Training Thoroughbreds Horses
Training thoroughbreds for the racetrack comes with very specific challenges - it's different from training regular riding horses, and to many people outside of the industry it appears to be an assembly line producing a lot of wild and uncontrollable animals. In reality, thoroughbreds are trained carefully - but quickly - to do a specific job, and most of them do that job pretty well, whether or not they are fast.
Remember that racing stables and studs have a lot of young horses to break in a very short time. And these horses don't have to know much - they need to accept a rider, go fast, and stop. Later, they'll need to know how to enter starting stalls, and respond in different ways to a jockeys commands, but for most youngsters, they need to be broken just enough to start training.
Many training stables use natural horsemanship techniques to get these thoroughbreds trained. Natural horsemanship works very well for thoroughbred training; it teaches horses to move forward - which is pretty essential for a racehorse - and to accept a saddle, bridle, and a rider very quickly.
More and more training stables are using round pens and natural horsemanship methods to get their youngsters ready for the track as quickly as possible. The leadership training the horses get in the round pen is valuable when they need to follow a handler into the starting stalls, or if they have to adapt to new surroundings frequently. For many trainers, natural horsemanship training is the method of choice for breaking their horses.
If you've just adopted a retired racehorse, think about natural horsemanship for re-training your horse. Much of the groundwork has been done for you - your horse will accept a saddle and bridle and a rider, and will be conditioned to move forward. Really, all you need to do now is add consistency, and control.
For this, remember that the language a racehorse uses, and that it expects from you, is very similar to what you use in natural horsemanship. After all, racing is a natural instinct for horses - most are very happy to run, and to run fast - and jockeys use a lot of hidden and surprisingly natural methods to control their horses because they simply can't force them to do anything in the heat of a race.
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I had also never never been there on a race day. I thought it quite apt to return to my roots and to also also indulge in my love of horse racing at the same time.
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Most problems in long reining occur because the horse isn't ready, the long reins have been introduced too fast, or the handler becomes too aggressive. If your horse is unhappy on the long reins, don't try to force it.
There's no doubt long reining has an important role in training - it is after all, where the horse first really learns about communication with the rider through the reins. Because communication with your horse's head and mouth is going to be a fundamental part of its future as a riding horse, it's important to get this early stage right. So where do you start?
In part 1 I cover some horse breaking techniques that are used in natural horsemanship training when working in a round pen. Now it's time to ride. That's right - you ride before you fit the bridle. All you need is a halter and lead, or you can attach two leads to the halter if you prefer (like reins). This time, bring a mounting block into the round pen, and introduce your horse to it. Saddle up, lean over your horse's back, swing your leg over, and sit up.
Horse breaking with natural horsemanship starts in the round pen. Here you will establish your leadership, and begin to build a relationship of trust and respect. Your horse will come to recognize that you are a source of comfort, safety, and even fun.
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