Horse Racing - How Racehorses Are Trained.

The definition of a race horse is a horse that competes on the flat at speed. There are no jumps and the horses tend to be thoroughbreds.

The training of racehorses usually takes place in large thoroughbred farms. The farms quite often carry out numerous operations which will include breeding and training. Usually when the horse attains a certain age it will be relocated from the breeding side of the farm and training will commence.

The training of racehorses will usually start when they are approximately 18 months old. There are a few trainers that will train yearlings on the flat but not very often as the horses legs don't fuse until they are nearly four years old. Its also interesting to bear in mind that many race horses are worth a small fortune before they have really even done anything.

Horse racing is a highly organised and competitive business. The horses are entered into very organised and specialist training programmes. No room for error here. They will be started with lunging in order that they become accustomed to verbal commands and also to respect their trainer. It is only after this stage is successful they are moved to saddle training.

A racehorses mission is to run and they don't need to know how to trot, canter or halt. In fact the first ex-racehorse I ever owned was a classic example of this. He really did only know walk and gallop. Stopping was not even in his mind! During the first part of training the trainer will quantify whether or not the horse is suitable for sprinting or distance running.

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