Hi everyone,
I have a 2 yo that I want to test on the track. I'm wanting to get some more input on when you felt it was time to move your youngster in that direction and how did you get started? Did you have a trainer look at them first to get a general assessment? Did you start training their 3rd year?

Thanks!

Some send prospects to the track to be raced as three year olds, but most commonly they are started as late three year olds in preparation for racing in their fourth year. I would personally prefer racing a prospect at four - never sent one to the track myself, but all of my foundation stock (with the exception of one mare) has been sent to the track. Choose your trainer very, very carefully.

Natalie, I start mine at two and a half years, they go for about 3 months of just conditioning and light riding...easy stuff. Then they come home until they are three, I don't mean when the registry or horse shows say three, I mean after their third birthday. Then they go back and start again, this time for more conditioning and hoping they have matured and are ready to work...some are, some are not. For the next three to four months they are ridden everyday. They are started on the track, easy, never are they ask to run as fast as they can, in fact it looks like a cantor, maybe a little more. They are taught to go in the gate stand there and get used to the sounds of the rider kicking the metal so it doesn't scare them. After 3-4 months they got to another trainer at a race track, this is when the real schooling starts, they ask more of them. This usually takes about three months. My first trainer is not set up to work them "in Company" which means with other horses, so that takes awhile for them to get used to. Plus, just being at a race track, they also usually get sick right after they get there with "cold and cough" because they are babies and not used to being where so many horses have been.
So...by the time they are ready, it's been 10 months to a year from when I started. But part of that time they were home growing up. I think I do it slow, but I like the idea of the rest period, I think it gives all they have learned time to settle.
I have had a couple that didn't go to the track, they either didn't like the work at the first place or like my Arkair, who is just too small.
I only know a couple of race trainers in Texas and one in CA...but there are several...CHOSE CAREFULLY!!! I know that is hard, without knowing anything you are vulnerable. Talk to people who have sent horses out to trainers, take names...listen carefully.
Something I didn't realize until I got into it, is this is a small community of people...keep talking to people and asking about trainers.

Waiting until they are 4 may be a little more conservative but keep in mind that they will lose the chances to run in the 3 year old stakes races. Most racehorse owners in this country are going in the same direction as Billie. Start them in the fall of their 2 year old year, give them a break, and bring them back as 3 year olds. I wouldn't worry about bringing them back close to their 3rd birthday and getting them going again. Just make sure they are ready before pushing forward.

I have sent several into training and we have done the same thing. We have done so without injuries. It works if you have a trainer that understands your objectives and does what you want.

To each their own, but I can't foal 'em out and send them into training as two year olds. It's just not in their best interests.

I will give a view point on what the Wintersteen's do. I need to point out at the onset that we do not breed for racing and racing is used only as a means to test our breeding program. So.... we certainly do things a little different, and have different goals than Billie and Dan. However, we race our horses on a regular basis and they come home, sound, happy and move on to other avenues --- quite often in the same year.

As a liscensed trainer at the track and doing all most all things with the horses, from starting under saddle, gate work, gallops and speed work -- the mind is the most critical aspect to the process. We also beleive that waiting until the fall of their two year old to ask them to do something both mentally or physical is difficult and frankly asking a lot. Both the mind and body needs to acclimate to the work required on the race track.

In this vain, we start the moment they are born with imprinting and continue from there. We like to show our horses as weanlings if appropriate -- they are 5 to 6 months and weaned. We find weanlings, if handled daily, adjust easily to all the rigors this requires, hauling in a trailor, clipping, bathing, etc. They quickly just assume this is part of life. (Keep in mind when I say showing, they are trained to lead, whoa, etc. certainly no hard stand up!!) I have never had a weanling that didn't just jump into a trailor the first time. Compare that with your two or three old for their first time. Certainly I am not talking about dragging them out of a pasture, bathing, clipping and throwing them in a trailor one day to go to a show, but the time consuming daily process to get horses ready for this. Seeing new things, aka a show ground, is important. By the time they step on the track as a 3 year old they will be old hands at seeing new things.

As yearlings, they actual start some conditioning for their show ring appearances which means they need to get legs wrapped, stand in cross ties, regular baths, and develop a work ethic in the round pen. Not only is the great mentally, but starts to develop them physically. They learn to stand up for halter as well, but we do not press the hard stand up, but more is expect than as a weanling.

They always get the winters again then continue this through their two year old year. In the fall of the two year old year they will start to long line, learning to bridle and drive off their rear end. By the time we actually put a saddle on them in early winter and ride them there is hardly a step sideways. We will then start the process of arena work and trail rides getting them ready for gallops.

As for if they start in a race their 3rd, 4th, or 5th year, it is really up the horse. Some move quickly and others just don't. We have had them run the whole scale... The ones that first started as 5 year olds have had just as much success as the 3 year old starters. Sometimes we just put them away for the winter and let them come back stronger and fresher in the spring.

So when they make their first start can be from 3 to 5, even 6 years old really, when you start preparing them for the track is TODAY!!! I also think that there is a lot the owner can do to prepare them for the trainer. Those farm lessons will pay huge dividends!

My two cents,

Jeff

I've been in contact with a trainer in the greater Houston area. Since my colt is 2 1/2 now, the trainer wants to take a look at his overall conformation and see what he thinks. I sure hope he will be impressed. Psymin was R9 SHIH Champion Stallion this summer. We'll see!

Best of luck,

Jeff