Tags
aptitude, audley farm, biomechanics, bob baffert, conformation, dosage, franco varola, herd dynamic, keeneland, kerry thomas, lemhi go, northern dancer, nw management, quiet american, raise a native, rare beauty, smarty jones, thomas herding technique, typology
In selecting broodmares and mating them to stallions, there are almost as many opinions as there are buyers. Really promising physiques attract my attention, especially when allied with good racing performance. I tend to evaluate this in terms of biomechanical quality. (There are several posts on this blog regarding biomechanics available to read from last month.)
Kerry Thomas, who has developed Thomas Herding Technique, uses equine psychology and behavior characteristics to evaluate prospects. Read more about Thomas and his approach here, which also includes a 10-minute video with trainer Bob Baffert.
Another line of evaluation is deep pedigree theory and study, such as that used by Franco Varola, developer of the typology of Thoroughbred aptitudes that he described using dosage. I wrote about Varola just a few days ago (here) and was thrilled to find that Varola, as consultant to breeder Audley Farm, was involved in the production of both a mare that I own and her half-sister, whom Thomas selected as an outstanding foundation mare at the recently concluded Keeneland November sale.
The primary attraction in my purchase of G2 winner Lemhi Go was her racing class, which was quite high, allied with her pedigree. She carries no Raise a Native, and her only Northern Dancer is through that stallion’s son Giboulee, sire of Lemhi Go’s dam Midnight Rapture. Not surprisingly for a high-class racemare, Lemhi Go is a scopey mare with quality and presence. She also has a smooth, lengthy walk that is lovely to watch.
In evaluating her half-sister Rare Beauty at Keeneland, Thomas noted that Rare Beauty “was in a class by herself” as a broodmare. Thomas makes his observations purely by eye, watching horses alone or in company with others. Using the horse’s own actions to gain insight about its attitudes, he said that Rare Beauty was “the most emotionally sound, mentally prepared, highest herd dynamic mare of the sale.”
Makes her sound like a crackerjack, right? Well, she was one impressive specimen. Standing 16.3 hands, Rare Beauty was typical of her sire, Quiet American. She was quite big all over, very ruggedly made with strong bone and tendons, and well-conformed.
She has a high wither, great length through the body, and a good eye. I suspect that her stature and commanding presence caught Thomas’s eye. His summation was that “Rare Beauty’s inner character and behavioral dynamics (both Group Herd Dynamic and Individual Herd Dynamic) far exceeded her peers.”
In foal to Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones, the mare sold for $20,000 to NW Management, agent.
bloodstock in the bluegrass 
Interesting that she was bred to Smarty Jones. It will be fun to follow his top 5 Keeneland picks based on emotional conformation, as listed on Sid Fernando’s blog.
Three horses come to mind- Seattle Slew, his owners said that when they first saw him walk out of his stall he had a presence like he owned the place, and he knew it. Silver Charm- Unlike some other retired racehorses who show reservations in their new surroundings when they relocate to the stud barn, amongst other stallions, Silver Charm was also described as walking in like he was king of all he surveyed. War Emblem- Won races on the lead, was uncomfortable and unwilling to breed when he entered a community with other stallions. He has improved with being moved away from the presence of other stallions.
What an additional perk to have a spotter like Mr. Thomas comb through the top picks based on pedigree, conformation and even your biomechanics angle. It will be neat to watch these horses on the track, knowing that they have the “Eye Of The Tiger” going in to their racing career.
At least this praline thinks so. LOL!!!
An interesting study- the Barbaro siblings. Full siblings, same farm, same exposure to other horses (the herd life), same early handlers, same early trainers, in some cases same rider (Prado, Rosemary), and same trainer. The same experiment duplicated over and over. I think that would provide a good basis for winning racehorse behavior study.
