Breaking expectations

Lacey · 28-08-2009, 08:43 PM

Okay this isn't advertising!! My dad used to break in a lot of horses in his younger years for ranches in the USA and hes been offered a few young tb to break in for racing and has taken them on and has decided hes enjoying it and is thinking of taking on some more. The only thing that is worring him is what are the horses expected to be able to do once they leave him. ie what they need to know. The owner of the horses hes doing atm is happy with what hes doing but if he were to taken on some more he wants to know a bit more! So whats your opinion what do they need to know!

Jez · 28-08-2009, 09:02 PM

Ok ..... to run fast LOL (joking) ...really as babies i would expect them to come from the breakers and be ready to go to a pretrainer with a half an idea of tracking straight and not zig zagging around the track like a maniac, a rudimentary introduction to barriers - even if it is just walking through them - a familiarity with tack and to be able to cross tie and float patiently and without scrabbling or digging (my pet hate is pawing, i can accept that in the moments before a race while being saddled but not at trackwork) - from there, its really up to the pretrainer to work on fitness and get race ready but a good breaking does go a long way to making the horse easy to work with. Ive had absolute darlings and absolute shockers to handle and I know which get better jockeys and stand more chance of putting in a good performance for their early trials. Best of luck

BigRed · 29-08-2009, 12:02 PM

Maybe I have high expectations but when when horses come back from the breakers they should be pretty much ready to come to the trainers and get fit for racing. Trainers just don't have the time to re educate the new ones that come in but alot of the time thats whats happens.
Some horses get broken in and are sent off to the trainers after 2 to 3 weeks to me thats just maddness, this early education will be the foundation of their racing career.
They need to be educated just as you would any horse for riding, being able to shod, floated all the basics,and good sound ground work with the bit, their paces and the rider, and then some more, like Jez said to work down the track (but this comes back to sound early ground work too) so they need to be taken to the track and taught how to work there, go through the barriers ect and I think an important part also is to work amongst a group of other horses so they get used to moving amonst each other.
You should be able to put a pad on them and not have them buck their brand off too!

Jez · 29-08-2009, 12:21 PM

BigRed whats your thoughts on having a short spell after coming from the breakers before going to pretrainers/trainers "to think about it".....

Ive had horses broken in at the trainers on the backtrack and be at Ascot working in ten days (this horse just had an exceptional temprament) then sent out for a couple of weeks for a think about it....then ive had horses broken and sent home for a month off before going to pretrainers and straight onto trainers...

Your thoughts? im not sure that there is a wrong or right in this perhaps its a horse by horse thing.

BigRed · 29-08-2009, 01:07 PM

I think Jez it depends on the horse and the age and maturity of them and how they handled being broken in. Some come in straight from the paddock living pretty much in a herd situation with only the basic handling and its a big shock for them and they may take a bit longer to adapt and putting them straight into work maybe too much for them. I think it just depends on each horse but I think a bit of work after they get broken in is benifical maybe get them up to speed then give them a break but it definately is a horse by horse thing, some are early maturing some are late and also owners like to see the horses up and running so theres always the pressure to get them racing as well to add to the equation!
These are just my thoughts on it but I reckon if the horse is a late maturing(or any horse really) to not just put him back in the paddock but to just hack him out in the bush or where ever no pressure on them just a bit of long slow work even arena work or if they do go in a paddock a nice hilly one!
It its a tricky one but I think it is a horse by horse thing.

MinninupRoad · 29-08-2009, 05:42 PM

i do a little bit of riding for a pre-trainer 2ish days a week, all the ones we get come straight from the breaker usually, they tie up, stand in the wash bay, walk trot and canter in a straight line and generally speaking have good manners.

i havent ridden many but we did have one that was broken in and then spelled, she has been more difficult than the ones who came straight from the pre-trainer

i guess they get exposed to heaps during pre-training depending on where they are, and im pretty sure (not certain) it is the pre-trainer who teaches them how to run, work into the bridle etc.

all of ours have been darlings (with a couple of exceptions of course

), but i think that is the environment they are in where i ride and how they are treated and what not.