Training Articles

Vibration Therapy treatment for the racehorse

 Vibration therapy, whereby the horse’s whole body receives massaging vibrations, has been found to be an effective way of not only speeding up the healing process but of preventing injuries. 

To Boot or Not to Boot, is that the Question?

 It’s safe to say that at the present time and for some years now, boots have not been one of the most common items of tack used by racehorse trainers, whether on the flat or over jumps. 

A Question of Jumping - a panel of experts give their views on jumps racing

We asked some of Europe’s leading experts a series of questions relating to jump racing.

Keeping it in the family - can a horse's family traits be used to a trainer's advantage?

It’s the same story at every dinner party, writes Frances J. Karon. A stranger will invariably ask, “What do you do?”, as if the response will somehow explain the very essence of one’s being. Similarly, the first question we have for the owner or trainer who tells us he has a nice yearling on the farm is, “What’s it by?”

Arctic Winter Conditions - training racehorses in the snow

In some parts of the world the thoroughbred is required to run in hostile conditions during the winter months.

Train with more precision - how technology can help determine a horse's training schedule

To view the graphs, please click on the link at the end of the article.

Am I galloping enough? Or too much? When is my filly ready to work five furlongs safely? Does my colt race better when worked three furlongs a week prior to the start? How quickly does each horse in my stable recover from the last race?

Conditions under Foot - how different racing surfaces affect horses

Farrier Mitch Taylor lugs a camera instead of a tool box today. Behind him along the rail at Keeneland’s training track trails a crew of technicians, a couple of horses, an exercise rider and an equine motion-analysis software developer.

Why do racehorses have an optimum trip?

Irrespective of where in the world thoroughbreds are raced, individual horses are usually campaigned over a narrow range of distance and are often categorised as sprinters (5-6f), middle distance performers (7-10f) or stayers (>10f). 

Heart Monitors and Lactate Analysis - optimising training in racehorses

The 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Denman recently developed a heart problem called atrial fibrillation that is often linked to the oversize of a particular heart chamber (the atrium). Is the heart of this great champion pushing itself so far to the limit that it is struggling to cope?

National Hunt Injuries - what are the most frequent?

National Hunt racing at its best is an awesome spectacle as shown by the audience for the 2008 Grand National, which was viewed by over 650 million worldwide. However, the undesirable side-effect of this courageous sport is the injuries associated with it. Many large, reliable studies have been undertaken over the last two decades, all of which show consistently higher rates of injury in horses racing over jumps in the UK compared with those racing on the flat. This is something that has led to the near extinction of jump racing in some parts of the world, for example, Scandinavia. This article will examine and analyse jump racing injuries and question whether there are any ways by which they can be reduced in order to ensure the future of this magnificent sport.

Worldwide Rules - can racing agree on international regulation?

The 2007 Annual Report of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) lists “to co-ordinate and harmonise the rules of member-countries regarding breeding, racing and wagering” at the head of the organisation’s stated main objectives. The theme of harmonisation also features highly in Criquette Head-Maarek’s priorities as a mission to be accomplished during her tenure as President of the European Trainers’ Federation. The idea of a single, universal set of rules, under which the racing world could operate harmoniously regardless of the different jurisdictions in place in individual countries, is certainly an attractive one. However it is by no means a simple policy to implement. Differences currently exist at every level of the rule book and in every country. From steroid use and whip abuse to the declaration or not of cheek-pieces, earplugs or tongue ties, the subject is vast.

Resistance Training - can it be applied to racehorses?

The term alone, “resistance training” invites at the very least, skepticism, and in some cases, even a trace of joviality. As Hall of Fame conditioner Dick Mandella remarked when asked about it, “I’m very familiar with resistance training. For many years, I’ve had owners who resisted my training. I’ve had a few horses who resisted, too.”

Why are weight-for-age scales so complicated?

With growing international competition in horseracing, we get more focus on the weight-for-age scales in different regions. Although thoroughbreds are foaled within the same time frame throughout the northern hemisphere, European racing nations are not using the same scale. Germany in particular, where emphasis is on producing older horses rather than precocious types, sticks out – even after some adjustments made ten years ago. Italy is also out of line, perhaps closer to North America, although some results suggest there is no reason for them to be so.

