READERS FORUM
Dear BYRH,
I want to drop you a note to tell you how much I appreciate what you are
doing. I have been using your methods for about a year now on three horses.
I surprised alot of people with my fifth place finish at Oaklawn Park.
I am just starting to understand how to train race horses but I can see
so many horses at the track and training farms that do not have a chance
because of the way they are being trained. I will be in contact with you
to let you know how everything is going. I appreciate the newsletters.
I have a license in Arkansas and Louisiana. I am not far from Oklahoma
or Texas. I can get a license in these states if I need to. I will be
happy to work with anyone in this area.
Sincerely, Ralph Black, Waldo, Ark.
I've put your name on the Trainers list and hope
you'll hear from others in your area trying to get started in the Racing
Industry. We need more trainers like you willing to work with owner trainers!
Dear BYRH
I have enclosed a check for a copy of your book. I'm really looking forward
to getting this book as your concepts are very similar to how I like to
handle my horses. I am presently a licensed race horse trainer at Thistledown.
I am very interested in learning how you adapted racehorse training to
the farm situation. I would love to be able to attend one of your seminars
at your farm but my present situation will not allow that. If you have
printed info from these seminars, I would appreciate it.
How is First Prediction? Has she had any babies yet? Who have you bred
her to? My husband and I followed her career as much as we were able to
since we have her half sister. She is a real sweetheart and I love her
dearly but as far as breeding is concerned we have not made much progress
with her. A lot of things have gone wrong for us-nothing anyone could
help or predict. I hope you have better success with First Prediction.
You did a great job with her.
I will be waiting to receive the book. I hope I'll be able to adapt some
of your plans to my farm or that it will give me ideas as to what I can
do here. Thank you.
Good Luck racing!
Donna Morris, Burton, Ohio
Thank you for your interest in my sweet mare. First
Prediction is due in May and is bred to Gallipiat. We have a yearling
filly out of her by Big Stanley. Of course I'm hoping that she'll be at
least half as good as her mom. Since you have a farm and can ship into
local tracks, you have a great opportunity to train your horses to suit
your methods and keep them sound. I've heard you have had much success
by getting horses and nurturing them back to racing form. You care for
your animals and know it pays off! I look forward to your input and advice
on how to apply your skills and on track knowledge to the ship-in program.
You already know the track routine-how do you meld that with farm routine?
Since you train in Ohio I've put your name on the trainers list. Good
Luck! - editor
Dear BYRH,
I wanted to bring you up to date since our last chat. I think I told you
I got a job at Delta Downs with a Quarter horse trainer to get some on
track experience. (You should enjoy this!) First he tested me-stalls-
"You've done this before-right?" I answered "Yeah-a few
times over the last twenty five years." Then I got to put a halter
on. Then a bridle. Then a saddle. Wow! I got them all on right. I hotwalked.
I put horses on the hotwalker, I bathed them, clipped them, loaded them,
even got to pull off shoes and paint their feet. He was amazed! Question...where
did he get his other employees...off a banana boat?
Then he asked me if I could ride....well...I broke a few colts...I know
a little bit about riding. I got to pony one. More amazement, I stayed
on and came back with both horses. Now for the good part. He wanted me
to exercise horses.
Now you know that riding babies and riding fit horses in training are
two entirely different things. I told him this but by now he thought I
could do anything. Ha! Well I thought, I'll never get another chance to
ride a real race horse on the track so as long as he gives me a gentle
one I'll give it a shot. (My knees are beginning to knock together now
just at the memory.) Picture this-three year old quarter horse filly-he
brings her out and throws me up on this frothing horse. Okay-so far I'm
still on-still relatively in control. He's on the pony-says he is going
to show me what to do. She trots sideways the entire way from the barn
to the track. He says now take her to the middle of the track and keep
her there. Meanwhile he stops. Wait a minute...I thought he was going
with me. Great. We are on the out side of the track trying to get to the
middle. (This horse's steering wheel is not functional!) Finally, as we
reach the turn he hollers "Go ahead! Put her on the rail!" Great-
more steering needed- she's cantering at this point-I finally get her
on the rail coming around the turn. (By the way-since I don't have an
exercise riders license, he has sneaked me here on the track at 5:45 AM,
so we are all alone out here in the Dark! Well we hit the top of the stretch
and this filly hits high gear. Catapult! All I hear is the wind roaring
in my ears. What do I do? Well, naturally I try to slow her down-right?
Duh! What an idiot. What do you do when the horse speeds up? You pull
back-right? And get off the saddle in two point? And crouch down? Well
there I was with my life passing before me, wondering who would raise
my child when I was gone, all the time telling the filly to run like heck
with my body and saying "easy baby!" with my mouth. Well, after
about a year, it seemed like a year, I realized what I was doing about
three strides from the finish line and as soon as we crossed it, she decelerated
slightly and I stood up and managed to get her stopped by the time we
got back to the gap. As I neared the trainer, calling myself every stupid
thing I could think of, steeling myself to have him chew me out and fire
me on the spot, what do I hear? "Damn girl-why didn't you tell me
you could ride?!!" Oh please! The man was hopeless! The next day
he wanted me to ride again. HA! I said sorry-I'll stick to nice slow TB
babies. No more quater horses or fit horses for me. I may be stupid but
I'm not suicidal! I've never been so terrified in my life. My respect
for jockeys went up quite a few notches. What a thrill though! By the
way, the filly ran three days later and was second. Well I thought you
would enjoy that. I hope I can get back on track soon and get my trainers
license. See you at the races!
