After such good, but heavy conversation in my recent posts, I thought it would be fun to take a look at a lighter side of race horses. This includes a new angle for betting I have stumbled upon for the Belmont and my prediction of who could win.

While touring the awesome stallions at Lane's End Farm, my buddy Aragorn stood out from the crowd with a talent I had not witnessed in person. His tongue was merrily wrapping up and around his handler's arm. That tongue was talented, and it was quite humorous.

That experience made me think back to pictures of Tiago and Cosmonaut from their races and daily activities. Tiago is captured eating strange trees and shrubbery, he seems to often be in his own world but is just cute. After Market's pics in the Del Mar Handicap on August 27, 2007 has great revelations of tongue action. Buddha displayed his tongue during the Wood Memorial Stakes in 2002. Pyro does it as well and since I am a big fan, here are some pics of him by Anne M. Eberhardt

Caption: Pyro - Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt

Caption: Pyro - Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt

These things made me wonder what is up with horses and their tongues?

Evan suggested one idea. His wife trains Thoroughbred horses for three-day eventing, and she has spoken of horses licking their lips. She said there are horses who lick their lips as a sign of processing. So a horse licking their lips is a sign of thinking and learning, not that horses who don't lick their lips aren't. In eventing, horses have much more to learn, compared to racing, with various commands, techniques, and habits.

I often hear stories of horses who will stand around and simply roll their tongues. So Marta pointed me to Aljabr at Shadwell Farm. Stories have been told of his true tongue-rolling talent. If the tongue thing works out, then maybe a new genetic quirk for greatness exists, and I need to be credited for it's exposure. Here is Aljabr's page: http://www.shadwellfarm.com/aljabr/

Caption: Big Brown and his Big Tongue - Photo: Rick Samuels

A new Triple Crown angle, that's what's up with their tongues.

The Belmont. Yes, the Belmont. I have learned through my co-worker Amidala, at least two past Belmont winners are horses who like their tongues being pulled. Victory Gallop, formerly at WinStar, likes his tongue to be pulled. Victory Gallop denied Real Quiet the Triple Crown in 1998 on a photo finish. On top of that, his son Anak Nakal will be contending in this year's Belmont. We could also look at Empire Maker, as he will stick out his tongue for you to pull. Empire Maker denied Funny Cide the 2003 Triple Crown. Is it genetics that plays a role, as in this son of Unbridled? Unbridled enjoyed having his tongue pulled. If that is the case, you might want to take a very close look at Anak Nakal!

Let me explain it like this: If Empire Maker and Unbridled both like their tongues being pulled, and Empire Maker is a son of Unbridled. Then if Victory Gallop won the Belmont and enjoys a good tongue pull, then Anak Nakal is destined to lick the field, right? I think we need to discover if Anak Nakal enjoys having his tongue pulled...if so, this angle just might work. Here is a recent article on Anak Nakal from BH.com.

Caption: Curlin - Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt

How about Tongue Ties?

Tough-guy Tom Hall made a good point on tongue ties. Would you start a collection of famous horses' tongue ties? Marta laughed and said she would not, due to the excessive slobber on the ties. Then a discussion followed describing the different materials and objects they have heard of being used for tongue ties and how you can find a nice variety laying on or around the track if you look. I seemed to have pictured an event like searching for seashells on a beach.

Caption: Tongue Tie - Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt

Anyway, If you all demand it, there are other talent angles to choose from such as Summer Squall who enjoyed lifting the foreleg for a peppermint (courtesy of Suzanne) or horses who enjoy having their gums rubbed. I also enjoyed the peanut-butter on Mr. Ed's gums to make him "talk."

UPDATE June 2, 2008:

Well Scoop Novak helped me to track down a direct source of Anak Nakal. Apparently Anak Nakal does not like his tongue to be pulled, that dosn't mean he won't play with his tongue, but, this very well could throw out my theory of the tongue angle in the Belmont. Or could it? I am not sure if all the answers we need can be taken from this pretty simple statement. Our source stated, "We don't really mess with our horses after they're done galloping; we pout them up in teir stalls and leave them be." Then Scoop asked, "Does Anak Nakal enjoy tongue action?" and the source answered, "Never. He'll bite you, that's what he'll do." 

There has been some discussion of tongue ties and the previous picture. Here is a "hot off the press" look at Big Brown's personal tongue tie. 

Caption: Big  Brown's Tongue Tie Photo: Rick Samuels

Caption: Big Brown's Tongue Tie Track Side Photo: Rick Samuels

Venturing out one night during the winter Keeneland auctions, I met a friend and co worker of Lane's End Oaktree division, while she was working. I was invited to hang out and saw my visit as an opportunity to learn about the breeding process for Thoroughbred horses. Now I get the basics of breeding, as sex isn't really too hard to understand, but I mean all the other intricacies involved.

