The saying goes “pees like a racehorse” and my 8yo OTTB actually HAS to pee within 5 minutes after excersise or trailride or after being loaded in the trailer.
Question is: are racehorses actually trained and/or stimulated to pee shortly after race to provide urine samples?
Thank you for any info re this matter.
The modern saying is slightly slurred from the original.
“Pees like a raced horse.”
They do however kind of work up to the pee, it doesn’t come minutes after the race. We walk a hot horse to cool them out, offering water in whatever quantity the trainer dictates usually on each turn around the barn. When the horse stops drinking, they go in for a pee. Yes, a lot of grooms will whistle when they assume the position in their daily lives, and then do it in the test barn as well in hopes that their charge will make a quick deposit for the urine taker and they can go on to their home barn faster. Most enter the deep fresh bedded stalls and are happy to oblige though. This is probably a good 15-20 minutes or more post race.
If I had a horse that had to pee in great quantities after I got off them, I might be inclined to get off sometimes during a long trail ride and let 'em pee. Most horses I’ve ridden that trail ride often, TB or otherwise, will stop for a pee with a rider on. Maybe your guy is just shy? 
I think the pre-race lasix administration accounts for the prompt post-race pee.
Not exactly. Lasix is administered 4 hours prior to post time, and most trainers pull the water from the stalls at that time. Yes, they begin peeing very shortly after administration of lasix, and continue to pee frequently for a while, but by the time they get ready for their race their bladders are pretty empty. Thus the importance of rehydration during cool out after a race, and the subsequent pee.
Interesting. My horse has certainly been off lasix for 4 years, so maybe there is some residual “muscle” memory and he still pees shortly after excersise.
Thanks Jengersnap for the suggestion - now I feel bad about not getting off during a trailride to give him a chance to pee unburdened. I will start doing that.
To me the phrase pee like a racehorse implies peeing a lot. I always attributed that to lasix administration.
I remember that term from the early 1960’s. It alluded to the volume.
Was Lasix widely used in the '60’s?
I think it was because it was the only horses folks saw pee :).
It wasn’t tried on bleeders until the 70’s.
I always assumed Lasix too.
FWIW my OTTBs have usually peed before exercise–like when I tried to take them out of their stalls. I assume that is a conditioning thing–they’ve learned it’s not comfortable to exercise on a full bladder?
My OTTB mare lives in a pasture, and ALWAYS walks off to her ‘pee spot’ when she sees me coming with the halter. I have wondered if this was something she was trained to do, or if she’s just smart and figured it out herself.
I think we horsemen are WAY overthinking that old expression.
“Oh, man - I had to pee like a racehorse” was more typically heard at the ballpark, roadside stop or tavern than at the track.
My personal opinion is that any civilian that has seen a horse pee is likely gonna be impressed by the sheer gallons, and sayings tend to get poetic.
So "I gotta pee like a horse" doesn’t have the same poetic flow as "I gotta pee like a racehorse."
It may just be that simple.
My OTTB always pees as soon as I pull off his saddle. It doesn’t matter if he’s tied in the arena or in his stall - could set my watch to him
That might sound disgusting but it is a fact that more you pee, the better are the chances of staying healthy so do take lots of liquids and pee like a racehorse.
I have one that is off the track 5 years so also no lasix going on…And as soon as he determines we are about done with our ride, he has to let loose, usually in the indoor…sometimes makes it to his stall, once or twice in the aisle if I lingered too long with after ride grooming…Funny guy…
EVERY time my mare sees me coming with her foot bucket, she pees, and every time I put down new, fresh shavings, she has to pee on them…
That’s what I always assumed too.
I also had an experience once, while running my first cross country race in high school, that gave me some new insight as to loss of bladder control in very exerting circumstances (sorry if that’s TMI) but at the time I thought it sure gave me some insight into the phrase.
heh.
Jumpin_Horses :winkgrin:
