The Everyday Life of a Racehorse – Prior to Training
The life of a racehorse begins long before it runs on any course. Well before the horse steps foot on a racecourse, starts its training with a racehorse trainer, or even born, breeders and owners carefully consider which sire and dam will make the best pairing to throw the ideal racehorse. These horses are carefully bred in an attempt to give select attributes to their foals. Preferably, the offspring will naturally have enough speed, staying power, and talent to make it worthwhile, and these characteristics can be honed when the horse reaches the age when it can be sent to a racehorse trainer and prepared to race.
For most racehorses, life will begin in a breeding barn on a stud farm. Mainly because all of these racehorses will be given an standard birthday of January 1, breeders plan to have foals as near to January as they can so they will have more time to grow before beginning to race as 2 yr olds. Within the initial few days of a new foal’s life, it’ll remain close by its mother as it gets strength. The colt or filly will step by step come to be more confident. At the outset, foals require the mare’s milk, but in due course it will begin to eat grass and later grain and oats. The filly or colt can be separated from the mother when it’s close to six months of age, it is then referred to as a weanling.
For a short time after being weaned, the young horses are allowed to develop in the paddocks. They are generally turned out together with other weanlings to grow and play. Weanlings become yearlings after the first January after they’re born. At this point, they are formally regarded to be a year old. While they are still a very long way from beginning work with a racehorse trainer, the horses will soon be more directly influenced by the horse racing industry.
Many yearlings who have potential future careers racing on the flat might be prepared to be sold at yearling sales. Furthermore, towards the latter stages of the year and before their next birthday, yearlings will be broken to the saddle. They’ll be taught to accept tack and even the weight of a jockey, and possible an introduction to the gallops, though they won’t be asked to perform.
Once the yearlings have been introduced to some of the elements of the life of a racehorse, the best prospects will be sent to a racehorse trainer to join his or her stable of horses in training for races. Horses are eligible to race on the flat at 2 years of age, but jumps are reserved for 3 yr olds and older horses.
Some racehorses can be hard to train. Racehorse trainers with practical experience as well as a good knowledge of how to get the best out of a horse will be a good option if your are thinking of buying a racehorse.