Stud: Adventures in Breeding
By Kevin Conley
"The Kentucky Derby is often called the most exciting two minutes in sports; Storm Cat is probably its most expensive thirty seconds." So writes Kevin Conley in his new book Stud: Adventures in Breeding. He takes an in-depth look at the world of horse breeding, from the big-name Thoroughbred farms in Kentucky, to more modest operations in California and New Mexico, to the "artificial" ways of the Standardbred, and ultimately to harem stallions in the wild. He takes the reader on a tour, from Kentucky to Kazahstan and points in between, exploring the history of horse breeding and, by design, the history of horse domestication.
Fans of Thoroughbred racing will not be disappointed. Conley visits Overbrook Farm, home of Storm Cat and many of his sons including then-first-year sire Cat Thief. Using the sireline of Cat Thief, Conley gives the reader a brief history lesson on the Thoroughbred. He also visits Harris Ranch in Coalinga, California, where 2000 Horse of the Year Tiznow's sire Cee's Tizzy resides. Back in Kentucky, the scene changes to Rood and Riddle veterinary hospital, where Conley describes in great detail the neurological surgery underwent by Seattle Slew. He then pays a visit to Hanover Shoe Farms in Pennsylvania, America's most successful Standardbred breeding farm. Unlike Thoroughbreds, where "natural cover" is required (which, as he demonstrates, is anything but natural), Standardbreds are artificially inseminated, avoiding such complications as venereal disease and injury to horses or handlers.
The book goes well beyond the expected and overly recycled discussions of the big money breeding business or the equine reproductive act. Instead, Conley takes full advantage of his witty writing style and sense of humor to give the reader a thorough yet entertaining look at horses and the people who surround them. The book is a fast-paced read and is recommended to all fans of the horse, especially racing fans.
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