Eclipse and the DNA of a Champion

What made the undefeated 18th Century horse, Eclipse, such a great champion. The genetics research is giving insights into the origins of the world's thoroughbred racing stock, including the sensational 1867 Derby winner, Hermit.

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Eclipse is one of the Greatest Racehorses of all time

Eclipse was never beaten when he ran from 1769-1770 and was retired largely because of the lack of competition. Super stallion Eclipse's descendants include Kauto Star and Desert Orchid and almost all thoroughbred racehorses.Scientists have succeeded in examining Hermit’s origins and in taking a sample of DNA from one of Eclipse's teeth as part of a project to unlock the 'lifecodes' of great thoroughbreds. Professor Matthew Binns, an equine genetics expert from the RVC, who is part of the project, said: “Eclipse was probably the greatest racehorses in history. He won 18 races and usually by 10 or 20 furlongs. Flat races were much longer in those days. Genetics is playing an ever bigger role in equine science as researchers try to understand what horses more susceptible to disease or more likely to break down in training.” Research already shows that today's racehorses can trace their line to a very small group of animals imported from the Near East and North Africa in the early 1700s.

Eclipse and his Groom , By George Stubbs

The RVC's work is adding further detail to this story and it should also show up which genetic traits have come through the 30 or so generations since the foundation of the stock.

The RVC has also set its Structure and Motion workgroup on to Eclipse. Experts at the Royal Veterinary College combined what was known about  the heroic horse from his paintings, CT scans of his skeleton and reports of his races and created computer models of the horse. Using portraits of Eclipse and contemporary accounts of the horse running the researchers reconstructed one of its legs and have discovered that its legendary speed may have been due to its 'averageness'. In short, a great racehorse needs to be more than just quick footed - it must also be rather average. The research involved analysing Eclipse's skeleton to develop models of horse movement. Using the models the research team built 'theoretical limbs' on a computer and tested answers to questions on not only why Eclipse was so fast but also why horses can remain balanced when each leg is off the ground for 80 per cent of the time during gallop and what limits a horse's maximum gallop speed. 

Dr Alan Wilson, who led the study, said: "All the factors for speed were perfectly matched. A key ability for a fast horse is to be able to bring its legs forward quickly, which is difficult for large animals with long limbs. Eclipse was smaller than modern racehorses. Rather than being some freak of nature with incredible properties, he was actually just right in absolutely every way."

Royal Veterinary College. "Why Was The Racehorse Eclipse So Good?." ScienceDaily, 11 Jun. 2007. Web. 10 Apr. 2012.

Monterosso provided Godolphin with first Win since 2006

SHEIKH MOHAMMED was delighted after Monterosso provided Godolphin with their first success in the Dubai World Cup since 2006. It was the best World Cup result since the switch to Meydan and it crowned a fantastic night for the boys in blue, who also managed to top and tail the card with African Story and Opinion Poll. Racing is about finding 'the best horse on the day'. Circumstances will often sway the result away from the best horse, but rarely does one factor alter the statement. On the Tapeta at Meydan, however, it is starting to look like the statement should read: the best horse on the track on the day. When the Dubai carnival switched to Tapeta in 2010 the main question was whether the surface would run more like dirt or turf. On Saturday three of the four Tapeta races were won by horses already proven on the track. It was the same story in 2011 (three from four), while in 2010 all four had previously won on synthetics. That means that ten of the 12 winners of World Cup night Tapeta races had already won on a synthetic track; nine had already proved themselves at Meydan.