Clearly I did not know what I was getting into. 

I was able to water the horses and went on a tour of the broodmare barns and the baby barns. I was shown the pastures at night with huddled horses on hills, with a backlit cloudy night sky. Oddly enough, they sat and stared at us, but would not budge when called at.

I learned that they breed small horses to large ones...for example, the smallest mare in the foal watch barn was bred to Rock Hard Ten. Now, I am positive they will get a good strong medium-sized horse out of the difference, but I felt really bad for that mare.  She was very small and when I went to Lane's Ends open house, I have pictures of how HUGE Rock Hard Ten is. He is a beautiful horse that demands some respect on sight. 

He's just freak'n' big people, but he is well put together...A nice triangle, good curvature on the back and evenly proportioned.  By triangle, I mean you look at the shoulders and arch at the center of the back. If the lines form a straight equilateral triangle, then the proportions are pretty good.  So make a triangle with your two pointer fingers and thumbs, hold it up towards the horses side, then picture that form traced on the horse.

There was one mistake I made in the barn however. I noticed there was one mare who was pretty active in her stall. Standing down at the far end of the barn, it seemed like she wanted some attention, so I venture down there. I was walking to end of the barn and I thought I heard some Jason movie theme sound, you know, that classic 80s horror echoing whisper sound. She was being lovey dovey from a distance and seemed to want me to come closer. So I did.

I wish I had the lesson from some co-worker on how to read body language on horses i.e. ear movement and position, tail movement and breathing. Thus, on reflection her ears were slightly pinned back, but moving still. She came to the door and stuck her nose to the bar and then slowly backed away a smidge, so I had to reach inside her stall to pet her nose. Alas, when I started to reach in from the side, because horses don't like to be approached from the center front of their head, she tilted her head sideways a tad. When my hand was almost at her lip, yep, her lip curled and I pulled back quick as her nip just missed my hand. She was a smart, sly, moody thing, but I learned my lesson. My friend working said, "Yeah, she can be mean"...but used some other choice words as a description.

The most fascinating and maybe painful thing I had learned in a while was the fact that mares are stitched.  What do I mean by stitched?  I mean they sew up the horses so they will give birth to their foals at the correct time and not prematurely.  Seriously, a needled and thick thread holding together parts of the female horse anatomy. I just didn't know and was rather taken back. Most breeding is paid per live foal, so it is important to insure maturity/timely births happen.  So at least there is a logical reason. Still, it has sat with me and left an impression of great new respect for broodmares.

Open house in elementary school always meant one important thing to me: I received a chance to show off my work from art class, and work from all those other classes we had to take, to my parents. There was just something special in showing your parents your accomplishments, and then have them respond with positive comments. Though Lane's End Farm is not exactly a school, I learned a lot during a few visits to their open house.

I wanted to go see the horses of Lane's End and who can pass up free food? So my friends Marta, Leia, and I hit the barns post complementary lunch provided by Lane's End.  The stallions were great, and this was my first open house. The experience was thrilling; to look at stallions up close, showing off their stuff. I had two great co-workers who were teaching me the ropes. Letting me know what to look for, how to act, and all the breeding prospect things to do. Lingo, body language, reaction, and a good list of what not to say, came from Leia.

I definitely wanted to see my buddy Aragorn because we had a billion ads in the work I do with his great face on it. He was very nice in person and a strong looker. He always had this confident looking groom by his side in the Lane's End PDF ads, and I met him as well. He was very nice. We also checked out Rock Hard Ten, and Mingun while another couple had Kingmambo out walking around. All the horses out were just great looking.

I was very impressed with how much stallions fill out and develop after they are done with their racing careers.  From lean and mean to big and bad. I visited the many favorites laying low in their stalls as well like Lemon Drop Kid, Mineshaft, and A. P. Indy. Seeing some of the modern legends is always fun. I just didn't realize how much horses can have personality variations. Some were lazy, some curious, while others sweet and some, were just in their own world. 

The open house left me with a lot of new knowledge and the desire to visit as many farms and open houses as possible.  Not just for free food, which was nothing short of exquisite, but to learn about the industry breeding programs. My appreciation has grown, and I encourage people to visit these farms and ask questions in groups. I understand the main purpose of the open houses are for breeders/owners who are seriously considering stallion prospects to observe them first hand, but education is key. Especially if it sways you into being a new client.

 
 Rock Hard Ten courtesy of Marta.  All Rights Reserved.