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Large Hearts in Horses: The X-factorBreeding horses that exhibit an abundance of desired traits is an art. Years of study, and analysis yield excellent results. Staying current with developments and discoveries is essential in order to produce the best horses possible. Certain individuals or families within a pedigree may be concentrated on to produce the body type and power pack needed to perform such strenuous activities as racing, jumping, eventing, endurance and other demanding disciplines, with excellence over a long period of time. We hear the stories about the great Thoroughbreds, Secretariat, Man O' War, Exterminator, Phar Lap, John Henry, and countless others. What do they posses? What do their pedigrees reveal? What do the great race horses have in common with the great Thoroughbred Jumpers, such as Ksar d'sprit and Gem Twist? One of the most important discoveries came when an autopsy was done on the undefeated champion 'Eclipse', who was born in 1764. He possessed a very large heart for a horse of his size. This phenomenon was repeated in the 1973 Triple Crown winner, Secretariat, with a heart that weighed in at 19 pounds. Normal horse hearts weigh approximatley 8.5 pounds. These are not the only two in the history of Thoroughbreds that had large hearts. There are many, many others. Given these two examples, however, it is easy to see how this trait might have given them a certain competitive edge. |
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