The Best Local Horse Racing Trainers

By Kristen Baird


Owning a race worthy animals is an exciting experience. There is just nothing to compare with a day at the races cheering on your own horses to a winning finish. But behind all the fun there is a tremendous amount of work and expense. Working with a really good trainer is the best way to ensure successful race horses. These professionals really understand the business and know how to pick a winner.

Some horses are specially bred to race on the flat, whilst other have more substance and can handle the physical challenge of fences. Whichever disciple is chosen it is vital to find the very best horse racing trainers. These are seasoned professionals who really know their job and what to look for in a good thoroughbred. They will also have to make the decision of when to run the horses and what distance they will do best with. Some animals are born sprinters whilst others have more stamina and prefer a longer race.

In many parts of the country horses race in trotting or pacing contests. These animals are trained to maintain their gait whilst pulling a light weight cart controlled by a jockey. It takes a lot of skill to prevent an exuberant animal from breaking its pace and cantering. In addition the jockey must know exactly where to place himself in order to make a run for the finish line.

In the tight knit world of race horses reputation is everything. A good trainer will have plenty of people saying positive things about them. Their clients will be loyal and only to happy to give them a glowing reference. It is a good idea to talk with a number of people to ensure that there is consistency in the reports.

Training takes a long time and a lot of patience. It typically begins when a horse is two years old. They will be introduced to a light saddle and a small rider on their back. If this is done carefully there should be no problems. Once the animal is comfortable with their jockey they will increase their speed until they are confident moving at even a flat out gallop. This process often takes several months to complete.

A good barn will also have plenty of well fenced turn out areas so the horses can relax and enjoy some grass to eat. Even a valuable race animal needs time outside to stretch his legs and play. Many of the top horses have a small donkey or even a goat as a companion. This is a huge help to keeping them psychologically happy, but reduces the risk of injury from a kick or bite.

Just like people, some horses have a more high strung nature. They may feel the tension of a big race day and get over whelmed. A good trainer will recognize which of his horses need extra help and be there to keep them calm. In many cases an over excited animal will waste a lot of energy that he really needs for the race.

Keeping a horse in training is not cheap. Owners must be ready to pay for many extras on top of the regular board and care. Veterinarian bills can be quite a lot, especially if the animal gets sick. There are also race registration fees and other costs such as paying the jockey and transportation to the races.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment