Dependence between racing performance of Thoroughbred horses and their reproduction indicators

Abstract

Thoroughbreds (TB) are treated as one of the most noble horse breeds in the world. Huge financial outlays are involved in breeding, rearing and training TBs which result in the “real breeding and racing industries” associated with Thoroughbred horses. Exhausting training, early exploitation at the race track and narrow selection toward race performance has led to deterioration of other important traits such as reproduction. Compared to other breeds TB mares exhibit more problems with fertility, abortions and foal mortality. It has been shown that these mares are characterized by higher percent of twin pregnancies and lower rearing percentage. Many authors suggest that the worst reproductive indicators are influenced by the mare's age, length and sequence of mare's heat and its season of occurrence and also the sequence of pregnancies (Bruck et al., 1993; Luszczynski et al., 2004a; Hemberg et al., 2004; Luszczynski et al., 2003; Luszczynski et al., 2004b). Also the intensive racing usability has a specific effect on the nervous system, hormonal balance and reproductive functions of further foals’ mothers. The objective of this study was the evaluation of dependencies between TB mares’ racing performance and their reproductive indicators.