Opinions on giving a fillie in training a break.

[Blue feather]

I have a 4yo fillie who has been in training for well over a year. She races approximately every 30 days and typically longer. I planned on bringing her home for a break until I was told this may not be a good idea. Apparently, old school thinking is they often don't come back the same as when they left, especially fillies. She is sound and still interested in what she is doing based on her recent performances. Although far from scientific, Rachel A. was given a break and doesn't appear to have returned to her 3 yo form. Conversely, I believe Zenyatta has stayed in training and she has maintained her form.

[LB]

I, too, have been told by oldtime horsemen that if you give fillies a break, they decide they like the farm so much that they lose their desire to race and don't return to their earlier form.

But...sometimes horses need a break, so what are you going to do? Fwiw, we've given 2 fillies breaks (3 months) and both returned as well or better than they had been before their time off. So I say go for it.

[TJ]

I have a 4yo fillie who has been in training for well over a year. I planned on bringing her home for a break until I was told this may not be a good idea. Apparently, old school thinking is they often don't come back the same as when they left, especially fillies. She is sound and still interested in what she is doing based on her recent performances. Although far from scientific, Rachel A. was given a break and doesn't appear to have returned to her 3 yo form. Conversely, I believe Zenyatta has stayed in training and she has maintained her form.

Hi Blue Feather,
If your filly has been raced more than twice a month a little break won't hurt her. As long as she is let down properly and can get turned out and grazed daily. It doesn't take long for a horse that hasn't been over raced to recharge their batteries. I would give her 2-3 weeks, so she comes back fresh and eager to get back to the race track life, without losing too much fitness. If she's been over raced 4-5 weeks would be more appropriate.
The comparisons between RA and Zenyatta really don't apply.....RA was drained of all that she had inside her after her grueling 3YO campaign......she was a shell of her former self after her last start as a 3YO.....it was like she had to start over...she needed a real break on the farm (at least 3 months) to re-build, clear her head and refresh herself. She wasn't given that opportunity, she stayed on track....up early every morning, never getting away from the race track regiment....never getting a chance to unwind and relax and considering the type of horse she is she would stay wound up. On the other hand, Zenyatta is an accomplished war horse, handled very protectively, astutely and remained sound, happy and healthy on the schedule her trainer laid out for her. She had a temperament better than RA's too....so staying on the track and getting a breather right there as Shireefs has done for her works. Plus she's older and was never extended to the point of exhaustion as was RA, so she is very happy and comfortable on track.
The length of time necessary for your filly revolves around these factors.....by comparison to the two extremes of RA and Zenyatta....you can calculate what is best for your filly as regarding her enthusiasm, temperament, race record and training regiment. If she is happy and hasn't been drained of her energy....and has the proper temperament to unwind while she is on the track, that can also be another alternative as shown by Zenyatta. But by no means the type of break a horse of the quality and temperament of RA received....would ever help your filly or RA....as seen by this season's regression of RA. TJ

[Dave C]

JMHO, it is so tough to make money with a horse as it is, if there is no reason to give a horse a break, you don't give the horse a break. If the horse has a nagging injury, or is disinterested, you give it a break. If it is fit and interested, it is time for it to pay its' bills. They're only a bad step away from being retired. If you give them a break for several months, then you have to put them back into training for several months (additional bills and chances to get hurt) just to get them ready to race again. If you have a good reason to give her a break, give her a break. If you're just worried about pushing her too long, go look at the horses in your pasture that have'nt paid their bills yet.

[Jessi P]

I concur with the 2-3 weeks, if its convenient. OTOH, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Can your trainer give her time off from training but keep her at the track? Or find her an hour a day in a round pen close by? Something to change up her routine and give her a mental switch in routine.

All the best with your filly.

[Tucumcari]

If the horse is sound, running well, and generally thriving, then I would just leaver her doing what she is doing.
Some horses thrive on the work. IMO Unless they are giving you a reason to change something or give them a break, carry on. If she is doing poorly, give her a break.

[cng]

I like a little rest, it will help their mind and you won't lose too much condition. The question is whether she is going back or forward? If she is gaining speed and confidence it's not the time. If she has lost a step and not as agressive, it is.

