Total newbie to the racing world here- I just became an exercise rider for a local race farm, and my background is eventing. I know some of the basics of riding, but this new job is kicking my ass!! I only rode 8 today and I can’t remember the last time I was this sore. How long did it take you to get over that initial muscle adjustment? Also this might be a stupid question–when you breeze a horse, are there any tricks to slow them down when you’re pulling up? I haven’t breezed one yet but i suspect it’s down the road. Thank you!
Funny you should ask. A very good Event rider who worked with my re-schools but never really galloped any of my horses in race training. Just starting getting on horses for Jonathan Sheppard. She stopped in today and was saying the same thing. This gal get on some Event horses everyday. Can handle pretty tough horses without breaking a sweat.
Like all of the Event riders that have gotten on horses for me, flat and Steeplechase say. Its a lot harder than it looks from the ground. Esp the babies, 2 year olds. There are a number of tricks of the trade. Would take a far amount of verbiage to explain. The best way, pretty much the only way to learn correctly is from the pros in the barn. The riders that have been galloping for years. Don’t be embarrassed to ask. IMO ANY trainer worth working for should take you under their wing and explain things. Also put you together with a “mentor” in their barn.
IMO and experience around 4-5 out of 10 riders will not be cut out for galloping racehorses. I don’t care how many years they have been riding. Or their skill level in other disciplines. Never be afraid to tell the trainer if you don’t “get on” with a horse. A good trainer should spot that anyway. But IMO good trainers are hard to come by these days. “Name” or name.
Your arms and will be “screaming” for a while. Esp after the 5+ horses. They probably will always scream but just not as much or as loud after a few months. You legs will get stronger sooner. It’s Very important to learn the proper “grip”. Get you reins/grip set before you move off and start galloping. For most horses it is very important NOT to re-grip. No matter how much your arms are burning. Some horses a lot of racehorses will get the “jump” on you. It can be pretty difficult to get them to come back to you. Esp youngsters. On the racetrack if you get run off with. That’s one of the reasons the out riders are there.
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How many holes are you pulling up your irons? Doing it gradually will help you adjust. Take lots of anti-inflammatories! The only other advice I can offer is pay attention to your hands and what the horse is telling you . Many times they will gallop along very happily on a long rein and you don’t need to take a short hold. You really want to find that pace where the horse is comfortable, relaxed and rhythmic. I was not the strongest rider, but I was good at avoiding a tug of war with many horses and I could get them to relax and gallop rather than drag me around. Of course there were a few that I did NOT get along with!
The most important part of working is having a clock in your head. If the trainer wants the horse to work in :49 and go the first quarter in :25 and finish up in :24 you better do it like that. When galloping, you are up out of the tack, then you crouch down low to work and drop in on the rail and shorten your hold a bit depending on how fast you want to go. Once you hit the wire, you stand up and lengthen your reins and let them gallop out.
This is the perfect time of the year to work as an exercise rider (unless you are in Florida) so enjoy!!!
Gumtree and Palm Beach gave good advice. Don’t try to ride too short; I like to gallop about 2 holes higher than my XC length (note: most of the galloping I do in FL is for a trainer who works her horses in big fields on hills…not on the track… super short stirrups will put you on the ground in a heartbeat if a horse trips or spooks). It’s a balance between upper body and lower body for leverage.
Generally the trainer will select the tack the horse goes best in, but you may politely add your suggestions if you think it is in the horse’s best interest. A figure-8 can do wonders for a horse who opens his mouth to avoid your hands, and is my first suggestion for the strong puller who hangs. Pay attention to every step, and if anything feels wrong, say something. Protect the horse, protect yourself-- if you pull up because something doesn’t feel right, and the trainer berates you…find a new trainer!
Wear good gloves, and always have extra pairs. There’s nothing worse than slick wet reins yanked through your fingers by a strong horse, as you desperately try to regain your bridge (cross), which is when the horse “jumps” on you and you’re totally screwed. Hopefully you’ll have a regular set of horses that you can work with, get to know them and adapt to each other. They’ll learn what you want and how you ask for it, always pull up using the same voice, relax your hold, stand up, etc. Some sort of need to go faster than you want in the beginning, they’ll burn off some steam and then relax…if you fight from the beginning you just wear each other out. Others need to start slow and build up, if you start fast they’ll take over and run off. Some need a good hard “Sit Yo Ass Down Now!” if they bully you, others you have to finesse with your shoulders and talk nicely to them (and pretend like you MEANT to go that fast, lol). However you do it, get the horse to relax and get a good rhythm. There’s no One Way to ride a racehorse well, but there are about a million ways to get run off with!
