UR Training Tips

Having personally galloped horses at the track for many years as an exercise rider, I love the excitement of watching a morning workout; it's the best inside look at a thoroughbred's potential before a race, and the details of the training he receives. There's something magical about the sound of hoofbeats flying across the dirt on a dewy, sunlit morning. Here in New York State, where Unbridled is based, each green horse is required to have at least three timed workouts recorded before they can race--and one or more has to start from a gate. These initial workouts are posted for the public in The Daily Racing Form and on Brisnet.com, both of which are essential resources for anyone placing an educated bet. For the unexperienced, it can prove confusing at first to grasp the significance of a particular workout; anything moving at 35 mph is going to look fast from the sidelines! However, pace is only one aspect of many when it comes to a workout--it is often the quality of the horse at speed than the quantitative number itself. Many of the thoroughbreds out in the early morning are just 2 year olds beginning their careers, and they have a lot of learning to do. Training a horse to handle all the different variables of a race while maintaining momentum is paramount to success; tack equipment, noise, the presence of other horses, and riding styles are all filtering the way a racehorse will compete. In fact, the main reason why morning gallops are so important is because it is the only training time a thoroughbred receives while being stabled at the track. Thus, careful preparation and planning has to be adjusted to each horses' style and progress: this is where your trainer comes in!
If you want to learn the basics about morning workouts for yourself, here's a layout of the most important terms to start with:

Jog
A jog is simply a trot to warm up the horse and get him focused before the gallop itself. The trot usually lasts for about 1 mile, though on wet days when the dirt is sloppy, a jog may encompass the workout altogether and extend for 2 miles.

Breeze
A breeze is a gallop in which the horse dictates the speed--in other words, he is given "free rein" to get up to the pace he prefers. The rider is encouraging but relaxed, and merely guides the ride. This is a great demonstration of the horse's personality, and his progress in training. A breeze time is initialed BG in The Daily Racing Form.

Gallop
The intensity of a gallop can vary, and this is commonly reflected in handicapper's lingo with phrases like "strong gallop", sometimes attempting to hit top speed, and "light gallop", which could mean a canter. The handling is tailored to the horse's status and what he needs to work on. This is initialed HG in The Daily Racing Form.

If the thrill of watching a thoroughbred (even better if it's your own!) is enough to get you out of bed at dawn--I would greatly encourage you to head to the track to watch a morning workout. I know I'm looking forward to many exciting moments on the backstretch at Saratoga this August. Its a great way to learn about what really goes into training a racehorse, and an inside look into the fascinating equine world.

Things To Remember:

--If you're interested in a horse, or you have the pleasure of being an owner, take the time to get up early and head out to the track. There's no better way to get to know your horse or your trainer than by getting involved!

--If you have questions while you're there, don't worry--more than likely any railbird will give you some hard-won advice!

After a nasty experience with a trainer over the well-being of my prize colt Champ, I realized that all owners need to create procedural standards with their trainers to ensure safety and success. One would think that any trainer with a good record would treat all their horses equally to your satisfaction--but think again! Trainers are busy people with complex alliances, budgets, and schedules to maintain, and what is to your and your racehorse's advantage is not necessarily at the top of their list. Bearing this in mind, a great way to proceed with a trainer when first getting on board with them is to create a contract of what actions are necessary and appropriate in the event of illness, injury, or any other concern of yours. Think of it as a prenuptial agreement--it might not be pleasant think about, but it ultimately protects what is in your best interest. How cemented you'd like to make this contract is up to you and the extent of your legal affairs, but it is a good idea to at least have something in writing, signed by all parties involved, to make sure everyone is (literally) on the same page. As with any smart investment, caution is often the partner of risk. It is also a much more ethical stance to take on the part of the horse; multi-million dollar athletes have extensive contracts detailing what they are and are not willing to do-- shouldn't your winning racehorse get similar respect? An injury that goes untreated, or treated poorly, can be the difference between a few months off and the end of a horse's career. This is why it is critical to have clear guidelines between trainers and owners about communication, prevention, and treatment.

Things to Remember:

-- Talk to your trainer about setting up a contract or procedural standards, and what that means for both of you.

-- As an owner, you bear active responsibility. Communicate with your trainer, visit your horse, research the industry and stay connected on the latest news and trends.

-- Stay passionate! Setting a precedent for being involved with your horse only raises the bar for what your team can achieve.