When to start training?

Veterinary, horse care, and training issues.

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zort91
Suckling
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Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2006 8:47 pm
Location: Arlington Park, Illinois

When to start training?

Postby zort91 » Sat Apr 21, 2007 11:35 am

Is starting training on a horse before they actually turn 2 years old too soon? A filly foaled on May 30th, 2005. I'm sure it varies from horse to horse but any general "words of wisdom"?

Blue feather
Allowance Winner
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Postby Blue feather » Sat Apr 21, 2007 12:04 pm

My yearlings(both foaled 4/06) will be sent to be broke and conditioned this fall. During that time they will be individually evaluated to see if their knees have closed and if they are mature physically and mentally enought to handle the rigors of training. As I'm sure you know, some thoroughbreds mature quicker then others. I believe this is a fairly typical approach to the start of a young horse's racing career.

griff
Leading Sire
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Postby griff » Sat Apr 21, 2007 3:17 pm

Most of the TB's that run as 2 YOs start training before they are 24 months old but I'd recommend you have it's knees X rayed befre you you breeze it.

griff
"We has met the enemy and he is us" [Pogo]

tbrace
Restricted Stakes Winner
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Joined: Fri Nov 05, 2004 7:52 pm

2

Postby tbrace » Sun Apr 29, 2007 7:10 pm

Those two year olds won't have closed knees.

The good news is, research shows it really doesn't matter much. General nutrition, and slow and easy training are more important factors.

X-rays are a good idea - to see if ocd's are present, or other abnormalities.

Most good two and three year olds started the breaking-training process late in their yearling year. Many are then given December, January, February off, and then start back, looking to get out in late summer or falll of the two year old time frame.

Best of luck to you. Patience is the name of the game in developing a good racehorse.