Supported By
Contact:
Di Arbuthnot (Director of Operations)
T: 01488 648998
E: info@ror.org.uk
Registered Office:
Retraining of Racehorses
75 High Holborn
London WC1V 6LS
UK Registered Charity No: 1084787
View Terms and Conditions
Life of a Racehorse
Racehorses have a busy life even before they reach the trainer’s yard as yearlings or in the case of National Hunt horses, three-year-olds.
Many foals will already have travelled with their dam to the next appointment with a selected stallion within their first month, and probably seen more in their short lives than the average horse sees in a lifetime!
Thoroughbred racehorses can be sold as foals, yearlings, two-year-olds at a ‘Breeze Up’ sale or later as stores, or at the Horses-in-Training sales. Sometimes the breeder will send their horse straight to a trainer without ever going via the sale ring.
 |
 |
Flat racehorses are broken-in or ‘started’ at around 18 months of age. This process may not be as traumatic as one might think due to the fact that the horse will already be very well handled and used to having a bit in its mouth, and will usually have been lunged and led out in hand. They will also be used to wearing rugs, being shod and generally examined by a variety of people.
The way in which a horse is broken-in will depend on the preferences of the individual yard/trainer. Many horses are broken in using traditional methods that involve teaching the horse to long rein around the fields and learn the aids from the ground. Only when this stage is fully understood will the horse be asked to accept a rider. This process can take several weeks and each horse is given as much time as they need, some being very quick learners others taking longer.
|
|
Once the backing stage has been completed the racehorse will be ‘ridden away’ and taught to go out with other horses usually led by an older experienced horse. They maybe taught to canter in groups upsides other horses, this way the different characteristics of each horse can be recognised. They are also asked to trot figures of eight and ride away from the other horses – a big task for a young horse!
Once this vital process is completed the horses will be given a few quiet weeks over Christmas and New Year which gives them time to relax and develop physically and mentally. Work starts again in January (with them now officially being two-year-olds) when they are trained quietly and allowed to come to themselves whilst being educated and taught how to quicken and gallop. They are usually ridden in long stirrups in walk, trot and canter going on a different rein (direction) each day to help the muscles to develop evenly.
Once the horses are at a reasonable level of fitness they may visit the main gallops which often rises in a gradual incline, helping to build muscle strength and cardio-vascular fitness. At first the horses will only hack at a steady canter then gradually increasing the speed until they are ready to do what is often called ‘sharp’ work. This involves jumping off and ‘breezing’ over 2 -3 furlongs (400-600m) which teaches the horse to ‘jump and run’ - something that the horse will be expected to do in a race.
Often this work is done with another horse alongside which teaches the horses to ‘race’ but at the same time they are taught to ‘settle’ and listen to the jockey on top rather than gallop blindly without any control of pace. When they are nearly ready to run the young horses will be taught to enter and jump out from the stalls.
|
|
1. Racehorses are ridden differently from the average riding horse and once the initial breaking in period is completed very little time is spent ‘schooling’ the horse in a conventional way, the emphasis being on fitness and speed work.
 |
 |
2. In general, racehorses hack to and from the gallops on a loose rein, with very little interference from the rider. They usually go out in a string and are used to following the horse in front.
3. When going onto the gallops the rider takes a contact with the horse’s mouth and leans forward slightly, standing up in the stirrups, which indicates to the horse to move off in canter. The rider ‘bridges’ the reins givinghim a secure hold and allows the horse to ‘lean’ against the rider’s hand.
4. If the rider ‘changes his hands’ in other words, changes his grip on the reins or shortens them, the horse will take this as a sign to go faster, hence it is unwise to ever ‘change your hands’ if you do not wish to go faster than you are already going.
5. Likewise, when jockeys talk about a horse ‘coming off the bridle’ this means that the horse is no longer taking a firm hold on the reins or ‘leaning’ against the rider anymore. It is usually an indication that the horse is tired, however, during a race you will often see jockeys ‘changing their hands a number of times, particularly in the closing stages as it is a way of keeping the horse going forward and trying to get that last effort from the horse towards the winning line.
6. A racehorse will probably have had a whip used on it during a race as a ‘persuader’ to go faster and may relate the carrying of one to pain or punishment. Bear this in mind when re-schooling a racehorse.
Racehorses live in the equivalent of five-star hotel accommodation. They are well fed, well rugged up and receive top class care and attention. Daily life on a racing yard usually revolves around a fairly strict routine beginning at first light and ending after dark.
In most racing yards, horses will be looked after by the same lad or lass so that they can get to know them and any habits or idiosyncrasies that they might have.
Typical daily routine
The weekly exercise regime in the peak of the season usually consists of fast gallop work twice a week, steady trotting and cantering the rest of the week, with Sunday often a rest/quiet day depending on the schedule of races planned for each horse. In jumping yards the horses may undertake loose/ ridden schooling over jumps once or twice a week.
Feeding Feeding is a one of the most important parts of a horse’s training regime and most racehorses receive 3 – 4 feeds a day of a high quality scientifically formulated racing diet.