The two horses who managed to win without previous synthetics form were Victoire Pisa inthe 2011 World Cup and Daddy Long Legs, who won the UAE Derby on Saturday. Victoire Pisa won as a result of a canny ride, gutsing it out for a narrow victory and still running below his turf form, so his success hardly disproves the theory. Daddy Long Legs is a dirt-bred turf horse from a multi-surface family and was therefore open to handling it on his first attempt. You could say he's a kaleidoscope horse from a kaleidoscope family and the synthetics three-year-olds he was up against did not look a particularly strong bunch. From a sample of just 12, this synthetic specialism theory could easily dissipate in the next few years, but there is a strong enough trend across the three meetings to be very wary of backing (or running) horses unproven on the surface.Trainers may choose to prove their horses on synthetics before shipping to Dubai, or they may come over for the whole carnival rather than just World Cup night - with previous form at Meydan being particularly important to success. Given the colossal prize money on offer there will always be a field for the World Cup, but you have to wonder whether running it on a third surface, which favours neither dirt or turf horses, will secure the best possible field. America has a couple of synthetic tracks but dirt will always be their dominant surface. Europe also maintain some synthetic tracks, but the best races are all onturf and that doesn't look likely to change any time soon, yet Meydan wanders lonely as a cloud on Tapeta.

 

If it acted as an intermediate surface there would be an obvious attraction to hosting international races on Tapeta, but after three years it appears to be between nothing and nowhere, sitting rather as a third axis on the graph; a third bundle of form and ratings distinct from the rest. Sometimes turf form translates onto dirt and sometimes those figures tally with Meydan form, but there is enough disparity to consider them three separate mediums, deserving three parallel form books. African Story, Krypton Factor and Monterosso were all impressive winners at Meydan, but would each confirm that impression against the same rivals back on turf? That is not to detract from what they achieved on Saturday. Run the races again and they would all be just as impressive they were clearly the best on the track on the day. Monterosso may have been 20-1, but he ranks as an average winner of the Dubai showpiece with an RPR of 126 - putting him alongside previous Godolphin victors Singspiel and Electrocutionist Monterosso's success may have been slightly unexpected, but he was rapidly progressive for Mark Johnston in 2010, improving his RPR on every start between January and June and he has picked up that steep curve on the weekend. He barely raced in the interim, winning a Group 2 on the turf in March 2011 on his first start for Godolphin, then running twice in unsatisfactory pace-biased events on the Tapeta.

Horse Vacation Destinations

Well if your an equine enthusiast and you are also in need of a vacation why not combine the two and choose a Horse Vacation Destination. Its a good way to incorporate some excercise and a great way to enjoy the scenery while on Horseback. A little web research goes along way in choosing your destination, but also keep in mind your budget and what you would like to experience along the way. In this blog I will talk about various options and details to keep in mind and be your Equine tour guide.

What sort of riding holiday do you have in mind?

This has probably got to be the first question. Just what kind of experience are you looking for? Is it to ride in spectacular scenery? To see wildlife from horseback? Or just to get away from it all for a few days and enjoy riding a good horse. In The Saddle finds it helpful to classify riding holidays into four broad categories. Riding Holidays; Safaris on Horseback; Ranch Holidays and Riding Expeditions.

On a Riding Holiday, whether to Spain, South Africa, California or Mexico, you are sure to have some great riding, be hosted well, have good food and wine and overall a really good time. You can even enter an endurance ride in Namibia. These holidays don’t involve too much planning or specialist packing and you could phone up on Monday and be away on Saturday.

A Safari on Horseback in Africa is truly spectacular. It’s surely impossible to beat the wonder of watching a large herd of towering giraffe as your horse quietly grazes or the heart beating excitement of being face to face with an elephant. Some safaris on horseback are in areas where there is no dangerous game and so are suitable for all levels of rider, including children. Other safaris, in areas where you might encounter elephant, lion or buffalo, are only for experienced riders. Accommodation varies from luxury safari lodges and very comfortable spacious safari tents with their own private bathrooms to simple bush camps with long drop loos and bucket showers.

A Ranch Holiday gives you the opportunity to live out a dream and take yourself to the world of John Wayne. These holidays are often in stunning parts of the world. You could choose a working ranch where you have the opportunity to be a cowboy and move cattle on horseback or a guest ranch with stunning mountain scenery.

