Breaking/Gate card

Slew83 · Postby **Slew83** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 6:47 pm

How many months of age is a colt or filly when they are broke to except a rider & how long does it take i.e. 30, 60, or 90 days more?

Can someone explain the gate card.

Thanks

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 4:30 am

A gate card is given when the horse has been taken to a racetrack or authorized training facility with starting gates and a gate crew, and has been certified to load and come out of the gate.

A lot of racehorse prospects are "broke" as yearlings and it can take from six days to ?? depending on the horse. I had a very hardheaded colt that took 11 weeks...

LSB · Postby **LSB** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 9:04 am

Our horses are first sent to the training center in the fall of their yearling year, so they're about 20 months old. They start their training with a bunch of "rope work" then progress to the point where they can walk, trot and canter in both directions, turn, and stop. Then they come back to the farm and are turned out again until they're ready to resume their training at some point the following year.

That first stint at the training center varies in length from horse to horse, but is usually 45-60 days.

TBLADY · Postby **TBLADY** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 1:24 pm

I'm sending my filly out in about 4 months she'll be about 20 months at that point. I will expect her to be gone for 4-6 months. Shes a big filly and I want her broke slowly but correctly. Teaching her to use her body correctly without being overly heavy on her hind end or her forehand. She'll be in the NC area so the weather is much better then here in Ohio through the winter months. When she returns to us she will have her gate card and be ready to either come home and rest and grow for a while or head off the track for some light training before she comes home.

She currently ties, cross ties, stands well for the vet and blacksmith, ground drives (without any weight to pull) and has accepted a bit and bridle. Shes had a saddle on but no one on her nor bearing any weight. At this time shes being turned out to play and be a kid until its time to head south.

Slew83 · Postby **Slew83** » Wed Jun 29, 2005 7:33 pm

What's the cost?

TBLADY · Postby **TBLADY** » Mon Jul 04, 2005 10:17 am

I'm paying $60 a day plus vet and farrier. I could find someone closer to me who would cost much less but I didn't want her pounded over a track too soon and I didn't want her galloping too quickly either. Thus we made the choice we did in Paula Turner. www.paulaturnertrainingstables.com