Looking for a trainer like John Nerud

General racing discussion.

Moderators: Roguelet, hpkingjr, WaveMaster

btcountess
Maiden Special Weight
Posts: 247
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2006 8:45 pm
Location: West Windsor, NJ
Contact:

Looking for a trainer like John Nerud

Postby btcountess » Sat Jan 07, 2006 10:03 pm

Do any still exist? Trainers that believe in letting a horse be the best they can be, not a cookie cutter training program. Especially liked his 1/2 mile training, not constant stall life and taking time with them. Are they out there?
Horses are pure love.

Denise
Restricted Stakes Winner
Posts: 783
Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2004 8:18 am
Location: Pennsylvania

Trainers

Postby Denise » Tue Jan 10, 2006 9:34 am

I'd like to think our trainers are more in the "classic" mode. We are primarily a turf barn, though, so that dictates how the horses are trained and how often they run (if we're lucky, 8 races a year.)
All of ours are stopped right now (except our 3yo. homebred who's in LIGHT training.) They get 3 months off in the winter to be "horses" again, just turned out every day.
They are given interval training the rest of the time prior to, and between races. 3 mile rides, hacked through the woods, over little jumps, breezes on uphill turf gallops, and occasional dirt track work if the grass isn't good. They like to focus more on bringing horses along slowly, based on their individual precocity. Some have started at 2, but only when they tell the trainers they're ready and they're physically right to do so (the smaller boned, lighter ones might get to the races earlier.) The trainers don't ever focus on "times", but rather, "wind." If the horse can work beautifully over a particular mile turf gallop (with a 4F straight uphill finish) and not blow out a match afterward, it's deemed fit.
Much different style from the track guys, more European in bent.