Menu

Stay in Touch
Sign up for ENews
Subscribe Now

Unlimited access >

Menu

Grooming on the track -- help?

Racing
#61

[QUOTE=LaurieB;4038772]
I repeat: it’s attitudes like this–coupled with costs that are rising exponentially because so many people feel the same way you do–that are driving owners out of the industry in droves. As for “crying poverty”, it costs us on average 50k per year for each horse that we’re racing. But I guess you think we’re not paying enough? :confused:[/QUOTE]
Race Horses are not for the light of wallet. Those who can’t afford to play need a different hobby. Those of us who make our living with horses are not in the business of subsidizing someone elses amusement.

By the way JHUshoer20, if you haven’t yet figured out that Dick Hertz is a pseudonym, you probably haven’t said it aloud.

Hey, for all I know it’s liable to be his given name. Might he be of any relation to Mike Hunt?
George

#62

[QUOTE=JHUshoer20;4038721]
Because you mention the place a lot yourself which leads me to believe you might have stalls there if you do in fact exist beyond these boards.
George[/QUOTE]

I race at penn a lot…what does that have to do with giving a newbie advice on being a groom?

#63

[QUOTE=DickHertz;4038891]
I race at penn a lot…what does that have to do with giving a newbie advice on being a groom?[/QUOTE]
A great deal depending upon your frame of reference:yes:

#64

Still waiting to hear names of outfits that have 3-1 ratio since you are the well-travelled farrier.

#65

[QUOTE=DickHertz;4038934]
Still waiting to hear names of outfits that have 3-1 ratio since you are the well-travelled farrier.[/QUOTE]Not me, I’m a horseshoer:winkgrin:

I’d say any well run outfit. For specific names I’d have to get back to you on it. Is not something I pay much attention too
George

#66

[QUOTE=JHUshoer20;4038942]

I’d say any well run outfit. For specific names I’d have to get back to you on it. Is not something I pay much attention too
George[/QUOTE]

That’s what I thought.

#67

[QUOTE=DickHertz;4038955]
That’s what I thought.[/QUOTE]
So being as that you’ve already acknowledged that it’s the right way to do things would naming names really make you change your ways? Especially if proven to be more profitable?
George

#68

I also think each horse should be hand grazed for four hours a day, be turned out at least every other day, be given adequan once a week, be given 5 pounds of carrots a day and race only once every four weeks. Doesn’t mean I tell a groom to go find a job in this type of outfit.

#69

[QUOTE=DickHertz;4039018]
I also think each horse should be hand grazed for four hours a day, be turned out at least every other day, be given adequan once a week, be given 5 pounds of carrots a day and race only once every four weeks. Doesn’t mean I tell a groom to go find a job in this type of outfit.[/QUOTE]
Don’t forget no mechanical walkers either:D

Maybe I need to toughen up a bit. I’d at least let them use wheelbarrows. Some NY outfits won’t have them in their barns either:eek:
George

#70

[QUOTE=JHUshoer20;4035999]
Owners can easily pay but don’t because they don’t have to. [/QUOTE]

Wealthy owners crying poverty is pretty normal as it’s always been so that can have a deaf ear turned to it.

Race Horses are not for the light of wallet. Those who can’t afford to play need a different hobby. Those of us who make our living with horses are not in the business of subsidizing someone elses amusement.

I guess I’ll stop trying to make my point. You’re obviously too bitter to listen to anyone’s opinion but your own. :rolleyes:

#71

[QUOTE=JHUshoer20;4038861]

OTOH it is pretty difficult extracting money from a trainer who hasn’t been paid by his owner but that owner always seems to find money to go buy another horse. Go figure
George[/QUOTE]

No arguements there. That’s why I rarely board outside horses. I’d have people not pay their board, but you look at the sales results, and they’re buying, buying, buying.

