you are researching prospective OTTBs’ backgrounds, it may be desirable to consider one that went through the two-year-old-in-training sales because many of these horses tend to be easier to handle and teach new skills. But, bear in mind the possible negative side effects to this fast-track training: while this early education does give these particular horses a head start in their riding horse educations (should they retire from the track early), it also imposes more pressure and physical strain at a young age. Plus, so much time indoors early in life encourages some horses to develop bad habits, and a few act out because they are asked to do too much, too soon. Conscientious trainers notice this and withdraw such anxious horses from the sales prep or regular training, opting instead to turn them out to pasture for a while and re-enter the training program later in their two-year-old year. However, some trainers push their horses and deal with the consequences later.
Breaking and Training
A lot of money is at stake in the racing industry, and horses don’t earn their keep by standing around in the barn. While trainers of other breeds and in other disciplines allow young horses to fully mature before being ridden—many Warmbloods are not started under saddle until age three or four—many Thoroughbreds are started in training as early as October of their yearling year. (Note: all Thoroughbreds, no matter what month of the year they are born, are given a birth date of January 1, and so it goes without saying that foals born later in any given year are at a disadvantage.) Of course, not all racehorse trainers impose the same time frame and, as I mentioned in the section on prepping two-year-olds for sales, some do employ a slightly slower training process in order to minimize stress on their horses.
Breaking on the Farm
Thoroughbreds are started under saddle using a variety of methods, just as there are many approaches to backing pleasure or show horses. Each trainer or owner has his own philosophy on how the breaking process should go. Some training farms do a month of groundwork, teaching the horse to be longed and ground driven before he is backed. A few farms do “sacking out” or desensitizing exercises in the round pen.
As with other breeds and disciplines, during early training the young Thoroughbred is first taught to wear a saddle and bridle, then carry a rider. Usually a couple of handlers are present the first time the horse is mounted. In the ideal scenario, they work very slowly with the horse, lifting the rider onto the horse’s back in a calm and matter-of-fact series of events.
With the rider on and a handler on the ground at all times, the horse’s training under saddle starts in a round pen or small arena. After learning to walk and trot he is taken to a training track, probably accompanied by a “pony horse” the first several times out on the track. A pony horse babysits a young racehorse, giving him confidence in his new environment and helping ensure he doesn’t get unruly. After that, young horses go out in groups and just jog around the track. Once they are comfortable jogging, the exercise riders let them canter.
For most horses, all of this is accomplished in about 100 days. At that point, if a horse shows enough physical maturity and potential, the trainer continues his program and starts working him at faster speeds. Physically and mentally immature horses are sometimes turned back out to pasture for a couple of months and resume their training in early fall.
1.5 Some farms take the time to incorporate ground-driving in their young Thoroughbred training program, allowing horses to be prepared for work under saddle without incurring undue stress and strain.
Trainers at “quality” farms take this kind of extra time and work with each young horse until he’s completely comfortable, but unfortunately, there are some trainers who mold a horse to their timetable rather than fit the program to each horse. These horses end up training on the track, whether they’re ready or not.
The Importance of Preparing for the Track
Life at the track is fast-paced and busy. Without sufficient preparation for the change from early life on the farm to this new environment, the experience can be so stressful that some horses never transition. At New Vocations, we have only seen a few of these cases.
1.6 “Pony” horses are regularly used in training to help young Thoroughbreds gain confidence on the track.
It seems like common sense that a sufficiently trained and well-broken horse will have a better chance of racing successfully. Unfortunately, many owners do not know enough about racehorse training to realize that spending more money up front gives a horse a better chance of winning. While I have met many wonderful owners who make sure that their horses receive a solid foundation before going to the track, I have also met some who do not want or cannot afford to invest the time or money to get a Thoroughbred started well. For example, I have seen two-year-olds with only 30 days of training under saddle end up at the track. Often these horses end up being extremely nervous and develop bad habits that will persist after they retire from racing.
LIFE AT THE TRACK
1.7 A–J When working with an OTTB, it is important to consider the life he lived as a racehorse-in-training. The backstretch is a busy yet highly structured environment, which is why most OTTBs appreciate and thrive on a steady routine (A). On and around the track, there are rules for everything. Horses are walked to and from their workouts, some with a handler, while others can be ridden on a loose rein (B). Once on the track, jogging is limited to track space off the inside rail (C), as are slow steady gallops by single horses and the riders (D). Daily gallops are sometimes performed in pairs or small groups (E), while faster “workouts” usually involve two horses on the inside rail (F). After exercise, horses are bathed and hand-walked (G), and their legs wrapped for protection and support (H & I).
It is often hard to determine the actual experiences of an ex-racehorse, but when we receive an extremely nervous horse at New Vocations, chances are he was improperly and impatiently trained as a youngster. In such situations, our policy is to take him back to square one and begin again with work on the ground and in the round pen to give him a solid foundation before asking anything more demanding. (I discuss this process in detail beginning on p. 93.)
A Day at the Racetrack
It benefits everyone interested in owning an ex-racehorse to know what happens during a typical day at the track. If you have