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Well, there are tricks to the trade, and each horse is different.
If you are a “big boy” (or girl), the option is there to try to out muscle a horse to hold him. But some riders are not “big boys”, yet can still be successful. Especially if you ride the same horses each day, and YOU are their exercise rider, there is another way. It’s called “bullshitting” the horse, which means that you do NOT pull on him, do NOT try to out muscle him. You take the bridge (cross) with the reins, but push on his neck rather than pull. With some horses, if you pull, and the harder you pull, the harder they pull and they will run off with you, and you are helpless and tired. If you and the horse know each other, and can have the relationship with the horse where the horse knows that he CAN run off with you, but chooses not to, it’s easier. You do NOT take a “hold” on him, you keep him soft and relaxed. You don’t “get serious” about holding him, and he doesn’t “get serious” about running off with you. If he starts to pick up speed, you check him back, then release your hold again. A racehorse wants to run under a hold. Without a hold, he doesn’t think about running off or “breezing”. He often ends up picking up the pace a bit for an open gallop the last quarter mile or so, at the end of his run. But that’s OK. He’s a racehorse. The goal of the training is to make him think he is Secretariat, that he is “the man”, “the big hoss”. Encourage him to think that way. Total domination is not helpful for this IMO.
If you want to be a “big boy”, and pull hard to hold a horse, or if you HAVE to do this for some reason, the bridge (cross) in your reins is your friend. You take that bridge (cross) halfway up his neck when you start out. And when he hits the reins to pull, you move your bridge down his neck, towards his withers, shift your weight back and feet forward. Your “hands” hold the bridge on his neck, and he pulls against himself. Your arms you “save” until later. And yes, you need good gloves. Your back and legs will take the pressure first, your arms get tired later. Perhaps you can hold the horse, perhaps you can’t. I always preferred the first option described here if possible, it is easier on everyone.
For breezing, you trot and lope around to the correct pole, drop down to the inside rail, and allow him to run. Or, if you can’t keep the horse under control to get to that pole, you back track, and turn around giving yourself enough room to slip into a gallop before you get to the pole. Don’t drop the support on his mouth, keep a feel, keep your cross. When green, you have no idea how fast you are going. It takes years to know this, and even the experienced riders get fooled by a horse who runs easily. For the first part, you keep your legs a bit straighter, don’t get “down” like a jockey in a race. “Hold” for the first part, save yourself and your horse. At the head of the lane, you can get down more onto the withers, and give him a chirp for full speed (still keep a feel on his mouth, he balances on your hand). He needs to know that this is the part of the run that is important. When you pass the wire, you stand up again. An older horse knows where the wire is, and that it is “the end” of the run. He is ready to pull up, and usually does. Say whoa. A young, green horse is tired by then, and feels the same. Not usually a problem to pull one up AFTER a breeze. You will be stunned by the feel of a racehorse at full speed, it is exhilarating. Nothing like it. Breezing babies starts off with just a 1/8 run down the lane, and they don’t have a clue often. Older horses know more than you do, and often know when work day is. It is best to shorten the pedals a couple of holes to breeze, easier to ride shorter at speed. For galloping, “the longer you ride, the longer you ride”.
Since you are on a farm, this makes everything easier. A farm IS the best place to learn this stuff. Because the horses are more relaxed there, they know it is the farm, not the track. They tend to be less intense at the farm, and less traffic. When you move to galloping at a real racetrack, there are many more things to think about, and watch out for. Rules that you must learn and follow. Other riders who are idiots, incapable, drunk, etc. on horses who are unbroken, out of control. Also look for riders who you might learn things from. Nothing as good as getting a riding lesson from someone who is OK with taking you under their wing and teach you the ropes. Gallop in company with good riders, they will teach you as you go.
Yes, your body will ache, in places you did not know you had. Advil is your friend. That really doesn’t go away from what I remember. But perhaps you get used to feeling that way after a while LOL.
Good luck.
