Words from Harry Harvey, Part 2
by Murray Brown
Part 1 is here.
Last week’s column dealt with two addresses delivered to members of the Connecticut Valley Trotting Association by Hall of Fame horseman Harry Harvey in the early 1960s. Harvey was then the farm manager at Delvin and Mary Lib Miller’s Meadow Lands Farm. Much of what he said then, over 60 years ago, holds a great deal of truth today.
We shared his first 10 points last week, so here are the last 21:
11. “I am an advocate of lots of rollicking exercise for young stock up to about three months before the sale. If you are selling yearlings, it is best to get them up at that time for regular grooming and handling. If you are going to train your stock, you can wait until fall before picking them up.”
12. [We at] Meadow Lands Farm hitch our yearlings before sale, I think controlled exercise is most beneficial for all concerned, particularly when you consider what a 2-year-old must learn in a few short months.”
13. “Some farms paddock their yearlings, others either lunge or pony them. Whatever method you use, try to peak them for the sale. There is only one payday in raising yearlings for the market. Fat is still the best color, but do not overdo it to the detriment of physical fitness. Remember a racehorse is an equine athlete and should be trained for one objective – winning [races].”
14. “As a group, young horses are coming to hand a lot quicker than they used to. I attribute this [almost entirely] to improvement of the breed through selection. It is not necessary to train them as much before they show speed. I believe that our horses have improved and our methods of training have changed to keep up.”
15. “A good broodmare is your most valuable asset. It has been proven by figure experts that top racemares are the best source of worthwhile matrons. I know that mares of top racing class come high and most are not for sale.”
16. “The next class [in my opinion] are mares that did not race as well but have proper pedigree credentials. There are many in this group. I think money earnings in relation to where they raced is a good guide. A mare that had real speed, but could not carry the distance should not be overlooked.”
17. “The next group are the well-bred ones. By that I mean mares with a lot of good kinfolk close up on both sides of the pedigree, but for reasons were not successful themselves. Better to sort this group over and weed out the ones of bad conformation and undesirable dispositions.”
18. “If our bankroll is limited, we should look to mares that may not have a fashionable sire, but have a good bottom line, going back to families with a high percentage of class. Mares from this category produce good racehorses. We should breed with one objective, turning out a top-class horse. We will always end up with more than enough of the other kind.”
19. “In selecting a mare, I much prefer one with a certain amount of refinement. I have seen some of the top mares of our time. Believe me, they [usually] look the part.”
20. “The over-riding goal should be to do the best we can with what we have. I believe it wise for the beginner to consult a knowledgeable horseman concerning a prospective broodmare. The best of them will be glad to discuss the merit or lack of it in a pedigree.”
21. “I liken the [good breeding] program to a triangle. The three sides are environment, training, and heredity.”
22. “Good environment includes good pastures. These should be well cared for and safely fenced. Easily available water [should be] basic.”
23. “All of your breeding animals should get plenty of outdoor exercise in all seasons. It goes without saying that racing stock doesn’t amount to much without [proper] conditioning. Breeding horses should not be hot house animals which are adverse to inclement weather.”
24. “At Meadow Lands Farm, the days of the year that our mares are not out at least seven hours might add up to about three. Foals should be turned out with their dams soon after birth. Start them with a few minutes at first, then increase it gradually. Gauge the weather, trying not to get the foals wet or overly tired. Be careful in summer. Often when young foals become overheated, they end up with respiratory complications.”
25. “Keep adequate records and concentrate on detail to run a successful breeding operation.”
26. “I’m a strong advocate for loose housing for yearlings. Knots and cuts will show up, but permanent injuries by this method of rearing are few.”
27. “The second side of our triangle is training. The starting point of training is the horse’s head. I want a halter on the foal soon after birth. This helps to teach the foal to lead properly. They do not forget this and it helps later. Underlying the first two phases – environment and training, competent personnel are a prime prerequisite.”
28. “The final and to me the most important point of the triangle is heredity. Most of our experts on breeding are well versed in the role of pedigrees. The abiding question of those here tonight is to do the best with what we have. The buying public and the race summaries will evaluate our degree of success.”
29. “Those of you who enjoy a horse for its company can get them wholesale. No matter how you go about it, the cost of breeding, raising, training, and racing a horse is high. One good mare is worth a whole lot more than several ordinary ones. You should try to breed to the best horse possible within your means. Remember when you breed a mare this spring, you are dealing in futures.”
30. “I’m a huge advocate of conformation. You will find that really good horses usually look the part.”
31. “Horse raising and racing is a game of opinions [as well as to some degree a game of chance]. We are all entitled to our own opinions. Propinquity and chance play a part in success. If we make a sincere, sustained effort to better our stock, our lot in racing will improve along with it.”
