Is your Shetland a racehorse?

cptrayes

cptrayes

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I've just read a wonderful report in the paper about the analysis of the fast twitch muscle fibre that makes a flat racer run fast.

They have traced it back to one Shetland mare who was bred to one of the three original Arabs that founded flat race sprinters. Her genes came down directly to Northern Dancer and her fast-twitch muscle genes alone, they reckon, are responsible for the speed of all modern flat racers - not the imported Arabs that we all think "made" English racehorses.

I must tell my hairy little fella later - though it may make him insufferably
big-headed :D
 
No my shetland isn't a racehorse (don't have one)

BUT... if this is true my racehorse is a shetland! she has Northern Dancer on both sides :D

I shall tell her this tonight in the hope that she will stop being an over reactive TB that blows up from ever little scrape and start to be slightly more 'native' about her approach to life :D
 
Our ex racer is probably a shetland. He is living out atm (is as hairy as a native but a little taller) and when he had his flu booster last week didn't even flinch when the needle went in let alone lift his head from the breakfast bucket.:rolleyes:
 
mymare said:
I KNEW it! My two go like plop off a shovel, looks the most uncomfortable thing to sit to though.

Thanks for confirming CPTrayes! :D
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Have to say it didn't surprise me as much as I expected, when I thought about my lad. He always chooses to run very fast, legs a-blur, for short sprints. Isn't it fun to think all those posh racehorses are only good because they are part Shetland :D? And all this time people thought it was the 3 imported Arabs.
 
Well I have both Shetlands and racehorses and I can safely say that the shetlands always win the races! Mainly due to the fact that they are cheating, kaniving little scumbags who cut corners, cut up, nip knees, bare teeth and buck out at the tb's who half halt to avoid the little devils feet!

I also have a Shetland here who was the ultimate supremo at the Shetland Pony Grand National in his hey day! He rarely got beat and won more races at Olympia than any other pony to date :D He is also the only pony capable of dropping me without a moments notice!
 
Coming from the other side If it wasn't for the fact my tb doesn't have Northern Dancer anywhere it would explain alot about his mane and attitude to life. The only muscles that move fast are his jaws.
 
jesstickle said:
No my shetland isn't a racehorse (don't have one)

BUT... if this is true my racehorse is a shetland! she has Northern Dancer on both sides :D

I shall tell her this tonight in the hope that she will stop being an over reactive TB that blows up from ever little scrape and start to be slightly more 'native' about her approach to life :D
Click to expand...

That would explain her hairy coat :eek:
 
EKW said:
Well I have both Shetlands and racehorses and I can safely say that the shetlands always win the races! Mainly due to the fact that they are cheating, kaniving little scumbags who cut corners, cut up, nip knees, bare teeth and buck out at the tb's who half halt to avoid the little devils feet!

I also have a Shetland here who was the ultimate supremo at the Shetland Pony Grand National in his hey day! He rarely got beat and won more races at Olympia than any other pony to date :D He is also the only pony capable of dropping me without a moments notice!
Click to expand...

Does yours do mine's trick? When he wants a race, he goes up behind one of the big boys and stands so close to his hocks that he is touching. Then he turns his head, bites a hamstring - and runs like the devil :D
 
EKW - brilliant PMSL. the only Shetland gene my ex-racer got was the crazy hair mane and tail gene. I read the article and said to OH that a Shetland could beat my tb everytime......
 
OMG. Nitty really is a shetland, she is hairy, she has a mane to rival any native pony and she does exactly what EKW's shetty does to poor BH! She is vile to him and constantly nags him to race her.

How to get her re passported as a shetland? :D
 
I heard this reported on Radio 4. That they found this gene was from a Shetland was amazing. Perhaps our Shetlands will get a little respect now. I know mine can really cover some ground in a gallop when he is having fun. His trot will keep him up with the others in Small Breeds M&M in hand easily. Way to go Shetlands.!
 
Fantastic, brings back memories of 25 years ago (god I feel old) and my friend and I racing Shetlands bare back down the field! Little speed demons! Riding was such fun and falling off bareback when unable to stop and make the corners was just part of it!

R.I.P little jimmy and dollar racing shetties!
 
So if a Shetland Mare was bred to one of the foundation sires - what did they use? A mounting block (ahem)....

That said I know a 15.1 of unknown breeding with traits of TB/Arab that could I wager be well placed as a flat racer to win. Must therefore have some shetland in him! His speed is phenomal for a horse not bred to race - he is a great little hunter but needs a gag so that he is reminded not to overtake the field / hounds /master! What is most amusing are the faces of those riding TBs when he passes them without even breaking a sweat...
 
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