Another interesting study of duplicates- Jack Werk recently did another great column titled “Giant With A Cause”- highlighting Giant’s Causeway’s success (and yes, I cannot wait for Rags To Riches filly with him to grow up and race!) I read something along the lines of Mr. Thomas talking about 70% stallion and 30% mare towards emotional confirmation? (I could be wrong, this could be out of context) Giant’s Causeway has a full sibling and top New York sire Freud as a full brother. He also has THREE MORE FULL BROTHERS SERVING AT STUD right now. Tiger Dance (the only bay, went to South Africa in 2006), Roar Of The Tiger and Tumblebrutus (in Chile?). I would think there could be some research about these brothers similarities in emotional conformation. They present a good opportunity to highlight horses we all know, good advertising in that respect.
Stables that employ Mr. Thomas could have a real edge. You could argue that bigger stables and bigger clients will be willing to pay and reap the benefits. But that is nothing new and not unacceptable. A recent popular Bloodhorse article drew rave reviews “My Horse Is Faster Than Your Horse, Let’s Race”. Mr. Thomas’s take might be “My Horse Is More Emotionally Secure Than Your Horse, Let’s See How He Dominates The Field”
Smacks of G-I-M-M-I-C-K
Perhaps that’s a touch harsh, but it is highly questionably whether the insights gained from Mr. Thomas’ field observations will translate to any advantage in selecting racing and/or breeding stock. In fact, I’d be very skeptical indeed.
On paper, the one thing that I’d give Rare Beauty credit for is producing a Touch Gold that actually raced, let alone won as a five-year-old.
Among other problems with this sort of approach is that the qualities that Mr. Thomas claims to discern may not even pass on to the offspring of a given mare.
And like all of the other gimmicky approaches to horse selection, I expect, down the road, that we will hear about some high-profile horse produced by a mare with the “highest herd dynamic” in the sale.
And then, as always, we’ll be left to wonder about the status of all of the other animals that were produced by similarly highly touted mares.
Herding is really interesting, though I found the video with Baffert kind of silly. Probably just didn’t understand what they were getting at beyond that herd instinct takes over in stressful situations and crowds
Frank, thank you for kindly alluding to my summary regarding to Rare Beauty. I am a long time admirer of experts such as yourself, Sid and Jack, and certainly appreciate your time and always, your insightful thoughts. If any of your readers have any interest in reading the full summary, I would be more than happy to send them one. Cheers Mate!
I looked up Rare Beauty at the Pedigree Query site, too bad there is no photo of her. It looks like her 2006 filly Exquisite Option only made one start, winning by 5 3/4 lengths. Gold Brew, High And Mighty, Palatine Hill are her other babies, they win points in the strong name category too (future good advertising for stallions, by picking a strong name) The last a 2007 colt by Roman Ruler. Palatine Hill will have to be one to watch!
I wonder what parts of her excellent emotional conformation come from Rare Beauty’s towering size? The same with Zenyatta.
Gimmicks?
I agree that there are a great many charlatan’s in the world. Indeed, in history. I would like to also point out one such possibility. There is a chapter in a book, “Intelligence Of The Horse”, that perhaps the modern horse world should be wary of? It is in a book called Breeding the Racehorse by this guy named Federico Tesio. Sounds like crap doesn’t it? But then again, who can truly judge, I mean there was a time when the world was flat, and to say that the sun was not the center of the universe may have gotten one killed. If we claim to be an intelligent species ourselves, maybe we can’t afford not to continue to endeavor? I don’t know, just my thought for what it is worth, I don’t have to like chocolate, but it doesn’t make the ones who do, any less than me.
And results of Tesio’s gimmicks-Ribot.
Quite a g-i-m-m-i-c-k
larryk –
Kerry Thomas and Federico Tesio – now there’s a taut analogy if ever I’ve seen one.
Be sure to update us when one of Thomas’ mares with the “highest herd dynamic” produces a Derby winner; Tesio bred 22 of them.
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Haskins, will alert when it happens.
“Haskins”?
You think that I’m Steve Haskins?
Nice try.