A Riding Expedition is a journey on horseback, which may entail a few hardships but reward you with an experience to remember and scenery which you might otherwise not have the opportunity to see. On these rides you need to take a little more care to pack the appropriate clothing for the trip and to make sure you are fit enough for the journey. On many of the expeditions you camp in small two-man dome tents with sleeping bags on mats and limited washing/loo facilities, but hopefully the views make up for that. On others you stay in hotels or farm houses and so have a more comfortable place to spend the night.

Booking with a Tour Operator vs Booking Direct

In these uncertain times there are many reasons why booking your holiday through a specialist riding holiday tour operator is unquestionably the safest thing to do. First of all, the riding holiday company will have checked out the riding holiday and takes responsibility for the quality of the horses, the standard of guiding and safety arrangements and that the actual holiday is provided to you as advertised.

The riding holiday company may also book flights for you but if you wish to book them yourself, they will make sure the flights tie in with local transfers. For long haul destinations you should expect your riding holiday company to be able to book hotel accommodation and perhaps pre or post ride extensions.

It is important to remember that you will not pay more by booking through a riding holiday company and sometimes less. In these times of extreme exchange rate fluctuations it is important to find out whether the riding holiday company will surcharge if sterling were to fall further against the dollar or euro. In The Saddle will fix the price at the time you book and guarantees not to surcharge regardless of exchange rate movements. This means you get peace of mind and no nasty surcharge invoices just before you fly.

And finally, its very important to check that your riding holiday company is fully bonded, which means that any payments you make to the Tour Operator are fully protected in the event of the company going out of business. If you have booked flights through the riding holiday company then they must have an ATOL (www.atol.org) and your holiday money will be guaranteed by the Civil Aviation Authority. If you have booked just the ride, then the riding holiday company must have in place separate arrangements to ensure your money is safe. In The Saddle has a bond with ABTA for this type of business. So, this means you don’t have to worry about sending thousands of pounds overseas and wondering if the ride organiser is actually going to still be there when you go on holiday.

Happy Trails to you until we meet again . . .

Equine Vet Technologies used Today

Today, equine veterinarians can diagnose and treat disease with more speed and certainty than ever thanks to an array of increasingly sophisticated technologies. The digitization of clinical information has had a profound impact on the quality of veterinary care and how veterinarians consult with one another and communicate information to clients. In today's blog post I will be reviewing some of these technologies in use today.

 Anaesthesia: However, for some joints some clinicians prefer to use general anaesthesia. The Hallmarq MRI magnet can be rotated to facilitate this procedure and is especially useful for hock joints. Hallmarq manufactures the only MRI system that allows scans of the equine foot and lower limb in a standing position without requiring general anaesthesia. This unique ability has come about as the result of years of research and development.

 

Computed Tomography (CT) Computed tomography uses radiographs (X rays) and image processing software to generate three-dimensional images of body structures. "CT allows us to really evaluate bone, because it is still X ray technology," says Pease. Unlike a radiograph, which provides a two-dimensional image, CT displays structures in three dimensions by taking pictures in "slices and CT is very good for visualizing head trauma, dental disease, and nasal problems, which are common in horses " according to Pease. "The structures of the head are difficult to see in two dimensions because there is so much superimposition (anatomical structures located above and beneath each other)."

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Magnetic resonance refers to the movement of water molecules in the body (much of the body is water) when they are pulled by an electromagnetic field. An MRI machine consists of a radio frequency transmitter, a magnet, a computer to process images, and a computer monitor on which to view the images. A radio frequency is applied to the magnetic field, which temporarily pushes hydrogen atoms in one direction. When the molecules revert back to their original position, a special antenna (called a coil) detects and records the "spin" of the hydrogen atoms (resonance). Software transforms the resonance data into a digital image that is saved on disk or displayed on a computer screen. Different MRI pictures (called sequences) can be captured to help veterinarians fine-tune their view of anatomical structures; these sequences provide exquisite detail of water and soft tissue.

"MRI has made the most impact on diagnosing problems in the hoof and lower leg," says Pease. "Whenever you have disease or trauma, edema (fluid swelling) is one of the first things that happens. Water is detected as a bright area on an MRI. We can see the soft tissue damage where there might not necessarily be a bone lesion. This helps us diagnose navicular disease and suspensory ligament tears.