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In additional to the great comments above, I’ll add the following:
You shouldn’t be breezing horses until you are fit enough, experienced enough and comfortable enough to do it. Only you know when this is, so don’t let anyone talk you into doing it before you are good and ready. Don’t forget that fatigued muscles, literally, do not work, and as a result your body can fail you.
When you do start breezing, you should only be doing it on horses that you have been galloping, so you know them well. Don’t breeze a strange horse until you have become fit and experienced breezing horses, and there are plenty of experienced and fit riders I know who won’t do it even then.
In general, pulling a horse up after a breeze shouldn’t be a problem because they are usually somewhat tired and feel relaxed after blowing off some steam. You’re going to have more problems pulling fit horses up after a one-mile gallop, when they want to keep going and you want to stop. When you breeze, you have to be mindful of keeping them straight and not getting out on the turns, which some try to do for a variety of reasons. You have to keep contact and stay in tune with them, because breezing horses are more inclined than others to do stupid things, like bolt.
Lastly, you should feel good about the person you are working for and feel comfortable about what they ask of you and their horses. Have fun, its a great thing to learn.
LOL, I will never forget how my quads were screaming after my first work! I was blowing 5x as hard as the horse.
My legs weren’t too sore but my upper body hurt in places I truly didn’t know existed! Like tiny muscles in my armpit and on either side of my neck. I was not a very good exercise rider so didn’t do it a whole lot but occasionally when I coudln’t get a rider I had no choice so like three or four times a year I would gallop one and not be able to move for a week.
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THIS!!! SO MUCH THIS!
You come down slowly from their breeze, and the horses tend to learn pretty quickly where they start and stop their breezes, so stopping is typically easier then what you would expect.
Although, I actually like breezing horses I don’t ride everyday. Sometimes its almost easier because you have no relationship with the horse and you have to get it done, so you get it done.
Once you learn how to use yourself, you may find your butt and thighs get sore before your arms. I’m little, I can not out muscle anything, nor do I have the energy to even try, and I can’t really “hold” a horse, what I can do is stay super relaxed, and get a horse to settle and carry themselves and not pull on me. My arms are soft, my hands are light. I’m definitely a member of the longer rein and ride off the yoke, and use your butt as an anchor clu
I’m also an event rider, (although I said that the other day and got yelled at and was told I’m now a racetracker and event on the side now) Keep your feet out in front of you, that’s still the hardest thing for me.
HAVE FUN!
OP, how about an update??? Please say you are sore but happy!
Thanks for the great advices!!! This is really helpful. Currently even galloping 6 makes me really tired and I tend to ride soft in my hand and not try to outmuscle the horse. When you’re galloping with your hands planted on the horse, do you feel unstable at all? I know it provides extra two points of support for the body but I do feel somewhat wobbly putting even just a little weight on my arms as in if the horse chooses to buck or something I don’t feel 100% secure in the saddle.
Hahahah YESSS Definitely happy!!! It’s a great gig and the trainer was really nice to me. I had to go to a horse trial over the weekend and believe me it was actually a nice break for my muscles! Absolutely love riding the babies and really there’s truly no other things that’s quite like the feeling on a galloping horse. Can’t wait till the day I’m fit enough to breeze one!!
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Don’t worry, you’ll have tree trunk legs and ape arms before long. That will help stabilize you.
That is because our whole entire life we were taught to carry our hands, and you are probably riding with shorter stirrups then what you’re used too (even a hole or 2 makes a difference) and I think learning to keep your hands on the neck is one of the hardest things to get used too. Try making your bridge a little wider and hanging it over the horses neck so your hands end up being on the sides of the horses neck instead of on top- not drastically-but this will help teach you to keep your hands down because it gives you something to do.
Ok I definitely got run off with a couple times the other day. Only rode 5 but practically couldn’t get out of bed the day after! One of the more experienced girls at the barn said if they run off or bolt with you they’re on a big circle any ways eventually they’ll tire out. But that seems a bit dangerous?! I mean I get it but also I don’t want them to do something stupid if they’re bolting and run into things or flip over. Is there a better way to control a bolting horse? Pulling apparently doesn’t work(it was stupid to event try that they just got even faster). Also I had a hard time staying with my company–it seemed like I was either going to fast or too slow and my control of speed generally feels compromised unless I’m on a perfect horse?
