If you follow horse racing and happen to catch the Caulfield Cup, or the Ascot, or any other National or international event. Do you often wonder how the race horses are trained? Well, if not, not to worry, below, you’ll read an overview of how these wonderful runners are taught to do what they do best!
When looking at the past results of the Caulfield Cup or other major event it is worth looking at the several important differences between the training methods of past champions. These different training methods are not described in any racing form however if you are into horse racing then looking at the records of a trainer will give you a good idea if their methods are worth recreating.
The Life of a Thoroughbred
As much as Thoroughbreds begin their life in a similar fashion, Owner’s either purchase or keep and race horses they have bred. Thoroughbred horse auctions are usually sold at auctions such as the Kentucky Horse Auction in the United States.
Bloodstock agents play a pivotal role in helping soon to be owners link up with professional breeders that will sell them horses with qualities and abilities buyers want. Claiming races are also a domain where prospective buyers put down money to take ownership of the horses that win.
Thoroughbred horses are bred, reared, trained, raced and shipped all over the planet. However, their training methods differ extensively dependent on their place of residence. In essence, all runners are committed to their track training regimen earlier than any other riding disciplines.
By the time Thoroughbreds turn two years, they are introduced to the track training regimen. The training is a grueling affair whereby the horses are affected both psychologically and physiologically. The training sessions produce champions. However, there are animals that are not born with the ability for the sport.
A selection of Thoroughbred trainers is done through criteria that encompass previous and ongoing relationships, the trainer’s success rate, his/her training methods, access to the Racecourse. They also are put to task to define the amount of time they give to the runners, the kind of relationships they have with jockeys and their pay.
The Trainers
Plenty of top trainers all through the world are either 2nd or 3rd generation horse racing trainers. Moreover, to brush up on their training skills, a larger majority of Thoroughbred horse trainers attend college/university programs.The purpose of going back to school is to master scientific aspects, of horsey care that help them have a more broad approach and knowledge in their careers.
Horse race track training methods in the United States differ from the training methods used in the United Kingdom, as well as the training methods followed in Australia. American track workouts are shorter, and they take place at the racecourse.
The latter two countries horse training is conducted on public or jockey-club gallops. In the US, Thoroughbred racing consists only of flat racing. Very minimal to no racing is done on grass. In the UK, however, most training sessions are conducted on synthetic tracks or dirt tracks that are all weather.
A Point to Note
Thoroughbred horses bred purposely for the racecourse are subjected to a different set of commands unlike other horses in other disciplines. Track horses are taken through a “Green Broke” training regime. They are taught how to respond to simple commands such as “Go and Stop”.
They are also taught basic trot and canter gaits when not in a gallop or when not walking. The instant a runner is trained to accept a rider and responds correctly to fundamental requests, they runner is next taught how to break from the starting gate.
Runners are primarily trained early in the mornings when they are still fresh, and the training is also done way before the day warms up and temperatures become unbearable.
This article was written by John Hawthorne who is a sports and travel writer. An avid fan of Australian horse racing and when he is not researching his next destination he is trying to make his best predictions about the Cox Plate and the Caulfield Cup results.