Scintigraphy With scintigraphy the veterinarian injects a specialized agent into the horse that has small amounts of radioactive material. This agent selectively binds to or is eliminated from specific structures. A special gamma camera detects gamma radiation emissions from the radioactive material and records the images on a computer display or film. Scintigraphy not only helps reveal disease processes but  also shows functional information that cannot be detected using other imaging techniques.

"Nuclear medicine is helpful when animals have a low-grade nondescript lameness that is hard to localize," says "For example, when bone is injured, it will heal. But this process may not be severe enough to see on an X ray, though it is still causing pain and lameness. On scintigraphy we can see bone damage and healing, but we don't know exactly how bad it is or why it is damaged--we just know it is a site where bone is undergoing remodeling. We can follow up with radiographs, ultrasound, CT, or MRI depending on how bad the lameness is, to further characterize the problem. Cited on March 20/2012

OLG proposes Redirection of Racetrack Subsidies

I am retouching back on the topic of the OLG Racing debate as it was announced yesterday that the OLG wants to basically remove any and all subsidies to all of the Ontario racetracks and redirect them back to the government as of March 13/2013. Simultaneously they announced the proposal of a new casino to be built in the GTA of Toronto, with no final location chosen yet but could ultimately end up back at woodbine? Basically the government just wants to strip away the subsidies from the racetracks and the thousands of people who are directly and indirectly affected by this decision and leave the slots there for their own benefit and demise. It also calls for an expansion of slot machines beyond racetracks, which threatens the profits of Woodbine Entertainment and other Ontario track operators. On the chopping block is a revenue-sharing agreement with racetracks that gives them a cut of the slot profits, amounting to $345 million a year. The horseracing industry is concerned the move will put thousands of people out of work and has been lobbying against proposals to re-direct the money, contending that the subsidies have spurred investment in breeding and the province's agricultural sector.

I think this is another below the belt manouver that has not been fully thought out by the Ontario government, but this is what you have grown to expect isn't it? The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation is betting a new Greater Toronto Area casino will create thousands of new jobs and attract $3 billion in private investments. But they are blind to see that it will take away many more jobs and revenue then what they only hope to create. What exists now is proven and already established, which will only be stripped away by stupidity and greed. Toronto has received nearly $175 million from Woodbine profits. Although the revenue-sharing agreement is on the chopping block, slots won’t necessarily disappear at all racetracks. Overall they are claiming that the strategy should create 2,300 net new jobs and 4,000 service and hospitality sector spinoff positions, said OLG CEO Rod Phillips. However they are not accounting for the greater good and all the jobs that are currently positively affected by the agreements that is or was in place between the OLG and the ractrack subsidy as they like to call it. Overall I think it is a bad decision and we will not be able to determine the end result of this decision, however I'm sure that most would agree to disagree that it is a decision that most will look down upon and fails to show any real strategic thinking and planning, as the Government and OLG claim it to be. Toronto deserves real economic development, not the cheap veneer of it.

The provincial government seems to think it has found a sure winner at long last. But as all gamblers learn, there are no safe bets. Encouraging more Ontarians to part with their hard-earned money is no way to balance the provincial books to the tune of a 16 billion dollar deficit it currently sports.

Jockey Club Sets Up Racehorse Injury Reporting Website

The Jockey Club announced March 5 that more than a dozen racetracks have committed to publishing their statistics from the Equine Injury Database through a new website set up by the breed registry.

"The Equine Injury Database recently completed the collection of a third year of data from participating racetracks, representing approximately 93% of the racing days in North America and more than 30,000 records," said James L. Gagliano, president and chief operating officer of The Jockey Club. "Keeneland, Woodbine, and the California racetracks have made a practice of publishing their injury and/or fatality data. This new website is designed to encourage other racetracks to follow their lead and make public their data in a standard, summary fashion."

