Just wondering…
Do horses are the track get electrolytes in their feed every day or on race days?
Do they get sprayed with fly spray before or after workouts?
Does the average racehorse get massages or chiropractic adjustments on a regular basis?
Is it common for horses at the track to have some kind of hoof treatment painted on their hooves?
I’ve heard that horses at the track get their temperature taken every morning; true or false?
The COTH racing forum is my favorite because there are experienced people so willing to share interesting backside info. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge.
All the stuff you ask just depends. Different barns do things differently. The better barns will do all that stuff but the lower class gyp barns will do as little as possible with everybody’s main objective being “getting done”. Horses unfortunate enough to be with those people are lucky to even get fed.
I don’t recall seeing anybody use fly spray but for the most part it’s really not like the farm. Flies aren’t as much of a problem there because they’re good about manure removal and is usually a lot of fans blowing in the barns so the spray isn’t as necessary.
Temperature should be taken every morning if things are being done right so I’d put that in the yes column. Everything else really just depends.
Yah all my Ottbs have had to get used to fly spray. The fans and living in make it not needed.
This might be of interest.
http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/2437211-living-like-a-king-the-pampered-life-of-a-racehorse#
We gave a “jug” of electrolytes after a race.
Didn’t need fly spray.
We had an owner once who was a chiropractor. He adjusted his own horses, other wise, no.
Never used hoof dressing. Hooves were packed with clay (or poultice) every afternoon.
Yup. Temps taken.
Of course, this was almost 40 years ago and techniques and routines have probably changed since then.
[QUOTE=littlebaypony;8796699]
Just wondering…
Do horses are the track get electrolytes in their feed every day or on race days?
Do they get sprayed with fly spray before or after workouts?
Does the average racehorse get massages or chiropractic adjustments on a regular basis?
Is it common for horses at the track to have some kind of hoof treatment painted on their hooves?
I’ve heard that horses at the track get their temperature taken every morning; true or false?
The COTH racing forum is my favorite because there are experienced people so willing to share interesting backside info. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge.[/QUOTE]
The good barns are focused on the health and conditioning of the horses. They feed high quality hay and premium feeds, with the diet tailored to each individual horse. They are staffed by experienced dedicated professionals who work as a team to ensure each horse gets the best possible care, and any illnesses or injuries are spotted early and taken care of immediately.
Temps- some take temps daily, some trust the groom to notice if anything is amiss. I lean towards daily temps, especially in the spring when the 2 yos come in.
Fly spray, hoof treatments - not used much. They train so early that bugs are not an issue, then they stand in front of fans the rest of the day. The quality of the hoof is more dependent on diet than anything else.
Massage and chiro - used sometimes in some barns on some horses. I know plenty of massage therapists and a few chiros, and none of them are making a killing at the track. If it made a big difference, and was more affordable, it would probably be more utilized.
On hot race days, horses are hosed off before being walked to the paddock. Most tracks have hoses along the outside rail, and they are hosed off after the race as soon as tack is pulled.
Things vary barn to barn. The care of the horse is only part of the equation of winning races. The horse also has to be conditioned correctly, and most of all, entered in a race it is capable of winning.
[QUOTE=Shammy Davis;8796797]
This might be of interest.
Good article. To put things in perspective:
Graham’s win % this year is under 15%. Lifetime he is 18.5%. He does win some of the biggest races in the world.
Tommy’s win % this year is just under 30%. Lifetime he is 25.6%.
I guess the only way to see if the treatments at Fair Hill really make a difference would be for an outfit to move out/in and see what happens to the numbers.
Personally, I think there are many factors that go into winning a race, with the biggest being the trainer’s ability to assess the condition and ability of his horse and put him in a race he can win.
[QUOTE=littlebaypony;8796699]
Just wondering…
Do horses are the track get electrolytes in their feed every day or on race days?
Do they get sprayed with fly spray before or after workouts?
Does the average racehorse get massages or chiropractic adjustments on a regular basis?
Is it common for horses at the track to have some kind of hoof treatment painted on their hooves?
I’ve heard that horses at the track get their temperature taken every morning; true or false?
The COTH racing forum is my favorite because there are experienced people so willing to share interesting backside info. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge.[/QUOTE]
As others have said, every barn does things a little differently. Our horses get electrolytes sometimes, depending on level of work. They see the chiropractor regularly (every 4-6 weeks, not the same schedule for each horse), massages are occasional. No hoof treatments. No fly spray (no flies). Yes, their temps are taken every morning.
The only time we ever really needed fly spray was so they would stand still for the farrier. The rest of the time they were behind a fan during fly season so the flies couldn’t really bother them.
[QUOTE=Palm Beach;8796822]
Good article. To put things in perspective:
Graham’s win % this year is under 15%. Lifetime he is 18.5%. He does win some of the biggest races in the world.
Tommy’s win % this year is just under 30%. Lifetime he is 25.6%.
I guess the only way to see if the treatments at Fair Hill really make a difference would be for an outfit to move out/in and see what happens to the numbers.
Personally, I think there are many factors that go into winning a race, with the biggest being the trainer’s ability to assess the condition and ability of his horse and put him in a race he can win.[/QUOTE]
You also have to compare apples to apples. I worked for Graham Motion back in the early 2000s, back when he and Bruce Jackson shared a barn at Fair Hill.
