Things I need/should know about galloping horses in the US.

[UNCeventer]

Hey everyone! I am new to this section of the BB. I usually just lurk.

This summer when I was in Ireland for a job that ended up not being great, I found a training yard down the road with racehorses. I got a job there and I loved it. I have an eventing background and have ridden many OTTBs but never an actual racehorse. From what I understand, racing in Europe/UK is very different from racing in the States. Because I loved riding the racehorses in Ireland, some ppl have told me I should look into exercising some horses here in the states. What do I need to know/what can you tell me about galloping racehores here?

Thanks

[Evalee_Hunter]

Find a British trainer at a training center or on a farm - you MAY find the training more like what you encountered in Ireland.

[Acertainsmile]

There are some basic rules as far as being on the track…

Horses jog on the outside fence going to the right, and gallop in the middle of the track going to the left.

Horses that are breezing stay on the inside rail.

It’s polite to let other riders know when you are passing them, always try to pass on the inside. (A simple “coming by” is sufficient).

When pulling up, try to guide your horse to the outside, to get out of the way of people behind you.

Always pay attention to whats going on around you at all times (loose horses, runoffs, can come up fast)!

Shorter is not better (you will see alot of riders with very short stirrups)… sometimes tough horses need to be ridden this way for leverage… I would only advise this once you get experience… Remember, the longer you ride, the longer you ride.

Learn your polls, that way when a trainer tells you to back up to the 1/2 mile pole and turn around and gallop to the 7/8 pole you will have a clue…(backing up is jogging to the right before turning around).

Most trainers prefer to let the horses stand out, (basically just standing and staring into space :), after backing up, and before leaving the track… it helps the horses to relax.

Try and work for the best trainer you can, dont be afraid to tell them how much, or how little experience you have… that way they can put you on horses that wont overmatch you in the beginning.

Learn to put a finger in the yoke, it can really save your butt if a horse decides to lunge, prop or duck.

Learn how to pull your goggles down while galloping or working horses… it can really save you from getting your eyes full of dirt.

After awhile you will start to learn all the little tricks on how to get a tough horse to relax, some like a snug hold, and other tough horses will relax if you give them their heads…dont be afraid to ask questions if you have a horse you cant get along with! Most experienced riders are willing to offer suggestions!

I think thats all for now!

[LaurieB]

Acertainsmile, that was a great post.

[Acertainsmile]

Thanks Laurie, after over 25 yrs galloping and riding, I’ve learned a few things…LOL…

I’ve often thought about holding a little “camp” at our farm, just so people looking into galloping can come learn… there are so many bad riders out there now, it’s really sad.

[CYF]

Only a couple of things to add…

Unlike most in Britain, here, the horses will NEED you to bridge/cross your reins. Get your hands DOWN - on the neck for leverage. And drop your butt You don’t want to be hands and head down with your duff in the air (besides looking dumb, you don’t have the aerodynamics or leverage that you really need).
Stand/two point for jogging as much as you can. Posting is great and all, but save your knees (along with the long stirrups bit)
Learn to count - develop your stopwatch in your head. You ever let a horse go too fast and get an unwanted time, you’ll regret it (like almost forever).
IF your horse gets away from you, get to the inside rail (please, do check over your shoulder first). Either way, it’s a courtesy for all riders - those working would like it if you don’t swing over in front of them, those trying NOT to work along with you would like it very much if you kept the speed on the inside rail. The outrider would like to KNOW (yell ‘Help!’ if you must) that you need help and that you are not endangering others.
I’m sure we’ll think of more…
Oh, and have fun!

[UNCeventer]

Very good info so far.

In Ireland, we galloped both directions. The farm where I worked didnt have any poles as markers. I rode with longer stirrups than the other more experienced ones, but when they rode the babies/tough horses they would lengthen them. Our track was not very wide, so the most we could get on there at a time was about 4, so I am not used to a lot of traffic. The horses were super, but they were also all steeplechasers/hurdlers.

What is the main difference, if any b/w riding the hurdle horses and the flat racers?
Where is a good place to look if I would like to gallop racehorses?

