horses training schedule?

[madelyn]

Stabling has an impact. As does the number of horses/ratio to grooms, hot walkers and riders.. At Trackside (Churchill Downs Training) it is run JUST LIKE Churchill. Ambulances and mounted track patrol are there from 6 to 10am, which is when the track is open for training. It closes for about 30 minutes at 8am or so (called "the break"). Ours is a 6 furlong track so to an extent the distance a horse goes in somewhat predicated by that. Many call the jog out to the pole where the horse will turn into the track (to gallop) "backing up" - you will hear a trainer say, "back up to the 3/4, turn and give him two" which means jog 3f, turn and gallop 1.5 miles. The starting gate is all the way down at the end of the first stretch in the direction they jog (the "wrong" way) so jogging more is not feasible when the gate is operating. When my horse started training, he really needed to jog a LOT to develop carriage, balance, and some bottom. But he was at the mercy of the trainer, who had another young horse he needed company for, and did not want the long jog. The other horse developed some issues, and the first day that horse walked the trainer was not there. I had a chance to tell the rider to back up all the way (1.5 mi) and then gallop one (6f); since he went very late in the morning and the starting gate was closed it was a perfect time to do that. A small operation also relies on freelance riders, who want the most horses in one hour they can get (at $15 each) so time is also an issue. Trainers will opt to walk a horse long instead of jogging (at $15 each).

I believe human sports training is completely irrelevant when it comes to training racehorses.

[Tappiano]

I really don't have a specific number in mind, Tappiano. I do feel that from a cardiovascular standpoint, that the horses are inadequately trained, especially for the classic distance. 20 miles/week or less, just doesn't seem enough. Elite level human milers are putting in 80 miles/week and more. When Roger Bannister broke the 4 minute mile barrier, he did it by turning the philosophy of training on it's ear. In his day, milers typically did 25-30 miles per week, mostly in 1/4 and 1/2 mile increments. Gradually, he increased the distance until he was running 60-70 miles/week but in longer runs...some consisting of 10 miles or more. He was not an especially gifted athlete but did recognize that a different training regimen was needed for the 4 minute mile to be achieved. He also was the first to grasp the concept of negative splits...each succeeding quarter being faster than the one before it. With perhaps the lone exception of Secretariat's Derby, this stategy also seems to have escaped the notice of trainers.

There's a big difference between the human runner who isn't being prepared for a second career as a stallion and a thoroughbred colt who is.

[jagger]

Soooooo....do we train the geldings differently than we do the fillies and colts?

[madelyn]

I don't. A MAJOR difference between the equine athlete and the human athlete is age/development. We CAN'T push the young equine to extremes without popping spints, bucking shins, chipping knees or fetlocks, etc. The fully grown human athlete does not have the same developmental constraints. This is one major reason I believe the two things are mutually exclusive and there is no overlap.

[Sylvie Hebert]

Well just the opposite human athletes,gymnast and swimmers and runners and more all start training as developing adolescents or children so they are immature too. And as a matter of fact young athletes,horses and humans are much more malleable and less prone to injury if they are started slowly. Slow and long to short and fast over a longer period.The reverse is done in racehorses wich is the main cause or injury ...babies are trained short and fast to long and slow...absolutely ridiculous and contrary to science.

[Sylvie Hebert]

Racehorses are trained according to "convenience" and $$$ nothing to do with exercise science...in over a century no progress has been made a testimony of our inadequacy..