Quote:
Originally Posted by Ace
2 years ago (I think) I was invited to meet a driver, can't remember which one, but he was really great with us and answered all our questions. One thing he told us was how they get their horses. Seems that most chuckwagon horses are former race horses. Basically these horses are bred to run and when they reach the end of their peak racing days they are disguarded. This driver explained that they can't really become pleasure or ranch horses because it's ingrained in them to race. The chuck wagon drivers basically save these horses (according to this driver). He mentioned how one of his horses had an injury in a derby, and this driver bought him and rehabed him back into shape. The horse was concidered useless for prize racing.
It was certainly an interesting perspective on these horses and the risk to them. They are basically bred to race, and have nowhere to go if not for the chuck wagon circuit.
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100% correct. The chuck drivers treat their horses like family.
If, after their regular racing career is over, they don't go racing on the wagons (which they love to do), these horses typically are sent off to the packers.