[Joltman]

I read some science some time back that says that bone begins to change after a layoff and that they are actually more susceptible to injury, especially if training time back is inadequate. Horses come back off a break all the time, after a minor injury or heat, and so its not unusual. Maybe a change of training base (like a farm) might do the same thing you are looking for. I would suspect you aren't interval training the horse, keeping it at super fitness, so it's pretty much maintenance between races which can take place anywhere. I liked to keep mine off the track whenever possible.

jm

[winds]

I've worked for breed to race owners for years and they all give their horses a break. Some during the winter if it's a grass horse or just a break after being at the track for any long length of time. Colts, fillies and geldings, all came back fine after a little R&R. Of course they were given plenty of training time on the farm or training track before they were sent back to the track. It all depended on how much time they had off.

winds

[griff]

Why did you decide to give her a break. you said she only races once a month, at best, and is preformimg well. Do you think she will come back a better horse than she is now? if not leave well enough alone.

if you do give her a braek I recommend january not September

griff

[griff]

by the way when do fillies stop being fillies and start being mares?? And how many more years do you expect to race her?/

griff

[dublino]

by the way when do fillies stop being fillies and start being mares?? And how many more years do you expect to race her?/

griff

Filles 4 years and under stop being fillies when they turn 5 or have a baby before this time, 5 yrs of age.

[kimberley mine]

I read some science some time back that says that bone begins to change after a layoff and that they are actually more susceptible to injury, especially if training time back is inadequate. Horses come back off a break all the time, after a minor injury or heat, and so its not unusual. Maybe a change of training base (like a farm) might do the same thing you are looking for. I would suspect you aren't interval training the horse, keeping it at super fitness, so it's pretty much maintenance between races which can take place anywhere. I liked to keep mine off the track whenever possible.

jm

Polo horses are typically tossed out in a field to get hairy and dirty between playing seasons, anywhere between 3 months and 6 months, depending on where they are. They are brought back to fitness slowly, and generally don't suffer catastrophic injuries. The key is having the horse dead fit BEFORE the first speed works and/or races (or chukkers, events, etc).

To the OP, rather than giving her a 2-3 week freshener (which I think can't hurt, really), are you in a place where you can have her trained off of a farm, with extensive turnout in the afternoon? That way, you're not losing out on fitness, not losing time between races, but still having the mental space you're looking for?

[ratherrapid]

once every 30 days is hardly all that strenuous but depends. between race work, intensity of the efforts, etc.

two things to consider in "breaks" to me:
1. cannon bones--how are they doing in terms of what's been done.
(edit--this is a really important consideration! How long needed to repair any problems might determine length of a break!)
2. attitude and need for a change.

I like to give short frequent breaks. does a horse wonders to spend 3 days at the farm post race. then maybe 2 weeks here and there, and if the schedule is really tight, 30 days somewhere--end of meet or weather.

different ideas on this. long breaks with 4 yr old fillies is asking for decline in performance to me. can consider longer break with light or riderless training added in, as was mentioned. general idea is to maintain fast twitch muscle fitness through the break to extent possible. methods for that!

[TJ]

I listen to some of the answer's given and I have to wonder if this is the same forum that screams when a horse breaks down, the same people that say it's better the way they are trained in Europe or the old timers could train horses and run so many more races then their modern counterpart. Here's a person with a 4YO filly that has been in training for a year.....running races once a month, earning her way (which, when I first posted wasn't edited concerning starts). She deserves a short break.....if not for anything else just to escape the early morning activity that is certain to be going on at the track with out fail every day (Rachel Alexandra's dilemma in her so called break). Just like we get burned out getting up early every day....getting bored doing the same thing day in and day out....so do horses, but they can't tell us and will continue on for us....therefore it's up to us to protect them. Seems like this filly is a nice horse, doing her thing for a year straight and keeping a good attitude, not souring up....and what about the constant concussion on her joints and bones, ligaments and tendons etc. The right thing to do is give her a short break, so she won't loose conditioning and give her body a chance to escape the wear and tear of a years long training....break the cycle for a short time, that's all that's needed....they don't have to be broke down or fried before you give it to them....use your common sense, it will keep her going longer, happier and sounder. The Euro horses are all ready in a farm type atmosphere, most yards are set up to do it. The old timer's, back in the day....the meets were shorter, hence they raced more often to earn their keep....but they knew they would be giving them a well deserved freshening through the winter....some went to Camden other's Florida. Those in FL had a working vacation such as with grass horses or if they had good 3 YO's to test them for a possible Triple Crown run who needed to stay fit without loosing time during the winter.
Bottom line, recommending this filly stays in training after a year of doing it.....well it just doesn't make sense, you will avert a possible injury and do the right thing for the horse. TJ