The website will be maintained by The Jockey Club. Summaries of fatality statistics for a particular track will include the month, year, number of race days, number of starts, age and sex of the horse, distance of the race, and the surface on which the incident occurred.

Among the tracks that have agreed to have their statistics published are all of the New York Racing Association (NYRA) tracks--Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga--and tracks operated by the Stronach Group--Santa Anita, Golden Gate, Gulfstream Park, Laurel Park, Pimlico, and Portland Meadows.Other participating tracks are Del Mar, Keeneland, Lone Star Park, Remington Park, Turfway Park, and Woodbine.

Barbaro After Surgery at the New Bolton Center

Photo by Sabina Louise

None of the tracks operated by Churchill Downs, Inc.--Churchill Downs, Calder Casino & Racecourse, Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, and Arlington Park--are on the list of tracks that have agreed to have their data published.

"We are committed to making our racetracks as safe as possible for our human and equine athletes," Greg Avioli, chief executive officer of the Stronach Entertainment Group, said in the release. "Sharing information through the Equine Injury Database is an important step in the industry's ongoing effort to better understand the causes of on-track injuries and take necessary steps to reduce these injuries in the future." "NYRA devotes considerable resources to the proper maintenance of our racing surfaces, and we believe they are among the safest in the country," said Charles Hayward, president and chief executive officer of NYRA. "We are happy to provide our data for The Jockey Club Equine Injury Database."

"We commend the racetracks that will be contributing to this important new website," said National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance executive director Mike Ziegler. "The collection of equine injury data is essential, and so is transparency with respect to how this data is presented to the public."

The Equine Injury Database, conceived at the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation's first Welfare and Safety of the Racehorse Summit, was launched by The Jockey Club in July 2008. A complete list of tracks participating in the Equine Injury Database can be found in the "Safety Initiatives" section of The Jockey Club website.

Originally posted on Bloodhorse.com, Cited on March8/2012

Threats to Horse Racing Subsidy Sends Industry People to Defend their "Turf"

Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan sent a chill through the horse-racing industry early last week when he unexpectedly announced during a speech in Toronto the government is going to re-evaluate the $345-million-a-year “subsidy” the industry receives through the Ontario Lottery Gaming Corp. slots-at-racetracks program.

Racing industry officials balk at Duncan’s reference to the slots-at-racetracks program as a subsidy. Rather they see the program launched by the former government of Progressive Conservative Premier Mike Harris in 1999 as a successful revenue-sharing agreement that has helped to stabilize the racing industry and allow it to begin the process of re-inventing itself in the face of increasing competition from online gambling and casinos here in Ontario and across the border in the United States.Many breeders, trainers and race track employees clearly feel the same way. The slot revenue was brought in to help stabilize the horse-racing  industry through challenging years, now they’re talking about taking that money and putting it into the general revenue of the province to be spent on other things? It’s totally inappropriate to call it a subsidy.

Hundreds of people from across Ontario are expected at a protest this afternoon organized by Ontario's horse racing industry. At a news conference earlier today, the Ontario Harness Horse Association urged the government not to scrap their share of racetrack slot revenues, because their survival depends on that revenue. The cash-strapped government has signalled that it may withdraw the money as part of its efforts to balance the books. Race track operators and local horse farmers receive about $345 million a year, about 20 percent of the $1.7 billion Ontario slots generate annually.

OHHA general manager Brian Tropea says the increase in slot machines at casinos has taken consumers away from spending cash on horse racing. "If the government hadn't become our competitor, we would be able to look after ourselves quite well. The government put slot machines in our facilities, they expanded gaming in Ontario and negatively affected our traditional revenue streams."

The OLG revenue sharing program has offset the negative financial impact slots at racetracks would otherwise have on the racing industry’s bottom line. The ever increasing competition imposed by the slots and other expanded gaming would further erode the wagering dollar to the point that the industry’s survival would be at serious risk. The government is looking to reduce the horse racing industry’s revenue share at a time when they are looking to expand their own gaming operations in direct competition with horse racing. In addition, if the proposed changes to the Criminal Code are implemented, the provinces will be allowed to operate sports betting, once again in direct competition with the horse racing industry. By preserving the existing program, the government would continue to collect $1.3 billion dollars annually from the race horse industry while ensuring Ontario’s horse racing industry remains economically sound for those rural communities and the 60,000 families that rely on the race horse industry for employment.