Also another question–what do you do if the horse is just hauling on you?? I did plant my hands in his neck but the amount of force he’s putting on the bit is just unbearable. I have tried to check him with one rein, but he never really got off my left rein even when I checked him HARD. I didn’t want to jerk on his face or something like that but being nice didn’t really work out for me??! How do I establish an effective stop button on horses with a steel mouth?
You stop the horse by standing up and loosening the contact, don’t give them anything to pull against and they will slow down on their own.
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This is a horse who has been previously ridden by a “big boy”. He may not be a good horse for you to be galloping when green. He thinks he’s doing the right thing, it’s all he knows. To ride one like this effectively, there are some options, the first would be to start with a cross part way up his neck, then slide that down towards the withers as he tries to get stronger and faster. He keeps pulling against himself, on the crest of his neck rather than on you so much, as long as that cross remains on his neck. All you do is hold the cross rather than the horse himself. But if he runs through that anyway, you may not be strong enough to hold that cross. Another option is to stand up and “surf” on him, which gives you the length of your entire body as a lever to pull on him. You need to see that done to understand what is involved, and it’s a bit scary at first. Some horses will relax with this method though.
Only ride horses who are suitable for you, don’t just get onto every horse and any horse. It is helpful to see how the horse gallops and how he is ridden by someone else before you give him a try. You are green as an exercise rider, there are things you don’t know, haven’t perfected, haven’t experienced yet. You must pick and choose to some extent, or else you will get on a horse that you should not get on. Remember that no one else is looking after you, just YOU are supposed to be looking after you. If a rider gets hurt, the trainer “gets another boy”. Choose your mounts wisely, and trust NO ONE to look after you. Though it may be a regrettable incident when/if you get hurt, you are replaceable for the trainer. Your body parts are less replaceable for you.
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Thanks for the advice. I was definitely surfing on him(kinda like water skiing?) but it really wasn’t until we got to the wire that he realized he’s done with the gallop set and slowed down so I practically had no control over him. I’ll keep that in mind and bring it up to the trainer next time! The problem with this barn is that there’re constantly new waves of “newbies”, so occasionally I have to ride the ones that are somewhat fit and trained already 
While a bolting horse can be terrifying, most of the time they aren’t blind-stupid runaways. You’re out of control, it feels scary, but the horse really isn’t “going anywhere”…you’re going in a circle around the track, and most of them will keep going around the turns. Of course there is always one who flakes out and running over/through the rail is a disaster!! BUT this is rare, even among runaways. The horses who get strong, stronger, stronger until your arms give out and your eyes are watering and there aren’t any brakes and steering is sketchy…even those still have a brain and don’t want to get hurt. As long as you’re on a nice track, keep a leg on each side and they’ll eventually slow down, they can’t go on forever!
What is truly scary is that bolting runaway while galloping in a wide open field bordered by nearly invisible barbed wire on two sides and a paved road on the other. Will he turn at the bottom of the hill before he hits the road or the wire? Are there holes in the middle of the field, dare you try to circle? These are the thoughts I contemplated on my first 4 bolters, on the farm where we galloped track-trained experienced race horses in the wide open field instead of on the track. :eek: When your brain kicks into survival mode, you find extra reserves of strength to get that iron-mouthed donkey to (barely) make the turn without wiping out. The good news is: all my tough horses got a lot better after I worked with them for a month; it was the “slow, easy” ones who turned rank as they got fitter!
For the tough ones, a figure-8 or flash can help, as they can’t go around gaping mouth and ignoring your hands.
We always galloped in pairs, for safety (again, wide open field over a mile from the barn, we needed a buddy system). This was good for some horses, bad for others, depending on how well they relaxed or got competitive. While we always went together, most of the horses went single-file, sometimes with a good 7-length gap between, to allow each of them to relax. Usually the one in front was more relaxed, the following horse got competitive trying to catch up…usually we put the better/stronger rider on the 2nd horse, and let the weaker rider go in front where the hore wouldn’t pull as much; however, this does require a knowledge of pace (experience). Those ones only went side-by-side while breezing to sharpen them up. Then again, we had a couple sets who could train anywhere with each other-- in front, behind, alongside, eye-to-eye, they were push-button and very rideable, and very useful for teaching green riders about proper pace.
