Horse Farms, Horse Stables

Horse Farms

Five Thousand Foals for Horse Racing a Year!

Have your ever wondered where the champions of horse racing are bred? You will be surprised to know that the United States has no more than 500 registered stallions. A broodmare delivers just one foal a year, and most brooders are not involved with more than two foals at any time. Not all the 5 thousand foals that enter the horse racing world every year are of the same quality, so it is no wonder that the birth of a potential winner is a matter of great celebration.

Though breeders take great care in selecting the best specimens with impeccable pedigrees for selection, horse racing is about more than parentage. Trainers and supporting staff have to put in enormous and consistent efforts to ensure that a foal has the strength, stamina and temperament to win in horse racing. Many people believe that equine intelligence can rival human beings in some respects, and certainly some horses display extraordinary temperament and personalities.

Foals need extensive grounds where they can grow up in optimal conditions. Horse farms have extensive amenities for training, and to put foals through their paces. Tradition has much to do with horse farms and ranches, so though most States have their own horse farms, the most famous ones are in Kentucky, California, Texas, Virginia and Maryland. Canada and Mexico have excellent ranches for horse racing as well. The Lexington area of Kentucky has the richest heritage of breeding the best race horses. Most farms are within the restricted confines of an area known as Bluegrass.

Horse farms specialize in particular breeds. They are amongst the most beautiful estates to be found anywhere, and are kept in immaculate condition. Many horse farms sport the colors of racing stables with which they are associated. Visiting horse farms is a favorite pastime, and has been a practice throughout the 20th century. More than a million people visited the legendary steed Man O War after he retired from horse racing to sire offspring!

There is etiquette to be followed when one visits horse farms. A prior appointment is essential because they places have intensive work schedules. It is best to keep children away because they can become restive. Do not treat your visit as a picnic in any case. The primary objective should be to get an in-depth feel of the art and science of raising race horses, if not to garner serious information of future champions. The person who shows you around deserves to be tipped between $5 and 10, though obviously this is not a must! Do not expect to be invited to ride, and feeding or even touching the animals can be hazardous, as race horses do not make friends casually!

The Bluegrass area has a number of conducted tours, but we advise serious punters to ask guides to arrange custom tours. You can also use our feedback form to tell us about the area you plan to visit and when, and we will be able to provide you with contacts to arrange private visits. Going around ranches where future champions of horse racing are trained can be an enchanting experience, and we do wish that you make contact with www.horseracing.com for an encounter of this special kind whenever and wherever you are next on vacation or business.