Animalier sculpture "English Thoroughbred Horse" 19th century

Animalier patinated bronze sculpture, depicting English Thoroughbreds.

Thoroughbred means bred in "purity", starting from the 1791th century thanks to crosses with three Purebred Arabian stallions, the English have selected a breed to maximize its running speed. The Byerley Turk, Darley Arabian and Godolphin Arabian subjects were the progenitors of the breed, from which Herod, Eclipse and Matchem descend, currently represented with the so-called Royal mares of the Stud Book established in 1938 in England, which reaches the present day thanks to the dedication of the curators who have belonged to the Weatherby family for generations. To better understand the importance of horse racing starting from the XNUMXth century, not only in England but also in the USA, the newspapers of XNUMX wrote: ".....in the list of the most famous people of the year, in second place there is is Franklin Delano Roosevelt; at the top of the table there is not a Man but a fat, lame and stubborn horse led by an unfortunate jockey who was blind in one eye, his name was Seabiscuit."
In Italy, Federico Tesio, a great trainer and horse man, at Dormello Olgiata, made his debut in 1954 with a small and disproportionate colt, his name was Ribot, whose destiny was to become a real crack in horse racing known throughout the world.
The bronze model represents an English Thoroughbred Horse, the harness in fact allows us to identify some details typical of the horse racing tradition: the headstall with ring fillet, the collar positioned at the end of the neck, near the withers and the galloping saddle, with the special sassinga is a harness used by jockeys as further safety in case the girth breaks. In fact, the stone passes over the saddle seat and allows for a more stable fixation, it completely surrounds the horse's belly passing through the chest, leaving freedom of movement even at high paces such as galloping or hedge jumping. The tail, as per tradition, is worn short above the hocks. The functionality, as well as giving a tidy and elegant appearance, had the function of preventing the hair from getting caught between the hooves or in the shrubs during races or cross country rides, causing serious accidents. to horses and jockeys. The expression of the depicted subject denotes the typical neurility of the breed, a lively look, the mobile ears, the thin and elongated neck with a harmonious hairline, the thin limbs and the powerful rump, the tense and well-marked musculature, are characteristic the result of a selection aimed at obtaining an athlete horse.
The bronze sculptures, often anonymous, were intended for a niche collection mainly made up of enthusiasts, breeders and owners who wished to exhibit their favorites, winners or masters in the rooms of the English Jockey Clubs adjacent to the racecourses.