By C.R. Potocnik; C. Potocnik; Prof. F.C.V. Potocnik
Photography: Courtesy of the authors
While the history might be familiar, this valuable study also provides an in-depth analysis of the influence of Thorougbred blood in today’s sport horse breeding, using the 2024 WBFSH top-10 sires ranking, and will be published in two parts, in this issue and in August 2025.
The history of the horse in sport spans centuries. Some of the earliest archaeological evidence of domesticated horses exists in present-day Kazakhstan, where horses with bridles and basic tack have been found, indicating ridden and work functions. Evidence of early horse chariot and riding racing has also been found in the cultures of Ancient Greece, Rome, Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. These races were also features in festivals and the Ancient Olympics as early as 700 BC.
In more recent history, different countries have played their own specific roles in the development of the horse and its sport-related skills. Britain in particular made special contribution to the development of the hunter and steeple chaser, which has been produced for nearly three centuries, the steeplechaser and the Thoroughbred. During this era, what started as an oral tradition of telling the history of a horse at sale eventually led to a formal registration, including pedigree charts of each mating pair, so that breeding became exclusive to only horses whose lineage could be proven. This process effectively created the Thoroughbred and led to record books like the General Stud Book and the Jockey Club.
History: Arabian, Turkish, or Barb origins.
The early organisation of horse racing in England is documented to have occurred in the 11th and 12th centuries. At the time, Knights returning from the Crusades reported stories of the speed and endurance of horses from the orient. These horses (primarily Arabs or Turkoman) were famous for their speed, endurance, agility and conformation. Ultimately, this motivated the import of some of these horses to assist with the improvement of pedigrees and racing ability of England’s native stock which were extremely heavy.
Three stallions the Byerley Turk, Godolphin Arabian and Darley Arabian were imported from the Middle East into England in the late 17th /early 18th centuries, and are found to be the progenitors of nearly all modern Thoroughbreds. At the time of their import, they were crossbred with heavy, native mares and the careful selection of progeny led to the Thoroughbred’s characteristic qualities of speed and endurance...
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