I have “taken in” a couple over the years. I quite enjoy “mentoring”. Looking for someone now. Work with the babies, “leg up” some, and work with some that I hope might make the transition to steeplechase racing, timber. And some re-schools.
When it comes to tack, all of my horses go out with a yoke, neck strap, oh crap strap. If the trainer doesn’t use one I strongly suggest getting one. I instruct all of my rider to always keep a finger/s in the “loop”. Especially in the beginning until they become very comfortable with the process. If the horse jigs, spooks at something, acts up, gives a little buck, gets on their hind legs the riders hands go right for the yoke and keeps them from “hitting” them in the mouth which can exacerbate the situation. Plus they can “steady” themselves and get back into position.
I generally send my horses out in a regular “hunt saddle” more comfortable for the horse and rider IMO. Especially beginners. The “little” exercise saddles are a little intimidating to some in the beginning. The rider is not “sitting” much anyway. But have the look and feel of what they are used to makes it easier.
Ride long, a lot of newbies think and or want to “look” like a jockey. Shorten your stirrups over time. But IMO it is never necessary to ride “racing short”. Unless the rider is very small in stature. It is as much about leverage as it is about strength. Very short people need to be a certain height about the horse’s withers to attain a good “leverage angle”. Conversely tall people like myself are at a bit of a disadvantage also.
It’s all about keeping a cool head. Easier said than done in the beginning. It is important to remember when a horse “acts up” especially when starting off, gets on its hind legs a bit, jigging sideways and throwing some playful bucks to “kick them on”. It they rear up starting off KICK them on, give them a smack on the shoulder or butt with your stick. But this can be “horse specific”.
Most trainers don’t ride, have never ridden let along galloped a racehorse. But they should know their horses. They should be able to give you some insight to their “quirks” how they should be ridden/galloped and what they like and or don’t like. Any trainer that throws a rider up, experienced or not without giving some “details” is a trainer that I would not want to work for. Even babies coming from the farm come with “back ground” information from the farm trainer. At least they should, mine do. Pretty detailed if the horse needs it.
Goes without saying there are some exceptions. But no trainer worth working for is going to leg up a “newbie” on a horse they know little to nothing about.
Upper body strength does play an important role. But IMO it is not paramount. Easy to tell a “gallop gal” they have pretty well defined back and shoulder “definition”. But IMO and experience too many try to “muscle” some horses to do what they want instead of finessing the horse with skilled hands and cool, educated mind. Guys especially by and large.
That’s not to say it doesn’t take a certain amount of “strength” because it does. But it is usually not the “strength” of the horse that zaps a rider’s “strength”. The biggest “zapper” of “strength” is “nervous tension”. I can ride, ski circles around most people who are younger and twice as “fit” as I am because I am completely “at ease with the process”. Most of the time.
Based on the trainer’s instructions and or detail how the horse “goes” the most important thing to have “together” right from starting off is your “grip”, “hand and rein position”. IMO and experience. Especially with strong horses. You and the horse must get into “frame” and stay that way until pulling up. Horses that “know the drill” know the drill. You get into “frame” depending on the horse, with a cross, bridge who what I call and used to be called, and maybe still is a “9-5” think of hands on clock. Once in position you “bury” your knuckles in the horse’s “sweet spot” their withers and hold that for however long the horse is galloping. This can be quite testing depending one’s fitness level, skill and comfort zone.
A lot of horses won’t let you “re-grip” Doing so they may, can, will get the “jump” on you and take off. At that point they can be really difficult to get back in “hand” and start running at or close to racing speed. In other words get run off with. This will piss off the trainer and if on the track piss off others also. Good chance you will get a “visit” from the track appointed “head exercise rider” for a little “talk”. It happens to the best of them. But if it happens a lot to the same rider it will be discussed in more detail with the rider and the trainer.
Trainers should know after a time or two which horse fit which riders. Every rider should know their limitations and feel no shame in saying to a trainer they don’t get along with a certain horse. That’s the first instructions I give to my riders. They do not have to get on a horse they do not feel comfortable with. I don’t want them getting hurt and or screwing up the horse.
If a horse gets away from you on the track it is PARAMOUNT to keep a cool head and ride it out. Do not exacerbate the situation by trying desperately to pull the horse up. Good chance the horse will react badly expectantly, turn, and veer into another horse, run through the rail, etc. Keep a cool head and “pilot” the horse, “coaxing” back into “sensibility”. They will run out of gas as long as you make sure they know you are in control of their head. Even if you are not completely.
On a farm in an open field situation you got to do the same, but get them to “circle”. There is no rail to do it for you. Digression is the better part of valor at times. Know when to “bail” and remember to “roll” when you hit the ground. Make it a controlled, planned “bail”. There are “smart, ballsy and chicken s**t” riders. I only like to work with smart ones. The “smart” riders have a combination of the first two.
Lean the basic racing terminology. I know what you meant by saying “work” the horses. But as others have pointed out. “Working” a horse is different than galloping a horse.
One of the most important things an exercise needs to learn is being able to communicate to the trainer what the horse is doing/showing/feeling. All horses know how to “run”. The trainer and rider’s job is to teach them how to “race”.
Hopefully there will be an experienced exercise rider around that will take you under their “wing” and give you advice and pointers. Everyone needs one.
The above are a lot of the basics from my point of view. Like all things horse, different strokes for different folks. In my experience the vast majority of riders are not “cut out” to work with racehorses by and large. But there is no shame in trying and realizing it’s not for you.
Sorry, didn’t mean to write a book. Hope it helps. I’ll come back and edit, correct for clarity. Got horse stuff to do lunch break long over.
Good luck.
