Tb racehorse breeding pros & cons?

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Jake10

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I handed in an assignment on the negative effects of selectively breeding Tb racers (mainly focusing on genetic aspects and temperament) I'm just wondering if there are any benefits to the horse as I couldn't find any :confused: Thankfully the assignment only wanted negatives but I'm really starting to feel bad for Tbs :(
 
I wouldn't feel sorry for any breed in particular since selective breeding of ANY kind comes with certain drawbacks. I suppose you could say that the positives are simply the benefits to humans in breeding certain horses to do certain jobs.

It is actually quite deep since it does raise questions of selectively breeding animals of ANY species. If you are interested, there is a book by Matthew Watkinson called 'on the destiny of species' which discusses it at length.

Although it is very painful to read, since he comes across as a complete half-wit ignoramus with a bad writing style (can you tell it's not my favourite book :D)
 
Line breeding is supposed to highlight/double dose on certain bloodlines to give a 'double effect' of that pedigree's ability- to decrease the chances of the offspring NOT having ability, and to increase the chances of having the 'special' ability that comes from that certain bloodline that it has a double dose off.. I.E something in-bred to Northern Dancer will hopefully have a double effect of talented northern dancer blood.
It can work, or can not.
 
Well, as you say, you only looked at
1.TB's selectively bred as racers and
2.you only looked specifically at the negative effects.

Your assignment was therefore biased - so can't be generalised to the question you pose.

Personally, I love my specific TB because she is beautiful, graceful, loving, friendly, temperamentally sound and healthy - obvious really.
 
The question is basically asking if there are any pros to the horse (eg genetic, muscular, skeletal, health and welfare) to breeding Tbs for racing as I could only find negatives (did look for pros but could only find ones on performance) such as Tbs today having weaker bones than Tbs of 20yrs ago increasing the number of fractures, chips etc.

I have no doubt that your Tb is gorgeous as most are. I would also consider buying a Tb but are they becoming too inbred?
 
To be honest I don't really understand the question. Genetic, muscular etc benefits compared to what?? If you are talking about the 'wild type' then there are no benefits at all. Hence the fact horses like tbs would last 2 seconds out in the big bad world.
 
My tb has Sadlers Wells and Northern Dancer bloodlines haha but they havent done anything for him as he point 2 pointed twice but was way to slow ... but he can jump a 90/1m sj course and is a nice we dressage horse :D so im glad not all bloodlines are the be all and end all :)
 
I'm not the best at phrasing my Q's :( .I thought it was interesting that Tb's are not as sound as they used to be and thought that it was possibly how they are bred if this makes sense?
 
Re; TB's not being as sound as they used to be; well quite frankly some of the top trainers in this country, and many others make me sick and their methods are appalling, it is no wonder that so many of them break or go lame. A lot of them dont seem to understand basic horsemanship and care. I do think in the older days racing people were much more what they call 'proper old fashioned horseman' and every aspect of horse care and training was done very very diligently and very carefully. Now racing is full of trainers who have more money than very basic common sense.
 
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