Another 4-legged horsepower thread...

Hey guys, just wanted to share what I've been up to with my four-legged horsepower project. I adopted this ex-racehorse a couple of years ago, she was one of my sister's rescues. She was in horrible shape, thin, druggy, and with typical over-raced damage to her legs. She was purchased at auction, destined for the meat truck, for less than the price of a set of well-used sticky tires. Most riding folks won't look twice at this type of horse (ex-harness racer) because they consider them to be rough and ill-gaited. So, most of them end up going for meat... a tragedy since they're relatively sensible, well-handled and if you find one with good conformation, easily trained to work well under saddle. Up here in Canada, there's a registry called "The Canadian Sport Horse" ... which isn't defined by breed, but by athleticism and conformation. There's a strict criteria for acceptance, with a panel of judges evaluating the horse at every gait and angle. Because she's such a good mover, and unusually pretty for her breed, I decided to enter my horse, Colour, even though, as a standardbred - traditionally her chances of acceptance were about nil.
She passed with flying colours. :-)

I hate horses. Nothing personal against them. And I never had a bad experience with one. I just automatically distrust animals larger than me. Plus I think horses are plotting against me.

Uh, on your topic though, what a very good looking horse!

She's a beauty, congratulations.

My sister (she teaches dressage) has a Swedish Warmblood that recently had a colt in May. I went up to see the event, it was pretty wild stuff! Kind of like a live Aliens show!! Colt was up and whinnying within 10 minutes.

Horses are like old Porsches, its not the purchase price that gets you, its the upkeep.

Drewsifer wrote: I hate horses. Nothing personal against them. And I never had a bad experience with one. I just automatically distrust animals larger than me. Plus I think horses are plotting against me. Uh, on your topic though, what a very good looking horse!

You should try spending time with some. They are incredible animals that once they get to know you seem like they can read your mind.

She's gorgeous. Congratulations to you both!

Wally wrote: You should try spending time with some. They are incredible animals that once they get to know you seem like they can read your mind.

If they could read my mind they would have to be put down. What goes on in there cannot be experienced without permanent damage. The last person who got a glimpse pushes a shopping cart on 134th street and mumbles to herself when she isn't rolling in her own excrement.

Wally wrote:

Drewsifer wrote: I hate horses. Nothing personal against them. And I never had a bad experience with one. I just automatically distrust animals larger than me. Plus I think horses are plotting against me. Uh, on your topic though, what a very good looking horse!

You should try spending time with some. They are incredible animals that once they get to know you seem like they can read your mind.

Ahhhhhh even more reason to fear them!

Pretty horse.

I've had about three experiences with horses--two (or maybe more) rides on them with some family thing where we were in a big string of horses. That was boring.

Then I was at a family friends farm, and got on a Clydesdale. That was really cool.

I took riding lessons for a number of years (fat white kid from minneapolis with big dopey coke bottles on top of a horse? Who's idea was THAT?). Love me some horses though, and that looks to be a good one.

Horses come in all different types with a wide assortment of personalities... just like our cars. This one happens to be particularly easy to get along with, and deserves all the kindness she's been getting!

Owning a horse is a great way to make car racing look cheap, ask me how I know. Love my big, goofy guy though.

You're not kidding! At least with cars, if there's something wrong you can park 'em 'til you've got the money.

Lesley wrote: You're not kidding! At least with cars, if there's something wrong you can park 'em 'til you've got the money.

Plus... no matter what mods you do - its still only ever going to be 1HP.

Yabbut... let's see yours jump a fence!

I have always wondered how much horsepower a horse puts out. I mean, look at a Clydesdale. Those things must put out a ton of hp! Or are they all torque? Even if so, then a racehorse must put out a lot of hp. I assure you that any 5 horses out there can out-muscle my push mower.

Regardless, great story, great-looking horse. I am surprised it was headed for meat because I cannot find a decent horse-steak anywhere. Perhaps I need to head to Canada.

Pretty sure most of it gets shipped to France.

Yah, heavy horses are all about torque, the light horses are top-end.

pinchvalve wrote: I have always wondered how much horsepower a horse puts out. I mean, look at a Clydesdale. Those things must put out a ton of hp! Or are they all torque? Even if so, then a racehorse must put out a lot of hp. I assure you that any 5 horses out there can out-muscle my push mower. Regardless, great story, great-looking horse. I am surprised it was headed for meat because I cannot find a decent horse-steak anywhere. Perhaps I need to head to Canada.

Supposedly a good horse can put out around 3 hp or more. Manipulating horsepower numbers traces its way all the way back to Watt when he invented horsepower numbers...

horses are cool, glad you are happy with your "project"

No experience w/ them personally, but she is a beautiful animal for sure.

Props for rescuing her--rescuing any animal is beyond noble.

Thanks y'all. It means less money to play with cars, but having a bond with an animal is so rewarding, it's worth it.

I've wanted to work in a stable in a past life. Oddly enough, my mother spotted my doppelganger working in the stable at Medieval Times. She was asked several times when I got a job in Orlando. Made me think it was meant to be...

On top of that, horses are cool.

How does one who doesn't have an equestrian background break into that sort of hobby? I don't even have connections with the local stables, and I'm just too embarrassed to call and ask.

Do it! Stables are always looking for help, particularly the big ones. You usually start by cleaning stalls (dirty work, but it's satisfying in a zen kind of way). Leading them in and out of the stable into their various paddocks gives you some hands-on experience, and grooming (brushing) is a great way to get to know the animals, and how to gauge how they are feeling that day and whether there's a problem. Racing stables are always looking for help, and you'll learn a lot in a hurry... but you can be exposed to the rather "unsavoury" element of the horse business, and it's hard not to be cynical. I worked at one in my twenties, and I became pretty adept at dealing with high-strung race horses, some of them studs, but the downside is the horses are a commodity.

MadScientistMatt wrote: Supposedly a good horse can put out around 3 hp or more. Manipulating horsepower numbers traces its way all the way back to Watt when he invented horsepower numbers...

Well, is that at the flank or at the hoof?

Lesley wrote: Do it! Stables are always looking for help, particularly the big ones. You usually start by cleaning stalls (dirty work, but it's satisfying in a zen kind of way). Leading them in and out of the stable into their various paddocks gives you some hands-on experience, and grooming (brushing) is a great way to get to know the animals, and how to gauge how they are feeling that day and whether there's a problem. Racing stables are always looking for help, and you'll learn a lot in a hurry... but you can be exposed to the rather "unsavoury" element of the horse business, and it's hard not to be cynical. I worked at one in my twenties, and I became pretty adept at dealing with high-strung race horses, some of them studs, but the downside is the horses are a commodity.

+1 on the racing stable comment. You'll learn a ton in a hurry but it may not be a totally positive experience and you'll pick up some very bad habits. Our 4 year old off the track Throughbred is one of the sweetest horses you'd ever want to meet but he's always expecting someone to hurt him. We're working at building trust and he's coming along beautifully but it's going to take time.

He's one of the lucky ones – I only wish all of them could be adopted by caring horse people. My girl has scars from where some idiot put a knee boot on wrong, marks on her hindquarters from the whip, and had one of the worst hoof abscesses ever from a shoeing nail driven right into the quick. She's finally sound. Lately, she nickers when she sees me and comes flying up on the trot... I guess her trust issues are slowly healing.