Early two-year training - dirt vs. synthetic

[Pav]

I am getting ready to send my two-year old to the track for training (he has been galloping at a training farm for the last month). I had planned on sending him to Golden Gate Fields since that is where he would be racing. I talked to my trainer today and he suggested starting him at Pleasanton first and then bringing him to GGF for hist last 3 or 4 workouts. He feels that the Tapeta surface at GGF is tough on shins and has had success from getting the foundation established on dirt and then moving them onto the synthetic surface as they approach the races. Any thoughts or experience on the issue?

Thx,
Pav

[karenkarenn]

Pav.
In my other post, I have a two year old that I am in partnership with that is at Golden Gate. I can share you what I saw and was told, through PM.

[zinn21]

Have not heard shins are a problem on synthetics. I would have thought the opposite. Many trainers start their horses over at Pleasanton because they have a much more user friendly facility. There are round pens, corals, arenas etc. Greg Gilchrist sends most of his babies to Pleasanton first.

What type of a trainer do you have? Is he a claiming trainer? Has he developed young horses ever? In general there are more babies at Pleasanton and easier to catch gallop/work company as well..

[valjoe]

John Sheriffs was answering questions last night on TVG, and one of them was “dirt vs synthetic”, he said he don’t like synthetics for developing a young horse.

[Laurierace]

I am guessing as I have never trained on synthetic surfaces but I think concussion is mandatory for preparing a young horses for the rigors of racing. I follow the Maryland shin study protocol with my young horses. They advocate lots of short bursts of speed to tell the body to lay down more calcium to strengthen the legs. I don't know if you would get enough concussion to do that on synthetics.

[karenkarenn]

Its hard to talk about because some horses train at a farm where they have dirt, but alot of people dont know that at all or until the horse breaks down. I sent you a pm, dont know if its the answere that you were looking for Pav.