racers' behavior toward the ponies
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kimberley mine
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Patuxet wrote:Why do racehorses in Europe manage without ponies?
The US is the only country where I've seen racing (out of several) where ponies are the rule and not a rare exception. Everywhere else I've been, the horses would walk in the warmup ring, parade past the stands, and then gallop out to the starting gate, where they'd walk more.
Even aside from horse health (aka chiropractic concerns), I much prefer the walk and gallop. I've picked more than one winner based solely on how they ran on the way to the gate!
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doublete
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an observation... european horses have class. And the riders aren't whiny.
Here we go with ponies because the horses that generally misbehave have "little class". Compare graded stakes horse behavior in the post parade to the $4K claimers at Charles Town. You will notice a HUGE difference.
I pony, and I ponied the gray horse that won a GII race at laurel... Can't remember his name but I have the picture of me ponying him. I had him on the strap nice and long. He didn't need the pony. Did not have an ounce of nervous energy. he did his job beside the pony, warming up under the instruction of his jockey. And won the race handily. I have one now 3 y/o myself that shows teh same "class" beside the pony. He never touched the pony, and jogs and canters quietly and straight beside them. He's obviously not a stakes horse, but he shows class. My "cheap" horses don't show that.
So sometimes the behavior in the post parade has to do with the horse's level of class as well. A classy horse will realize that it is safer and better for their body and muscle to go straight beside their pony. The pony will make sure they make it to the gate safely, and they realize that. Obviously a horse that is crooked and acting dumb has a higher chance of rapping a tendon, or injuring themselves.
Here we go with ponies because the horses that generally misbehave have "little class". Compare graded stakes horse behavior in the post parade to the $4K claimers at Charles Town. You will notice a HUGE difference.
I pony, and I ponied the gray horse that won a GII race at laurel... Can't remember his name but I have the picture of me ponying him. I had him on the strap nice and long. He didn't need the pony. Did not have an ounce of nervous energy. he did his job beside the pony, warming up under the instruction of his jockey. And won the race handily. I have one now 3 y/o myself that shows teh same "class" beside the pony. He never touched the pony, and jogs and canters quietly and straight beside them. He's obviously not a stakes horse, but he shows class. My "cheap" horses don't show that.
So sometimes the behavior in the post parade has to do with the horse's level of class as well. A classy horse will realize that it is safer and better for their body and muscle to go straight beside their pony. The pony will make sure they make it to the gate safely, and they realize that. Obviously a horse that is crooked and acting dumb has a higher chance of rapping a tendon, or injuring themselves.
Racing and retraining.
It's just what some horses want to do, Toccet. Not desirable to the pony person, but sometimes it's hard to prevent.
As for dallying a racehorse to the horn, Madelyn, maybe in the morning, but Toccet is talking about racedays. If you've seen someone run their pony strap through the horse's bit, and then dally it to their horn, I'd be amazed.
As for dallying a racehorse to the horn, Madelyn, maybe in the morning, but Toccet is talking about racedays. If you've seen someone run their pony strap through the horse's bit, and then dally it to their horn, I'd be amazed.