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 Post subject: exercise rider's weight
PostPosted: Mon Jun 01, 2015 1:22 pm 
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A question from Tom:

Quote:
My two year old colt has four months of training in him. Three months at the training track and one at the track where he will race. He has been galloping approximately a mile and half virtually every day except Sundays. He hasn't been ask for any speed. Tomorrow he is scheduled for a three furlong work. My main concern is that the gallop boy is 145 pounds. My second concern is that the horse hasn't had even a short one or two furlong burst. My trainer who I'm trying to trust has alot of experience and I've voiced my concern. He's not worried. Any thoughts would be appreciated.



My answer:

As you well know, once a horse goes to a trainer, it is pretty much his
domain in how a colt is trained. One usually can't be too bossy when it
comes to one's trainer. I have told many an owner to take a hike, train the
colt himself, or something similar, if I got too many training suggestions.
So take my below views of your question with a grain of salt.

First, NO, I would not be concerned with a 145 pound exercise rider. I
galloped all of my horses myself and I weighted right around that weight. I
never lost a horse to tendon, suspensory, or bone problems. A heavy rider
can be used to advantage for galloping and, perhaps, at very slow breeze
speeds. Going faster breezing speeds, I normally use jocks. I would actually
prefer the heavier weight when galloping as I am sure it helps the bones to
know that special biologic engineering is needed for future works at speeds
approaching racing, even if with lighter riders.

Two, I never started my colts/fillies off at 3/8th works, right off the
bat, cold. If you do that, you better be prepared for bucked shins. Such
training really does nothing to prep the young bones to the speed-stresses
to be encountered at such a distance. Yep, you are right to be personally
concerned that no speed work was done at the 1/8 and 1/4 distances. I think
such work is absolutely necessary to prepare the bones of two year olds. As
I have written before, I actually start my young horses out galloping as
usual, but the last 1/16, would "tip-toe" them, three times a week. If every
thing is ok, I then would go to doing this the last 1/8, three times a week.
Next week, 1/4s, either 3 or twice a week as is normal for most breezing
weekly routines. This sets my youngsters up for the timed 3/8 works, twice a
week. I sure never had any bucked shin problems doing it this way.

Again, if your trainer does not believe in this type of work, there
really is nothing an owner can do except hold your breath and hope for the
best.

good luck,

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