I agree, you get what you pay for with shoeing. I love my farrier and I’m happy to pay it. I was trying to make the point that very few owners are ‘wealthy.’ The business is a more commercial enterprise now, so everyone needs to be aware of the bottom line. If, as you say, people that are ‘light of wallet’ should not own racehorses, then something tells me you would probably be out of a job, because there would be very few owners.

#72

[QUOTE=Las Olas;4039534]
If, as you say, people that are ‘light of wallet’ should not own racehorses, then something tells me you would probably be out of a job, because there would be very few owners.[/QUOTE]
As long as there is money some will have it and some won’t. As long as racing exists people with money will participate in it. I’ll likely always work about as much as I want to just as I always have:cool:
George

#73

[QUOTE=JHUshoer20;4039553]
As long as there is money some will have it and some won’t. As long as racing exists people with money will participate in it. I’ll likely always work about as much as I want to just as I always have:cool:
George[/QUOTE]

Then you are very lucky/very talented. But, although I do understand where you are coming from, I do think you are being a bit shortsighted. The industry has changed and, for better or worse, that’s the bottom line. I don’t think that a trainer having a groom rub more than 3 horses automatically makes them a cheap outfit.

Sorry to the OP. If her first day at the track didn’t scare her off, we probably did!

#74

I remember when I first came onto the track grooms were rubbing 3… fast forward 7-10 yrs and the norm was 4… and thats the most I personally would ever let an average groom rub and then I still would jump in to help.

The cost of living continually goes up, and so would the grooms pay, only if they were worth it… that part was the real challenge.

I remember one winter standing there with a barn full (around 40, and 4 grooms) most of the grooms had gone home for three months… it was a nightmare to say the least. Thankfully it didnt last to long, but there were a lot of shortcuts taken during that time, and I could never imagine running an outfit like that on a day to day basis for any period of time!

#75

[QUOTE=DickHertz;4039018]
I also think each horse should be hand grazed for four hours a day, be turned out at least every other day, be given adequan once a week, be given 5 pounds of carrots a day and race only once every four weeks. Doesn’t mean I tell a groom to go find a job in this type of outfit.[/QUOTE]

Wait a minute… hand grazed for four hours each day? I thought you said a groom could do three horses… Even that guy would be standing out in the lawn for 12 hours each day on top of his regular duties. :confused:

#76

Smart Alec Dick is saying that IN AN IDEAL SITUATION he would love to see horses hand grazed for 4 hours. Not that he expects a groom to do that. But if you could create your optimum training schedule for each horse, it would it would include 4 hours of grazing per day. Sort of like the “IDEAL” is for a groom to rub 3 tops. But we live in the real world, not an ideal one, and what we WANT and what we can expect are 2 different things.

#77

[QUOTE=Jessi P;4040879]
Smart Alec Dick is saying that IN AN IDEAL SITUATION he would love to see horses hand grazed for 4 hours. Not that he expects a groom to do that. But if you could create your optimum training schedule for each horse, it would it would include 4 hours of grazing per day. Sort of like the “IDEAL” is for a groom to rub 3 tops. But we live in the real world, not an ideal one, and what we WANT and what we can expect are 2 different things.[/QUOTE]

Oh, totally read that one wrong…:lol:

#78

[QUOTE=Jessi P;4040879]
Dick is saying that IN AN IDEAL SITUATION he would love to see horses hand grazed for 4 hours. Not that he expects a groom to do that. [/QUOTE]

Ahh, so there is also a position called “grazer guy” a.k.a. “general roustabout”

Just trying to keep up :wink:

#79

It’s often the grooms jobs to graze after training or at pm feed time… we had capable hotwalkers do it after horses were bathed and cooled out.

#80

That’s assuming there is some grass to graze upon…mighty slim pickins in East Boston.

Get your Digital Subscription here - only $21.95 / year

Subscribe here
See gift options

Sign up to our monthly newsletter!

By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.

Copyright © 2023 The Chronicle of the Horse