Everybody in the breeding industry these days likes these big, heavily muscled sorts because they are impressive to look at. But without strong underpinings, these sorts are prone to leg and ankle problems. Forego was one of the earliest of the 'big bruiser' (bigger than Secretariat, in fact) sort at the very top that I remember and he had ouchy ankles all of his career (and no bute, by the way). At some point, one reaches the point of diminishing returns in size and support vs. speed and soundness.
Some big horses DO have the underpinnings to supoort their size - most of them descendents of Hail to Reason in some way. Anybody who wants to use Corinthian should take a good hard look at his lower legs and gaits before taking the plunge.
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10-30-2007, 04:00 AM
Hybrid Mode
