Cross Breeds

do all horses have a new yr birthday like Thoroughbred's?

i know that race horses are classed as a yr old on 1st jan even if they where born say may. is it the same for cobs etc?

Public Comments

1. Yes, all horses turn a year older every Jan.1. But for me, I celebrate their birthday on the day they were born.
2. No they do not. I have thoroubreds and other breeds and only Thorougherbreds, along with a select others, change as of Jan. 1st. This is a common miss conception. Often it is the registry and sport that dictates the age. Example: Thoroughbred is 1 year older as of jan. 1st Central FL Hunter/Jumper all horses age as of Sept 1st. NFHR all horses are as old as their own birthdays with no exception. So it really depends on regional/breed/sport/etc. Every place has their own rules and their 'idea' of what is a simple way to make all horses age together. Check with the registry for cobs. And yes, even if the horse was born in may it is 1 as of jan. 1st. This is why we have Thoroughbreds racing as 2 year olds when they are really just over ayear old. I do not race by TB's until they are chronologically 3, (usually 4 by the JC's concern) So just check for yourself to make sure whatever sport your competing in does/doesn't have these rules.
3. The "universal birthday" is only important for show and race purposes, where there are races and classes that are limited by age. The Jockey Club, in the last couple of years, got suspicious of all the Thoroughbreds that were apparently being born on January 1 or during the first week or so of January, and they now send representatives to visit the farm of foals reported to be born in early January, to make sure there is no cheating. Legendary breeder Leslie Combs II of Spendthrift farm was reportedly once told by his broodmare manager in the last week of December that a valuable mare, in foal to a very expensive stallion, was showing signs of imminent foaling. Combs instructed the manager to place the mare in an old tobacco barn, well bedded down with straw, with enough hay to last a couple of weeks, and several barrels of water, and to not visit the mare until January 1. Farm manager did as told. On January 1, Combs and the manager went to the barn and opened it up. Mare and foal present and healthy. Combs registered the foal with a January 1 birthdate and nobody contradicted him. Can't do that nowadays. This website gives links to other sites for champion racehorses, some of which have the actual birthdate for the horse. http://www.horse-races.net/library/links-famous.htm My favorite birthdate is March 29, 1917....