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Home Articles & Features

Thoroughbred Logic: “No Upkeep” | HORSE NATION

July 17, 2025
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“Realizing that your Thoroughbred has in all probability already been maintained ultimately form or type is one essential factor. Being prepared to fulfill them the place they’re and assist them get the help they want is one other crucial one.”

Welcome to the following installment of Thoroughbred Logic. On this weekly collection, Anthropologist and coach Aubrey Graham, of Kivu Sport Horses, provides perception and coaching expertise in relation to working with Thoroughbreds (though a lot will apply to all breeds). This week trip alongside as Aubrey shares her logic on upkeep and horse gross sales.

Most ISOs that go flitting across the Thoroughbred pages carry one line that drives me nuts (OK, there are quite a lot of issues in them that make me batty, however this one specifically).

“No upkeep.”

To begin, what even does that imply? For some, it appears it signifies that the horse can’t want footwear. That’s wild. I’m simply going to disregard that absurdity. However for many it signifies that they’re looking for an equine specimen in totally good bodily situation that doesn’t ask for any veterinary or specialist help all year long past annual care reminiscent of vaccines and dentals — a horse that’s to require no joint injections, no arthritis care, no common ulcer consideration, definitely no particular farrier work or further vet visits. Oh, common chiropractic or PEMF work? Which may depend too. Nope.

Overlooking good horses attributable to minor upkeep is a critical pet peeve. Picture of the beautiful Starship Augusto by Lily Drew

For a lot of of those of us who fly the “no upkeep” flag, an excellent mind on a shocking horse who actually checks all of the bins shouldn’t be sufficient to beat the annual want for hock injections. In the event that they want concussion pads up entrance when leaping to remain pleased with little Sally over 2’6″ programs, that’s an enormous ole “nope.” Worse when there is perhaps two issues to keep watch over — oh the ankles want some TLC and so they may use a spherical of gastroguard? I simply shrug. The no upkeep of us, they’re working for the hills.

I’ve heard of us say, “Oh, I’d be prepared to get them injections after they’re getting older. That’s not an enormous deal,” when taking a look at a 5 12 months outdated who ran 33 occasions and simply got here off the observe, who additionally may use some joint consideration. However after a full, excessive influence profession at 5, that’s arbitrarily too younger to be permitted to want help? Makes me nuts.

Thoroughbred Logic: “No Upkeep” | HORSE NATION

Artie (Reunion Tour) who’s certainly one of my #Makeoverhopefuls for this 12 months would require minor upkeep as he goes ahead. In my head, “Meh, that’s anticipated.” Nice photograph of him (oops with me leaping forward of the movement) by Izzy Gritsavage.

I believe quite a lot of this comes from the sense that soreness or arthritis are seen as an outdated critter’s video games. By this logic, if a horse is 16, they might have earned these injections, no downside. And for the six 12 months outdated Warmblood who was broke to trip evenly at 4 years outdated and has solely trotted across the farm a bit, positive joint upkeep is perhaps a purple flag. (I’d think about it up for dialogue, however I’m lax on these items). For many breeds that shouldn’t have excessive influence careers, upkeep is assumed to sneak in later in life, or because the proprietor’s pockets permits. Injections, specialist care, physique work all grow to be issues that horses achieve entry to over time as they pay their dues of their sport profession — as they slowly get creaky.

But when of us are making use of that logic to Thoroughbreds, they’re merely wanting by the flawed lens. One must take into account that these horses have had a full profession already after they retire from the observe. Even when they solely ran one time at age three, they definitely educated lots, accomplished their coaching farm gallops and timed exercises for months prematurely of that single begin. The pounding that occurs in racing is unmatched in another equestrian sport, together with higher stage eventing. So sure, their our bodies have seen lots by the point they’re three or 4. Maintain including the variety of races to that profile and people joints will proceed to earn their hold.

Crash (One Large Dude) had a profitable profession of 18 begins incomes $123,480 for his racing connections earlier than retiring and taking up a life as a future present hunter / eq horse. Picture courtesy of Reese Ranch.

Certain, Thoroughbreds develop arthritis as they age, however the breed usually offers with juvenile arthritis that arrives earlier than the age of 4. However whether or not attributable to arthritis or different points when on the observe, there are few methods to handle soreness: relaxation or upkeep or each. And when horses are halfway by the profession for which they had been purpose-bred to succeed, house owners usually purpose to keep up them. Some stay on anti-ulcer meds, others get common inter-articular joint injections. In different phrases, earlier than they depart the observe, many have already been (hopefully responsibly) maintained.