Graham’s barn has never been a “need to win” barn, which is an anomaly in a sport where pretty much everyone needs to win to pay the bills. He doesn’t drop horses in class for the sake of a win, nor does he run them where they are outclassed for the sake of prestige. He runs them where he feels they belong, even if it means getting beat, missing a big dance, or having to be extraordinarily patient for the right spot to open up. He appeals to clients who want this and are willing to pay for the lifestyle the horses receive.
If you’ve ever noticed, occasionally some of the big name owners and partnerships who are used to being in the limelight will move a few horses to Graham, especially after a big win. Many slip their horses out just as quickly to the likes of Amoss or Pletcher when they realize Graham’s barn may not produce the instantaneous results they were expecting/demanding. And I by no means mean that as an insult to the barns mentioned above; winning is always a good thing. :yes:
[QUOTE=Palm Beach;8796822]
Personally, I think there are many factors that go into winning a race, with the biggest being the trainer’s ability to assess the condition and ability of his horse and put him in a race he can win.[/QUOTE]
Same exact thing.
[QUOTE=Palm Beach;8796996]
Same exact thing.[/QUOTE]
My words are failing me in my communication, because my point was completely lost.
Yes, all trainers need to have the ability to pick a spot. Most trainers are picking the best spot for the horse to win. Period. End of sentence.
In Motion’s barn, they pick the best spot for the horse… and yeah, the goal is still to win, but they’re also willing to sacrifice a win if it’s for the greater good of the horse’s career… if that makes any sense at all.
[QUOTE=Texarkana;8797012]
My words are failing me in my communication, because my point was completely lost.
Yes, all trainers need to have the ability to pick a spot. Most trainers are picking the best spot for the horse to win. Period. End of sentence.
In Motion’s barn, they pick the best spot for the horse… and yeah, the goal is still to win, but they’re also willing to sacrifice a win if it’s for the greater good of the horse’s career… if that makes any sense at all.[/QUOTE]
They weren’t lost on me. A very accurate assessment.
[QUOTE=Texarkana;8797012]
My words are failing me in my communication, because my point was completely lost.
Yes, all trainers need to have the ability to pick a spot. Most trainers are picking the best spot for the horse to win. Period. End of sentence.
In Motion’s barn, they pick the best spot for the horse… and yeah, the goal is still to win, but they’re also willing to sacrifice a win if it’s for the greater good of the horse’s career… if that makes any sense at all.[/QUOTE]
Your words aren’t failing you. The point is lost on PB because it’s PB.
I’m not trying to pick a fight, I’m just trying to provide a first hand perspective on the drastic differences in the win percentage. Although I’m doing it poorly. :lol:
Thank you everyone for the input. I knew each barn would be different. We all hear about the pampering of the big stakes and Breeders Cup horses but I wondered about the average race horses. Glad to hear about their care too and glad they are receiving hands on TLC.
The article was very interesting. There is a lay-up facility (The Jaeckle Center)about an hour from me that has all the bells and whistles (38 degree whirlpool for legs, underwater treadmill, vibration floor, etc.) including an onsite equine vet facility that can even do lower leg and hoof MRIs.
Thank you all again.
[QUOTE=beowulf;8797058]
Your words aren’t failing you. The point is lost on PB because it’s PB.[/QUOTE]
Nope not at all. Which is why I am at 40%. Why run a horse if it can’t win???
Go ahead. What is your win %?
My horses get legs iced and massage and chiro as needed.
PB, you’ve made it crystal clear in previous posts that your win % is your utmost priority as an owner. I can respect that, just realize that not everyone feels the same as you.
I do all of the above at one time or another. I have a barn of cheap claimers, mostly. But my crew and I try hard and do it right. Owners will cause you to run horses over their heads sometimes. It hurts the win %
[QUOTE=Texarkana;8797891]
PB, you’ve made it crystal clear in previous posts that your win % is your utmost priority as an owner. I can respect that, just realize that not everyone feels the same as you.[/QUOTE]
Wrong again. My priority is having the horse come back to the barn safe and sound. Running a horse over its head (which means running it where it cannot win) is not fair to the horse. How can running a horse over it’s head be “good for its career?” Other than the times when a horse needs a race to get back into top shape after time off. If you’ve ever watched a hard running horse walk out of the stall the next day, you’d understand how much a race might take out of a horse. I make the drive at 5 AM to watch them come out of the stall the next morning with the trainer and vet and groom and usually the barn foreman. And because we are so careful about picking spots, the horse usually comes out of the race looking and feeling great.
Or maybe you are making fun of me because I don’t have enough money to buy or breed stallion/broodmare prospects? I understand that the very wealthy are more interested in getting black type than winning races. You can look down your nose all you want in your perfect world mindset, but have you ever managed a horse’s racing career? Oh, and guess what - all but 1 horse has left my possession sound and healthy, with over 50% of them being retired and placed in a good home.
So yes, abosolutely my win % is very important to me because that is how I can afford to give them great care and retire them when they need to be retired instead of dropping them down in class and hoping someone takes them. Some people can afford to operate in the red, I cannot.
It’s funny how people who are not as successful think that anyone who is more successful is not ethical. I’ve never ever put money before the health and welfare of any horse and shame shame shame on you for insinuating that.
