The Kentucky Derby is just two days away and although we can’t tell you who will win, we have made this handy A-Z of racing terms. A – Across the Board To bet a horse to win, place, or show (place first, second, or third) in the race. B – Backstretch This describes the straight… Read more »
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The Purpose is Parity; An Explanation of Race Types
Spring is here and we can’t help but get excited about our two-year-olds making their first starts this summer! Most people are familiar with races like the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic, but how does a horse get to start in those races? In North American flat racing a classification system determines what qualifies… Read more »
Keeping Up with the Kentucky Bluegrass
It might seem senseless to mow our fields and paddocks. After all, it’s the famed Kentucky Bluegrass that feeds our horses and provides calcium for growing bones, but we mow from April through September each year. Why? The grazing habits of horses are different from those of sheep and cattle. Horses graze pasture much shorter… Read more »
The Birds and the Bees; What Happens at the Breeding Shed?
Busily crisscrossing the rural roads of Central Kentucky are a fleet of Stonestreet horse trailers carrying very precious cargo. These are the broodmares on their way to their dates with stallions. All Thoroughbreds have the same official birthday – January 1st – therefore the breeding sheds open around February 14th each year. This allows 11… Read more »
That’s a Wrap! Protection and Cooling
Leg wraps are one of the tools used to keep equine athletes at Stonestreet Training Center in top shape. There are many variations, but the universal rule among all wraps is application in a counterclockwise fashion on the left leg and clockwise on the right leg. Why? To avoid straining the tendon, which runs up… Read more »
Foal Firsts
Four Foal Firsts Earlier this month we published a blog on foaling, but a lot more happens in the first 24 hours of a foal’s life than just arriving in the world! Standing Very shortly after birth, the foal will sit sternally. It is the beginning of his attempt to stand, and he will remain… Read more »
Welcome to the World! Foaling
In our last blog entry, we talked about the physical and behavioral changes in broodmares that precede foaling. These outward signs are indications of the internal contractions guiding the foal toward the birth canal. With his forelegs extended out in front of him, head rested between, and hind legs trailing behind, the foal begins to… Read more »
Gate to Great: Schooling for Success
Have you ever admired the calm professionalism of Thoroughbreds entering the starting gates in front of cheering crowds of thousands? These athletes are super-fit and primed to put in a performance at speeds of up to 30 mph, yet they walk into the starting gates and stand quietly for several minutes. The ability to break… Read more »
Foal Watch
Most foals are born at night, and we have an experienced staff working overnight to make sure that all the horses stay healthy and happy. During foaling season, it is their responsibility to alert the Broodmare Farm Manager that a mare is about to foal. We look for several physical and behavioral changes in the… Read more »
Chain Harrowing: A Break Up Story
Every December you will see a fleet of tractors crisscrossing the fields at Stonestreet Farm, each pulling a large section of what looks very much like chain link fence. Harrows , originating from the Dutch word for ‘rake’, are used at Stonestreet once the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky has experienced the first three hard frosts… Read more »