Training the Untrainable - how to improve the respiratory system

Most body systems of the horse have some capacity to respond to physical training of the type used to improve fitness and performance in Thoroughbred racehorses. The art of training is of course assessing what each horse needs, when to start, when to back off and when to accept that you have reached a suitable level of fitness which should result in a horse being able to get close to achieving a performance consistent with its genetic potential. However, the one body system that training cannot improve on is the respiratory system and this article will highlight some of the implications of this.

Northern Raiders - horses bred in the Southern Hemisphere racing North of the Equator

Southern hemisphere bred horses have long been making their mark on both the Dubai Carnival and World Cup meeting. We talk to the trainers who regularly import horses from the southern hemisphere and finds out what type of thoroughbred is best to race in Dubai.

Breaking In Yearlings - laying the foundations with future racehorses

In Camden, South Carolina, Mickey Preger Jr. has been breaking young racehorses-to-be for 15 years, though his education began long before. The son of the trainer of 1983 Eclipse Award-winning older mare Ambassador of Luck, Preger grew up on the backstretch of Belmont Park, where his father shared a barn with Northern Dancer’s trainer Horatio Luro for 20 years. Preger later spent years working for Ruffian and Forego’s trainer Frank Whiteley Jr. During Preger’s tenure, Whiteley broke Rhythm, Seeking the Gold and Preach.

Reinventing the wheel - the Kurt Equine Training System

The combined forces of Italian trainer Daniele Camuffo and the enigmatic Turkish businessman Mehmet Kurt have brought to fruition a project first dreamt up by Kurt himself more than a decade ago. The Kurt Equine Training System has been endorsed by some of the world’s leading veterinary surgeons and research groups, and the results of horses trained on it are already beginning to speak volumes for its future potential. From 12 juvenile runners this season, 3 have raced and all have won or placed, showing no signs of physical or mental stress at any stage.
A specialist equine vet for more than 30 years, it was Italian Marco Astrologo who introduced Kurt to the then Rome-based trainer Camuffo, knowing that Kurt was looking for a good trainer with an open mind to come and work with him in Turkey and turn his 10 years worth of research, investment, development and modification on his invention into reality.  The Kurt stable had won 2 Turkish Derbys, on both occasions with European trainers (1993 with the aptly named The Best and in 1999 with Bartrobel); Camuffo had come to the realisation that there was no longer much of a living to be made out of training in Italy as costs spiralled, owners thinned and prize money levels swung.  Born in 1963 and a licensed trainer since 1989, a disillusioned Camuffo travelled to Turkey on the invitation of Kurt and loved the opportunity he saw.  A blank page, top class facilities at his private base near Istanbul, the chance to work with Kurt and break new ground in the application of science to the art of training Thoroughbreds.

Italian racing-Niki Sweetnam reviews 2006 and provides some practical pointers for 2007

The Italians might have the lowest percentage of Group races compared to total flat races of the major racing nations, but prize money levels compare favourably with European levels, €712 800, €210 375, and €126 225 being the maximum payout levels for Group 1, 2, and 3 races respectively. As the careers of Electrocutionist, Rakti, Falbrav and company prove, the good horses quickly leave their home turf, most recently the Godolphin acquisition Ramonti, Italy’s best miler and the son of domestic stallion Martino Alonso. 

A European standard for staff training is now required

Throughout the racing world, there is a growing recognition by the various stakeholders of the need to develop career structures and development paths within racing if it is to attract young people, develop their skills and retain them within the industry.
Acquiring suitable staff is rapidly becoming the biggest issue facing the racing industry today and the problems are very close to home, as evidenced by speakers at a seminar for trainers in Ireland in November 2005.
 

Is no matter more pressing than international rules on medication?

There is a need for several changes and improvements in international racing. None can be more pressing that the issue on international regulations on the use of medication. Both on and off the tracks.

