracks have been keeping information on racing injuries for years but using different systems," says Mary Scollay, DVM, who developed the injury report form. "This just changes the way they record their information."

The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, which coordinated the Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit in 2006, is expected to review the reports. In addition, says Scollay, statisticians and epidemiologists may help analyze the data to identify injury risk factors.

This article originally appeared in the September 2007 issue of EQUUS magazine.

The most important step is to ask yourself what level of riding or competition you aspire to, as many off-the-track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs) are athletic enough to pursue any discipline at the lower levels, and most minor injuries will hold up after proper time off. With this in mind, here are a few additional guidelines to consider when evaluating OTTBs. These are generalized suggestions--there is a lot more to consider when choosing a horse for a specific discipline.

Potential event horse or jumper

Photo by Carrie Paston

The Event Horse
Conformation

• High shoulder point (the front of the shoulder is high, with a steeply angled humerus from there to the elbow; this ensures scope over large jumps)
• Uphill build
• Medium bone structure (extremely fine bone structure is less likely to hold up)
• Short- to medium-length back
• Short- to medium-length pasterns (long pasterns tend to break down)
• Well-set knees (horses "straight" in the knees are prone to knee injuries)
• Event horses can range in height. Note that larger horses (in height and mass) can be more difficult to keep sound as they are harder on their legs and feet.

Movement
Event horses need to be very athletic with fluid gaits. Prospects should have more "action" at all three gaits than, say, a hunter (see below). This often indicates it will be easier for them to move with impulsion in the dressage ring and that they will pick up their knees better over fences.

Personality
Brave, athletic and hard-working. Event prospects need to be bold, brave and forward-going horses that have good endurance. Many of these horses could also be described as "proud" or "arrogant." More energetic horses are often possibilities--as long as they are mentally sane and have a good work ethic, the extra energy is beneficial on the cross-country course.

Injuries to Avoid

• Breathing issues
• Severe tendon injuries (mild strains or bows are generally not an issue if given enough time off prior to retraining)
• Severe suspensory injuries
• Joint chips or fractures
• Vision limitations

The Jumper
A jumper prospect will be very similar in build, action and personality to an event horse (see above). When looking for a jumper, put more emphasis on a stronger hind end and shoulder. A jumper does not necessarily need to be built uphill, but he should have a high shoulder point.

Potential hunter

Photo by Carrie Paston

The Hunter
Conformation

• Long, sloping shoulder
• Neck ties in well with the withers and shoulder
• Small, attractive head
• Flat topline

Movement
Hunters should be light on their feet and have as little action in their legs as possible. A long, low, rhythmic stride that easily covers a lot of ground is desirable. The horse's head carriage should be long and low.

Personality
Easygoing, consistent and stylish. Hunters are judged on rhythm, style, and manners. They need to be calm in nature and consistent in gait and attitude as they move around the ring and over fences.

Injuries to Avoid

• Severe tendon injuries (mild strains or bows are generally not an issue if given enough time off prior to retraining)
• Severe suspensory injuries
• Joint chips or fractures

Potential dressage horse

Photo by Carrie Paston

The Dressage Horse
Conformation

• Withers set back from the shoulder
• Short back
• Uphill build
• Strong, well-built hindquarters
• Neck ties in well with the withers and shoulder (avoid ewe-necked horses)
• Neck should be medium to long

Movement
The horse should naturally engage and drive from his hind end. A regular, even, four-beat walk is ideal. At the trot he should demonstrate natural impulsion and extension while remaining light on his feet. Look for a canter that is not overly "large"--a shorter stride is easier to maneuver around the dressage arena and eventually teach clean flying lead changes.

Personality
Hard-working, sensitive and sensible. A dressage prospect should be a sensitive yet sensible horse. He needs to be very responsive to leg, seat, and rein aids rather than dead-sided or hard-mouthed. He cannot become overwrought every time he is confronted with a new task--the ideal horse likes to work and accepts new challenges eagerly.

Injuries to Avoid

• Severe tendon injuries (mild strains or bows are generally not an issue if given enough time off prior to retraining)
• Severe suspensory injuries
• Joint chips or fractures

This article is excerpted from the book Beyond the Track: Retraining the Thoroughbred from Racehorse to Riding Horse, which offers tips on finding the right OTTB and giving him the solid educational foundation he needs to excel in a new career. To order, call 800-952-5813 or visit HorseBooksEtc.com.

May 6, 2008 -- With the tragic death of the filly Eight Belles after finishing second in the Kentucky Derby last Saturday, the public outcry over racetrack breakdowns has intensified.

The loss of Eight Belles was the first fatal mishap to occur in the Kentucky Derby in 75 years, but it was the second ultimately deadly breakdown seen in a Triple Crown race in the last three years. Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro broke his leg in the 2006 Preakness and had to be euthanatized months later as a result of post-surgical complications.

In the past few days voices in and out of the sport of racing have raised questions about why these catastrophic injuries continue to occur, and in fact seem to be more frequent. Speculation has centered on breeding practices, medication rules and a trend in the sport that rewards precocity and speed, rather than grit and longevity.

Christine Ross, DVM, has taken a different approach. Spurred by the injuries and fatalities she saw in her work as a racetrack veterinarian, Ross has pioneered the use of heart rate variability (HRV) analysis to identify horses at risk of breakdown. Her initial findings are promising, and, ultimately, she hopes HRV analysis can be used to prevent injury and enhance the lives of all horses.

You can read about Ross's work in "What's at the Heart of Breakdowns?" the cover story in the May 2008 issue of EQUUS magazine, available on newsstands or by calling 301-977-3900 ext. 0.

Comment on this topic in the EQUUS forum.