Beneath The Horseracing Integrity and Security Authority (HISA) — a governing physique that oversees many of the tracks in America — injections are permitted however regulated. HISA limits the proximity of injections to official work. Generally, orthobiologics, corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid (HA) merchandise or antibiotics (amongst just a few extra substances) injected into an articular area require a time lag of 14 days earlier than a race or seven days earlier than a timed exercise. For something coping with the fetlocks, the timeline is a bit longer: 14 days to exercise, 30 days to race. Any injectable gels require half a 12 months earlier than racing once more. 

Emmett (Oboy), who’s rocking across the fences in video above, will possible want a little bit of upkeep as he clicks alongside, however this child earned it with 34 begins on the observe. He additionally has a LOT of life left in these legs and joints, and the guts to move on up the degrees in the proper palms and program.

Typically, proper off the observe, their joints should still be feeling the advantages of a few of these injections, whether or not we as rehomers or house owners learn about it or not. So to buy a former racehorse however demand that they can not require what they might have already been given is insanity. Frankly, additionally it is worrying.

Once I rehome the horses I’ve restarted, I wish to know that they’ll be cared for. A tough line of “no upkeep” issues me about what occurs if, sooner or later, upkeep is required. What if at age six, that hock that was largely effective at 4 begins to get a bit sore. What if the transfer to a brand new barn produces a brand new flare up of ulcers? What if the brand new sort of pounding of a leaping profession means unexpectedly that to be sound and comfortable, the horse wants their coffin joints cared for or pads on up entrance? Will the “no upkeep” of us assess that these horses have earned the proper to care? Or will they toss the proverbial child out with the bathwater, leaving pretty horses struggling to do their new job as a result of they want a specific bodily enhance?

Possibly I’m being too exhausting on of us. I simply want that patrons (and house owners) are real looking and sort. Realizing that your Thoroughbred has in all probability already been maintained ultimately form or type is one essential factor. Being prepared to fulfill them the place they’re and assist them get the help they want is one other crucial one. And look, I’m not asking of us who’ve an acceptable funds to have to purchase horses who’ve damning lameness or may not be capable to do the job requested. It’s extra about merely understanding how that one phrase (and the hunt within the PPE to guarantee that actually no upkeep is required) exhibits that the lens is all flawed. And it tells me a lot in regards to the trade, the riders, the trainers and the place issues are going. And albeit, it’s scary.

Indy displaying off what a bit upkeep can help you do. Picture from the GVH Horse Trials, picture by Izzy Gritsavage.

So I’ll shut out this rant by discussing Indy (Star Participant). This previous weekend, this horse went out and ran his first acknowledged horse trial hosted by the Gennesee Valley Hunt. He completed his Newbie Novice debut, touchdown in third. “What a gallop.” “He’s pretty.” “Nice leap.” “He seems to be like a lot enjoyable.” It was an extended, scorching weekend of enjoyable feedback and Indy feeling like he was working round on cloud 9. Our dressage left lots to be desired (I clearly have homework… no biggie), however he tried his coronary heart out in stadium and had an absolute blast flying round cross nation.

Indy having just about the time of his life. Picture by Izzy Gritsavage.

However guess what Indy will get? Upkeep. Hocks, stifles, proper entrance ankle. Concussion pads up entrance, ulcer meds once we journey. I’m unsure at present how usually he’ll want these injections, however when he wants them once more, he’ll get them once more. Is he going to go on to be an Superior Degree eventer? His coronary heart says “Hell freakin yeah.” However his physique? In all probability not (although I’ll let him go up the degrees so long as he retains telling me he’s snug, so who is aware of?). Do I believe I can get him up by Novice or Coaching? Certain, why not? That is a type of horses you like for a lifetime (I’ve adored him since I workforce rode him on the 2021 Makeover together with his then-owner, Erica Brown). And if I used to be anti-maintenance, he’d be hanging out in a subject retired, not leaping ditches like a very comfortable, insanely athletic idiot.

Alright alright, I’m stepping off my soapbox now. Go trip, of us — I’m off to place the work in on numerous imperfect kiddos and benefit from the hell out of the brief Northern competitors season.

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