Where a horse is born....

[paisjpq]

In kentucky the Bluegrass region is actually a unique geological area...the 30 mile radius of land (approximate) that surrounds Lexington sits on a foundation of underlying limestone and minerals...this creates extremely fertile soil and the grasses in turn provide optimum nutrients (especially calcium) for growing bones in horses and other livestock. It is not by mistake that horse farms are concentrated in this area.

[Cajungator26]

Originally Posted by paisjpq

In kentucky the Bluegrass region is actually a unique geological area...the 30 mile radius of land (approximate) that surrounds Lexington sits on a foundation of underlying limestone and minerals...this creates extremely fertile soil and the grasses in turn provide optimum nutrients (especially calcium) for growing bones in horses and other livestock. It is not by mistake that horse farms are concentrated in this area.

Same goes for Ocala, although the soil here is not as heavily concentrated as the soil in Lexington.

[Scurlogue Champ]

Originally Posted by paisjpq

In kentucky the Bluegrass region is actually a unique geological area...the 30 mile radius of land (approximate) that surrounds Lexington sits on a foundation of underlying limestone and minerals...this creates extremely fertile soil and the grasses in turn provide optimum nutrients (especially calcium) for growing bones in horses and other livestock. It is not by mistake that horse farms are concentrated in this area.

It sure isn't by mistake that the farms are concentrated in this area. At the outset of the Civil war, all of the wealthy horse owners in Virginia, Maryland, and the Carolinas sent their absolute best stock west so they wouldn't be commandeered by the Union/Confederate forces. The railroad went as far west as Lexington.

The war ended up being a much bigger event than they imagined, and what they planned on being a few months, turned into a few years.

So, the horses stayed in Lexington and the breeding industry thrived due to the absolute best stock in America being there. People didn't scout around and after a long and lengthy search land in Lexington and say "Alas, this is the perfect soil to raise thoroughbreds on!"

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by moodwalker

It sure isn't by mistake that the farms are concentrated in this area. At the outset of the Civil war, all of the wealthy horse owners in Virginia, Maryland, and the Carolinas sent their absolute best stock west so they wouldn't be commandeered by the Union/Confederate forces. The railroad went as far west as Lexington.

The war ended up being a much bigger event than they imagined, and what they planned on being a few months, turned into a few years.

So, the horses stayed in Lexington and the breeding industry thrived due to the absolute best stock in America being there. People didn't scout around and after a long and lengthy search land in Lexington and say "Alas, this is the perfect soil to raise thoroughbreds on!"

you are correct of course, and I didn't mean to imply that someone went out on a survey to find the best place to raise a horse...but the quality of the land is why they remained after the war, and why they reamain there to this day.
i believe the region is actually on an endangered resource list (I can't remember the details) due to loss of land for development.

[Scurlogue Champ]

Originally Posted by paisjpq

you are correct of course, and I didn't mean to imply that someone went out on a survey to find the best place to raise a horse...but the quality of the land is why they remained after the war, and why they reamain there to this day.
i believe the region is actually on an endangered resource list (I can't remember the details) due to loss of land for development.

I didn't think you implied that. I was just adding to your assessment.

My apologies if it came off as such.

[SniperSB23]

The funny thing is you always hear about this great Bluegrass in Kentucky yet the horses bred in NY race every two weeks while the KY breds race every 5 to 8 weeks until they get injured. I don't understand why anyone still drops their mares in KY with all the statebred incentives out there in CA, FL, NY, MD, LA, PA, etc.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by SniperSB23

The funny thing is you always hear about this great Bluegrass in Kentucky yet the horses bred in NY race every two weeks while the KY breds race every 5 to 8 weeks until they get injured. I don't understand why anyone still drops their mares in KY with all the statebred incentives out there in CA, FL, NY, MD, LA, PA, etc.

Because when you are breeding top quality mares to high dollar stallions you are hoping not to have to resort to state bred incentives. Plus some of these states have breed back requirements where for the foal to be considered a state bred the mare must be bred back to a stallion standing in that state. One of the reasons you dont see any LA breds by good stallions out of good mares.

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Because when you are breeding top quality mares to high dollar stallions you are hoping not to have to resort to state bred incentives. Plus some of these states have breed back requirements where for the foal to be considered a state bred the mare must be bred back to a stallion standing in that state. One of the reasons you dont see any LA breds by good stallions out of good mares.

Hadn't heard of those breed back requirements. That is interesting. Do you think if you breed a top quality mare to a big money stallion and drop the foal in NY or LA instead of KY it will have any impact on the foal's chance of success? I would think the fact that if the foal doesn't amount to much that it could still get a win and maybe even a stakes win in statebred company would help improve the stallion's numbers and make it more appealing for the breeding farms to book out of state mares. I guess those same farms though are probably making a boatload off keeping many of those mares on their farms so that becomes the primary consideration which makes sense.