Its a run for the money for Ontario Horsepeople and Horses! Its one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready now go OLG go . . .

Black Caviar Undefeated Queen Sprinter World Wide of Thoroughbred Racing as of 2012

Black Caviar Photo: Jenny Evans

Black Caviar was foaled on 18 August 2006, and is a mare who is an undefeated Australian Thoroughbred racehorse, considered to be the best sprinter in the world. She has been named the WTRR World Champion Sprinter in 2010. On 31 March 2011 Black Caviar was rated one of the top Thoroughbred racehorses in the world (with a 135 rating) for the first quarter of 2011 by Timeform. She is trained by leading Melbourne-based trainer Peter Moody. Black Caviar started her five year old season by winning her second Schillaci Stakes by 4 1/4 lengths. By winning this race, Black Caviar equalled Phar Lap's record of 14 straight wins. She won her 15th race in the Moir Stakes, with a 6 length margin. She maintained her unbeaten record with win number 16 in the Patinack Farm Classic by 2.8 lengths. The champion mare returned to racing by winning the 1200 metre Group 2 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley on 27 January 2012 by 4.3 lengths in a time of 1.09.44 to remain undefeated over 17 starts. She then stepped up to 1400 metres for the first time on February 11 in the C.F. Orr Stakes at Caulfield, where she again won comfortably by 3.3 lengths.  

This YouTube video shows her most recent  win being her 18th win in the Orr Stakes.

Black Caviar's next race is yet to be determined, with the Lightning Stakes on February 18 and/or the Futurity Stakes on February 25 both possible. The Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot is a main target for the horse. Until next time, see you in the Winner circle!

A horse, A horse all my kingdom for a horse

Ancient Cave Drawing

Horses in ART

Since prehistory, horses have been a wild fascination of men and women, on every continent. They have been depicted in every art medium, from cave paintings and petroglyphs to film and sculpture. They have, and continue to evoke, the majesty of primal nature through their exuberance and grace. The history of art mirrors the changing relationship between horses and humans. The Horse has been an important companion for Man throughout the centuries and has been an integral part of man’s development from prehistoric times to today. Artistic portrayals and creations have covered a wide spectrum, including mythological, religious, story-telling, decorative, famous horses and events, warriors and battles, etc.; all of which have been past and present sources of artistic inspiration.

Horse of a Different Color by Jeff, Legg

Degas

Horses throng the history of art. The most ancient paintings that are known in the Chavet Cave in France, feature herds of horses.  Our artistic relationship with the horse has evolved alongside the animal's domestication.  Horses are poised between the energy of their wild inheritance, and the elegance of a tamed creature. The confidence of the riders is an image of civilisation. The taming of horses is one of art's oldest signifiers of beauty, yet their original wildness also feeds visions of raw power. A master of painting and sculpture was also available by the middle of the century – Edgar Degas. Degas began painting horse racing scenes when he was 27 and Classicism can be seen in lines reminiscence of Ingres. Degas was also a master at capturing movement and gesture in whatever medium he employed, be it sculpture, drawing, pastel, or painting. With the invention of photography, painters like Degas, while producing “fine” art of the highest quality, used the invention to their advantage, for study and knowledge. Even Degas’ early pencil studies show a mastery of line in his depiction of the horse that reflects the knowledge given to all through photography. In France the French Jockey Club was formed in 1833 and continued to grow and flourish throughout the century. and the Impressionistic Degas immortalized the racing scene with his painterly technique and fine discernment of horse movements.

 

Children as Activists for The Million Horse March

 

Horse Slaughter in Canada

In an effort to help Save America's Horses from slaughter, Equine Welfare Alliance in cooperation with Congressman Jim Moran and Prime Minister Alex Atamanenko, is conducting a Children's Letter Writing Campaign to Congress, the President of the United States and the Canadian Parliament.