Trainers usually have one or two key staff responsible for feeding and many will use a qualified nutritionist to advise them on formulations, quantities and other matters that may arise with the diet.
The feed will contain high levels of starch and protein balanced with vitamins and minerals to provide optimum performance. Fibre has long been recognised as being crucial to a horse’s digestive health and well being, however it is often difficult to get a fit horse in training to eat sufficient fibre in a day. Consequently racehorses may suffer from stomach ulcers and other digestive problems although trainers are much more aware of this now and do their best to manage the problem.
Raceday On a race day the routine is slightly different although the horses will always be fed at least one hour before they are due to travel.
Most trainers aim to arrive at the racecourse at least three hours before the race during which time the horse can relax in the racecourse stables and may be offered a small, high fibre feed and water.
Any food and water is removed at least one hour before the race when the horse is got ready and taken over from the racecourse stables to the ‘pre-parade ring’, a walking area slightly away from the main parade ring where the horses are walked round for about 30 minutes and then saddled up in the ‘saddling boxes’.
The horse will then be walked into the main parade ring where they will usually be surrounded by crowds of people often wearing brightly coloured clothes and on a wet day brightly coloured umbrellas. At many racecourses there will be other attractions such as brass bands, funfairs and balloons so it is incredible that the horse and jockey manages to stay calm and get down to the start safely, and still have enough energy to run in a race!
It is usually much quieter down at the start and the horses will be expected to walk round in front of the stalls for a few minutes while girths are checked and numbers are called out. Once the loading up begins the horses will walk round to the back of the stalls and load in a set order. It is often during this pre-race period when horses can ‘boil over’ and it is very important to try and keep them as relaxed as possible.
Once the race is over, the winner will usually go into the ‘dope box’ where a urine sample will be routinely taken to check for the presence of any prohibited substances and the horses will be washed off and walked around until they are dry and have stopped blowing.
A horse will still have high levels of adrenaline running in its body and they require adequate time to settle down and relax before travelling home. Any injuries or cuts can be cleaned up and dressed during this time, and there is always a racecourse vet available if necessary.
The next day the horse will be trotted up to check for soundness and then led out or turned out for a pick of grass. Most horses will have a couple of days off training after they have raced and may be turned out or be on walking exercise only.
Winners Obviously training winners is the name of the game but not all horses can be as good as others. It is important to find the right level of race for each horse to give them the best opportunity.
For most racehorse owners, to win a race with their horse is a dream come true, and although there are many ‘downs’ in racing the ‘ups’ make up for them all! Winning a race at Royal Ascot or Cheltenham may be the ultimate dream, but many horses may only be capable of winning a little race at a smaller racecourse.
The job of a racehorse trainer is to maximise each horse’s potential in a relatively short timeframe. In flat racing a trainer may only have two years in which to get the best from each horse from the age of two to three-years-old. This may seem unrealistic but if a horse has not shown any ability to win a race by the time it is three-years-old it unlikely that any owner can justify the cost of keeping it in training.
Some racehorses have lengthy careers and continue to race into their teens, this often being the case with National Hunt horses.
|
|
There are many reasons why racehorses leave the industry each year, with lack of ability being top of the list, followed by injury or just too immature.
If the horse is a colt it may be that his hormones are getting the better of him and he is not concentrating. This can be solved by castrating the horse although not all owners are keen for this to happen!
Other horses may have suffered from a low grade virus or ‘poor performance syndrome’, coupled with the high cost of training an owner may decide to cut their losses.
Many racing injuries can be treated extremely well with modern veterinary techniques and physiotherapy can play a big part. Rest and recuperation at grass for a period of time can also work wonders. Most horses that come out of racing due to injury or illness will manage extremely well in another equine discipline.
Ultimately, the trainer and the owner will have to come to a decision as to whether a particular horse is worth persevering with or to retire the horse out of racing.
Owners and trainers generally take a responsible approach to retiring or re-homing their horses. The RoR centres have provided an excellent outlet for many ex-racehorses where they are professionally re-trained and re-homed responsibly.
There are also recognised Horses-in-Training sales where racehorses can be purchased, but it is helpful to know your way around these sales if you are intending to buy a horse from one of them.
Experienced riders may approach a racehorse trainer direct. From a trainer’s viewpoint it is useful to have a few people on the waiting list for an ex-racehorse as the moment an owner decides he no longer wants to keep a horse in training, the sooner that the horse can be re-homed the better, not just for the owner’s pocket but also for the long term benefit of that horse.
Don’t be afraid to ask about a horse’s history – most trainers will be more than happy to tell you if the horse has had any injuries or other problems. You can find out about the horse’s racing career via one of the racing websites or by getting in touch with Weatherbys. You can also find out quite a lot from looking at the horse’s passport such as where it was bred and when it first ran.
Be prepared to sign a form called a Non Racing Agreement which will be sent to Weatherbys together with the horse’s passport where it will be stamped and will mean that the horse can never race again. Many owners now insist on this paperwork being completed prior to parting with the horse.
|
|
|
|
Written by: Vicky Smart, wife of racehorse trainer Bryan Smart and owner/rider of Differential, RoR Show Series qualifier.