Name withheld to protect everyone involved! Texas
Well.
Now there's alot to think about in this letter. It is appalling that there
are trainers that would take such risks with untrained help. My little
friend is lucky that nothing worse happened to her while she flew down
the stretch. Every one needs guidance and help at the track but that was
no way to learn to gallop. There is great danger involved when working
with fit sound horses at high speed. Jockeys deserve respect for the difficult
challenging job they do. It takes courage, strength, and a very cool head
when trying to modify and direct the behavior of high strung horses.
I hope my friend will gain knowledge by working with a caring competent
horseman before she tries to get her license. Just because she got hooked
up with that trainer doesn't justify setting herself up for more risks
and danger. There are all kinds at the track-let's try and put the good
people together. -editor
Dear BYRH,
After a lifetime of owning horses and fifteen years of both breeding and
buying race horses (thoroughbreds), we are about to embark on the task
of training. All these years of muttering under our breath about trainers'
ignorance of nutrition, exercise physiology, hoof angles, tack, etc. have
come to an end. We are now in the position to train off the farm, with
only ourselves to blame for the mistakes. As a couple of sponges for information,
please sign us up for your newsletter.
It's nice to know that there are other people in the horse business who
put the well being of the horses first. Looking forward to receiving your
publication.
Sincerely, Tom and Leslie Hubbell, Stroud, OK
Dear Tom and Leslie,
I had a friend who always complained that his bosses were all idiots.
Then one day he opened his own office and found out that the view was
different from the other side. I hope that, even though the view is going
to be different for you as a race horse trainer, you will stick to the
sound horse knowledge you have already acquired through experience and
study . Never be afraid to ask why things are done if they don't make
sense and be strong enough to do what you know is right-even if others
think you're nuts. A good example is the simple task of keeping a hot
horse moving after a work or race. I've seen them come into the barn breathing
so heavily they're almost shaking, and the grooms, so set on ritual, stop
the horse , take off the bridle, and bathe him immediately before giving
him a few rounds to settle down, catch his breath, and start to relax.
I've watched the horses tie up with this kind of routine yet I'm sure
the grooms think I'm nuts when I walk my horse around with the bridle
on until I feel he's settled enough to take off the equipment. There is
so little time for the animal to adjust from high speed on the track to
static slow walking around the barn, that the lactic acid build up in
the muscles doesn't have time to work itself out. The further your barn
is from the track on the backside, the better for your horse's cooling
out process. I mention this because horses have chronic problems with
tying up at the track and yet many trainers will try medications and feed
changes while never thinking of the simple adage of keeping a hot horse
moving until he settles. There are many rituals on the track that go against
every thing we know about exercise physiology and preparing a sound fit
race horse. Transfer all your common sense horse knowledge to the track-your
horses will be better because of it. Good Luck and keep us informed with
your progress! - editor
Dear BYRH,
Thanks so much for the newsletters and info you gave me. Sign me up for
the newsletter-I love it! I hope I can contribute to a better way of training
and a happier life for my horses. I find it quite difficult to work with
the traditional training because it is so hard on my horses. Unfortunately,
due to my crazy work schedule, I end up compromising the way I want to
do things. I really believe that home life is better for my horses than
the track rituals. Some day I hope to go into full time training if our
state program survives that long.
As you may already know, Ohio's program is in dire straits. I only hope
we can save the ship before it's too late. Thanks to your book, there
will be a lot more doors opened. There are so many better ways and new
ideas that can help us grow together. That's the way it must happen if
racing is to survive. They need to take a good look at themselves and
try to make it fun to own and train, not a burden trying to figure out
how to get in the gate! I have been involved in racing for over ten years
now. I found it necessary to obtain my trainers license and I still see
so many faults and hardships for ship-ins. If I didn't do my own galloping
I would be in deep trouble. Now to try to find a good jockey for my only
two horses! Makes me pull my hair out sometimes. But just cross that finish
line first and it makes it all worth while! What an awesome feeling! Again-thanks!
Paula Weaver Stoutsville, Ohio
Dear Paula,
There is a great deal of prejudice on the part of track trainers against
ship ins. It doesn't have to be this way. Trainers must understand that
there are many ways to train and any new blood bringing more horses to
the races is good. I have no illusion about changing the methods of track
trainers. My hope is to encourage and inspire competitive horsemen to
try racing. Instead of winning ribbons they can win real money and still
treat the horse fairly and keep him sound. When you have your own place
it is no big deal to turn horses out until they heal from the little problems
that present themselves in the training process. When there is day money
and the pressure of the racing office for filling races, trainers and
owners get trapped into bad situations. The ship in barn can have a nice
feel to it-depending on the attitude of those involved. Since you gallop
yourself, you don't have to worry about being hung up and having the track
close before your rider shows up. That's a big plus. As to finding good
jockeys, there are many competent riders at the track. If you are an unknown
and your horse is unproven, don't try for the leading riders-they have
plenty of mounts and won't have as much time as jockeys who ride two or
three times a day. These jockeys are more willing to work with you and
will give you more time in the morning. Since you ride yourself, you know
not to look for a jockey until your horse is relaxed and comfortable on
the race track. Then the jockey can breeze him a few times and you're
ready to race! When you start doing speed, remember you drop off long
slow training and hone into speed at the track with turn out rebuild time
in between. When your horse starts to race you'll have a lot easier time.
All you will have to do is get him over to the races about every ten days
and keep him happy in between! Better for you-better for the horse! -
editor