[LKF]

Aiken, SC

Can you be mobile?
Give Michael Traurig a call in South Carolina. He may need someone and he could help refer farms to you: http://www.toethelinetraining.com/index.html

[Equilibrium]

I’ve galloped in both places, and the States is a bit more difficult with more things to remember as posted above.

I will admit my favorite horses to gallop are the National Hunt boys. Most are older and know their job oh so well.

And yes galloping is both ways over here, but coming from America, asking me to go fast going to the right was down right scary and my stirrups were never right. Scary, because if you are going fast to the right you have a big problem!

Poles don’t mean anything over here as nothing is timed. Breezing here is more of an open gallop.

I’ll admit I wasn’t a big fan of galloping so close behind other horses as you do here. As one day the horse in front of mine tripped and went down and of course so did me and my horse. No room for mistakes on tracks here either as most trainers have narrow tracks and all go the same way at one time. So if there is a mishap it can be hairy. As the morning we set off for a good open gallop the wrong way and I thought it odd hoof prints were on the track and this only the first set. Oops, loose horses from the field! The track was hidden by trees and paddocks!

Terri

[UNCeventer]

HAHA- OOPS! Loose horse!

We never had that happen, but our track was surrounded by cow pastures. Sometimes the cows (mostly bulls) would be in a foul mood and start a ruckus. The poor horses didnt know what to do!

We also sometimes did trots in the fields for a change of scenery for the horses. One day a bull decided to chase us. Needless to say it was really scary, the horses thought it was a bit of a game, but we knew it wasnt. One of the horses tripped and went down, leaving the jockey in the middle of the field staring right at the bull. It was funny only because he wasnt hurt.

[des]

While it’s been a long time here’s some of my comments that I made on another board for someone who was retraining an OTTB for the first time in response to someone making comments about them.

People have a lot of misconceptions about what racehorses know and don’t know. I spent about 10 years of my life starting and galloping racehorses at California farms and at Santa Anita & Hollywood Park.

1. Jockeys do not balance on the bit. Nor do exercise riders. Some racehorses get tough on the bit and will pull. Watch a race and see during a stretch drive that a jockey will scrub the horse’s neck to urge it on.

2. Exercise riders don’t always ride that short, particularly on a young horse. And yes we use weight shifting and legs to help them get lead changes.

3. Racehorses know lead changes. They change to left lead (inside lead) going into a turn and right lead going out of a turn. Staying on one lead is bad because it causes too much stress on one side.

4. Normally an exercise rider puts their hands down on the horse’s neck and rides in two point… well actually on all fours… hands and feet. Sometimes that works well for a racehorse who likes to pull. They end up pulling on their neck instead of the rider’s arms and back.

5. Racehorses can be very responsive to sitting up and relaxing. They know certain positions are for a relaxed gallop and other leaning forward positions mean move it now.

6. Some racehorses learn when you pick up the reins and pull (not balance on them) that it’s time to go. Not all of them do this.

That’s most of what I remember from my racetrack days.

Hope this helps.

[system]

galloping racehorses

A great trainer once told me the secret to galloping racehorses was simple: balance and hands.

Balance means not having to use their neck or mane or the reins or yoke to keep your balance. Its like rising from sitting in a chair and not needing to use the arm rests or hold onto anything to pull yourself up or maintain yourself to balance on. Its standing on your two feet (or one if necessary) without the use of your arms. Its finding your center of balance. Good balance is extremely important.

Hands means being able to communicate with the horse in a soft and suttle way. The more you stay out of their mouth the better. The more you get into their mouth, the more they become a mack truck.

They feel you through your body language, your pressure on their mouth through the bit, and the tenseness of the muscles in your legs.

Yes fit racehorses tend to pull harder and get on the muscle. Yes they can make it tough, but ‘good’ or ‘great’ hands help them relax and not get on the muscle.

The magic of great riders has always been their hands and the way they’re able to get their horses to relax. Every fit racehorse gets on the muscle and pulls. Its someone’s hands that gets them to relax and get off the bit.

Once a person masters those two fundamentals then and only then can they develop into a superior rider.