I read the article about American Pharaoh and how he is now living at a stud and that is his job. Why do they not continue to ride these horses instead of retiring them at such a young age?
Just curious, not a “loaded” or judgie question!
Back in the “old days”, many stud farms did ride/hack the studs, but not “race train”…too much risk of injury. I’m not aware of the practice these days. The boys just hang out and get fat!! (ie often founder!!)
Some farms do actually continue to ride them (Three Chimneys, for example) but the reason to retire AP is he is simply too valuable to risk. Plus, what if he throws in a clunker or two and loses a bit of his luster. Retiring early is done to preserve his brand and his value. He’s done it all - where else and what else could he do?
Additionally, a stallion would not be able to both breed and race at peak performance at the same time due to the physical requirements of each.
His name is American Pharoah 
Much discussion on how he ended up with his name not spelled quite correctly… 
It’s been tried (bringing a stallion back to the races after a season at stud), but I can’t think of any success stories off the top of my head.
Thanks all, I didn’t even mean racing. I mostly meant just plain old riding. Hunter paces/dressage/trail riding - anything really. Mostly just to keep them from being bored, they are so young most of them you would think that they would enjoy having something to do…
I’ve always thought that the farms that do keep their stallions fit are doing a good thing. Keeping a horse active in the brain and body during off breeding is more work than just letting them hang out day after day.
Of course I’ve heard some of the stallions are on the dangerous side.
[QUOTE=islgrl;8524476]
Thanks all, I didn’t even mean racing. I mostly meant just plain old riding. Hunter paces/dressage/trail riding - anything really. Mostly just to keep them from being bored, they are so young most of them you would think that they would enjoy having something to do…[/QUOTE]
I can’t speak about most studs, isigrl, but I had an OTTB stud that I could breed and compete in eventing the same day with no one the wiser about his “status”. However, a) I doubt that every stud has the incredible temperament mine did and b) it requires constant, and I mean CONSTANT vigilance on the part of the handler/ rider and if something goes wrong, it can go very wrong.
Given the risks, I can fully understand not taking a valuable stud off the farm for anything other than necessary vet work.
Winstar rides their stallions:
They are not alone in doing so, either.
[QUOTE=Mara;8523839]
It’s been tried (bringing a stallion back to the races after a season at stud), but I can’t think of any success stories off the top of my head.[/QUOTE]
Kingsgate Native. Retired to stud after his 2yo season. Came back to racing and was a multiple G1 winner. He was still winning stakes races last year as a 10yo.
George Washington was still a cracking good horse when he came back to racing.
[QUOTE=islgrl;8524476]
Thanks all, I didn’t even mean racing. I mostly meant just plain old riding. Hunter paces/dressage/trail riding - anything really. Mostly just to keep them from being bored, they are so young most of them you would think that they would enjoy having something to do…[/QUOTE]
You’re talking about horses than in some cases are valued at TENS of MILLIONS of dollars.
As some people have already pointed out, some stud farms do exercise under saddle, but you’re just not going to take a horse that valuable to a local hunter pace or dressage show.
Top TB stallions are breeding far too often to do anything else in season. Many outfits do exercise their stallions under controlled circumstances and it does keep them fitter and healthier for longer.
If I owned a share in a multi million dollar stallion, I wouldn’t want any extra risk taken with him.
Most British and Irish studs exercise their stallions because a fit horse can do the job better - and top ones cover up to 300 mares each season.
Dalham Hall, for example, walk their stallions in hand for each day http://www.darleyeurope.com/about-us/inside-darley/golden-horn-pastures-new. The horses are content, relaxed, totally gorgeous and worth eye-watering amounts of $$$$
Here’s a video of the Banstead Manor studs, including Frankel, being exercised. They are walked 7 miles a day…
[QUOTE=Drvmb1ggl3;8531850]
Here’s a video of the Banstead Manor studs, including Frankel, being exercised. They are walked 7 miles a day…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsiEmYly2ls[/QUOTE]
That’s lovely. All the exercise probably helps keep them from getting rank, and I was really impressed with all the stallions being walked together with no bad behavior. The video might have been edited, but still it was lovely.
So what’s the purpose of the surcingle/side reins? Top line… Or…? I ask because the way they are set, they appear almost more like anti-grazing reins than side reins…
The lazy American in me says aren’t you guys living in the homeland of the Eurociser? :lol:
Insurance. They can’t be ridden for insurance purposes for the most part.
[QUOTE=snowrider;8532258]
Insurance. They can’t be ridden for insurance purposes for the most part.[/QUOTE]
So how do the side reins factor into insurance? I understand the value of the animals, I just don’t understand the side reins set up.
[QUOTE=Mara;8523839]
It’s been tried (bringing a stallion back to the races after a season at stud), but I can’t think of any success stories off the top of my head.[/QUOTE]
Skywalker and ironically, his son Bertrando
One supposes that part of the reason for the 7 mile walks outside is to keep the stallion’s brain exercised as much as his body. They are, as it seems, let out of prison (their stalls and barns) for about two hours every day to walk. (I’m assuming human walk is 4 mph.) Seems it would all go toward reducing rankness.
Maybe they really are anti-grazing reins.
