The old gray mare she ain't what she use to be because but she is much, much better in the 21^st century.

For the past three years in a row from 2009 thru 2011 the celebrated horse of the year was a mare (female). Needless to say this is the first time in history. How is it that the stallions have be relegated to the back of the equine barn?

Could it be the feminization of America or genetic inbreeding?

Maybe both!

Firstly the 60's ushered in the "I am woman" movement and the de-emphasis of the importance of males in society. Did that carry over to the breeders in horse land? Well they started giving questionable names in those days.  Look at the three in a row Kentucky Derby winners of the early sixties: Chateaugay, Northern Dancer and Lucky Debonair.

Early on strong and courageous were the names given to the early Triple Crown winners such as:

War Admiral

Gallant Fox

Sir Barton

And Man of War was the greatest of the early sires of American thoroughbred breeding.

Coincidental or not the peak of racing climaxed with use of a secretary sounding name given to the greatest of modern day horses Secretariat.

Secondly the theory of reproducing the exacts had and still is foremost in horse race production. The problem is that the closer you get to trying to produce the original time and time again you can and do cross genetics too close to themselves. Even centuries ago the Bible warned humans about this sort of thing going on.

So has the feminization of human society bleed over into the horse business or too much of the same ole same ole?

You decide.