The ‘Will to Win’ - the contribution of behaviour to performance in the racehorse.

Very often in racing circles one hears trainers and owners talking of a horse’s ‘will to win’. This is not surprising, as this perceived characteristic of the equine champion is keenly sought after. Owners breeding their mares to stallions who have won their stud careers through outstanding performance on the racecourse hope that the resulting offspring inherit more than just the horse’s physical conformation. They hope that some of the behavioural characteristics which helped make the sire successful will appear in the foal. Furthermore, many of the great racehorses, for example, Hyperion, Arkle and Seabiscuit were not immune to criticism of their conformation; thus if they had physical imperfections was it not their strength of spirit, their mental courage that made them heroes? What else drove them to be first past the post on so many notable occasions?

Classic Form - how does the form work out for also rans?

How good are our Classic races these days? And, if we ask this question, how should we come up with a reasonable assessment of the strength of races like the Epsom Derby, Kentucky Derby, Prix du Jockey Club, or the Guineas races? Not as good as they used to be, you may say.

Does artificial lighting benefit the conditioning of a horse?

The claims of manufacturers of light therapy equipment for equines vary from the scientifically proven, through the scientifically dodgy to the downright bizarre. Trainers need to be able to sift through the advice and make financially viable judgements and weigh up the various proposed benefits against costs.

The Benefits of Long Reining - enhancing a horse's physical and emotional well-being

Lunging and long reining may seem like old fashioned, basic disciplines for working horses. However by the end of this article, I hope to remind you that these disciplines, when incorporated into your horse’s work routine, can really enhance their physical and emotional state. 

Half tree or whole tree - what is better for a horse's back?

Unimpeded function of the horse’s back is one of the core features concerned with, and thus determining, both optimum athletic ability and performance; any person who has suffered back pain will appreciate all the associated movement limitations; the horse, with back discomfort experiences similar movement restriction.

How will artificial surfaces affect thoroughbred racing and breeding?

Dubai Millennium, Arcangues, Singspiel, Swain, Sakhee, Giant’s Causeway and Electrocutionist. What do they have in common? They all transformed high class turf form to dirt. Though the main point is this: They had all proved effective on soft or heavy turf before running on dirt.

Breeders’ Cup opens nomination program to horses of racing age

Officials of Breeders’ Cup Limited have announced new rules, which will allow horses to be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup Program at any time during their racing careers.
 

Sore shins in two-year-old racehorses

A recent survey showed that of all training days lost in the United States, around ten percent of these were due to sore shins, and that this problem was more complex than might at first have been thought.

Water treatments and exercising options for racehorses

The swimming pool, hydro spa, water treadmill, recently a water walker,all make use of water either as a training adjunct or an aid to recovery. Prior to the invention/marketing of the above devices, rivers, lakes and the sea were incorporated by some, into their training programmes.

Joanne Nor - A personal view on how to improve the Thoroughbred breed

Is anyone out there taking notice of the dwindling reduction of lifetime career starts in racing of our equine athletes?

Starting Stalls - the problems that arise from their use

Problems associated with starting stalls have been the subject of considerable debate in recent years, not least in the UK with its ludicrous system of shuttling very narrow stalls around the country. Horses worried about stalls, for whatever reason, are a source of immense frustration for connections. If a horse is sceptical about the process of being loaded, no matter how talented or well bred, his future as a racehorse is under threat. 

Bone Development - can training young horses increase their bone mass?

It may seem an unfamiliar paradox to some that stressing or even racing a two-year-old thoroughbred can be beneficial to its future career as a racehorse, and even reduce the chances of injury. However, research conducted in the States and more recently in New Zealand are substantiating the theory that careful, controlled stress of the immature architecture of the bone at any age can actually benefit the bone and make it more resilient to the stresses of racing. 

AQPS Bred Horses - increasingly making their presence felt on the jumps scene

Nupsala started it. And the others followed. Boxing Day 1987 François Doumen saddles his eight year-old gelding to win the King George, beating the mythic Desert Orchid by fifteen lengths.