Look at the legs on this horse, and the length of his body:
^That is Man o' War. Considered to have had the best conformation of any horse ever. He was perfect.
Now look at the legs on this horse:
^
That is Mage, who won the Derby this year.
The cannon and radius bones on horses today are an inch + longer and look how far out in front of the horse his left leg is. That is referred to as the horse's stretch. Trying to get that leg back under the horse with all that weight when it is stretched that far is why horses are breaking their ankles and knees and dying every day on racetracks around the country.
There needs to be reform. Breeders are killing horses and the sport. One dead at the Derby, one dead at the Preakness takes all the joy out of a day at the races. It is heartbreaking...
^That is Man o' War. Considered to have had the best conformation of any horse ever. He was perfect.
Now look at the legs on this horse:
^
That is Mage, who won the Derby this year.
The cannon and radius bones on horses today are an inch + longer and look how far out in front of the horse his left leg is. That is referred to as the horse's stretch. Trying to get that leg back under the horse with all that weight when it is stretched that far is why horses are breaking their ankles and knees and dying every day on racetracks around the country.
There needs to be reform. Breeders are killing horses and the sport. One dead at the Derby, one dead at the Preakness takes all the joy out of a day at the races. It is heartbreaking...