We are asking that parents, teachers, riding schools, therapy centres, all engage their children in the civic process of affecting positive change through the petitioning of their governments. We have lesson plans written by the United Federation of Teachers Humane Committee, which parents and other adults may take to the schools for them to use. The Million Horse March – Children's Letter writing Campaign is modelled after Wild Horse Annie"s 1971 program which was instrumental in the passage of 1971 Wild Horse & Burro Protection Act. Join them on the Equine Welfare Alliance Children's Page http://www.equinewelfarealliance.org/
Our goal is the passage of Senate Bill 1176 and House Bill 2966 the American Slaughter Horse Slaughter Prevention act and Canadian Bill 322 An Act to amend the Health of Animals Act and the Meat Inspection Act (slaughter of horses for human consumption).

Final due date for submission of letters is March 20th, 2012 with presentation in DC on March 27th, 2012. Letters, poetry, drawing, etc which convey what horses mean to the children can be sent to the following address

Million Horse March - Children's Letter Writing Campaign
Attn: Jo-Claire Corcoran
301 Tazewell Avenue
Bluefield, VA 24605

The address for the Canadian Letters will be:
Million Horse March - Children's Letter Writing Campaign
ATTN: Chelsea Burton
Box 127
Chalk River, ON K0J 1J0

Cecilia and Advents Dancer

Muybridge and the discovery of "Four off the Floor"

In 1872, former Governor of California Leland Stanford, a businessman and race-horse owner, had taken a position on a popularly-debated question of the day: whether all four of a horse's hooves are off the ground at the same time during the trot. Up until this time, most paintings of horses at full gallop showed the front legs extended forward and the hind legs extended to the rear. Stanford sided with this assertion, called "unsupported transit", and took it upon himself to prove it scientifically. Stanford sought out Muybridge and hired him to settle the question. In later studies Muybridge used a series of large cameras that used glass plates placed in a line, each one being triggered by a thread as the horse passed. Later a clockwork device was used. The images were copied in the form of silhouettes onto a disc and viewed in a machine called a Zoopraxiscope. This in fact became an intermediate stage towards motion pictures or cinematography.

In 1877, Muybridge settled Stanford's question with a single photographic negative showing Stanford's Standardbred trotting horse Occident airborne at the trot. This negative was lost, but it survives through woodcuts made at the time. By 1878, spurred on by Stanford to expand the experiment, Muybridge had successfully photographed a horse in fast motion

Galloping horse set to motion using photos by Eadweard Muybridge.

Another series of photos taken at the Palo Alto Stock Farm in Stanford, California, is called Sallie Gardner at a Gallop or The Horse in Motion, and shows that the hooves do all leave the ground — although not with the legs fully extended forward and back, as contemporary illustrators tended to imagine, but rather at the moment when all the hooves are tucked under the horse as it switches from "pulling" with the front legs to "pushing" with the back legs. This series of photos stands as one of the earliest forms of videography.

Van Goghs Earlobe 2011

This is Van Goghs Earlobe who is bred by myself and Sam Son Farms.

 Thoroughbred Colt Born April 9 / 2011 and is sired by:

STRUT THE STAGE

c. h. Theatrical – Ruby Ransom by Red Ransom

Strut the Stage is a multiple graded stakes winning millionaire who is off to a great

start to his stud career. A six-time graded stakes winner of over $1,500,000, Strut the

Stage is by Champion and outstanding sire, Theatrical. He is out of a stakes winning

and multiple graded stakes producing half-sister to Horse of the Year and grade one

sire, Chief Bearhart. With just 11 starters from his first crop of two-year-olds Strut the

Stage has six winners, and two stakes winners, and is one of Canada’s top three

freshman sires of 2010.

http://www.registry.jockeyclub.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=9097948&registry=T&horse_name=Van Goghs Earlobe&dam_name=Advents Dancer&foaling_year=2011&nicking_stats_indicator=Y