Life of a Thoroughbred Racehorse: Before Training at the Track

Thoroughbred foals destined for the track are first trained by their dams and then move on to weaning and turning one year old.

Long before a young Thoroughbred goes to a professional racehorse trainer, he begins learning the life of a racehorse.  His first trainer is his mother or dam.  Watching interactions between his dam and people help to familiarize him with people and learn that they should be obeyed.  Grooms and veterinarians teach him about being handled, about wearing a horse collar, walking on a lead and about receiving medications.

Many stud farms practice imprint training, where they hug and stroke the foal immediately after it is born.  A tiny horse collar may be placed on to get the foal used to wearing one.  This gets foals used to the smells and sensations of being handled by people and help to reduce stress whenever the future racehorse needs to be shod, groomed or tacked up.

Weanlings

The first big milestone a racehorse faces is being weaned from his mother.  Ever since he was two months old, he has been increasingly eating more solid food.  He is almost always in the company of his mother.  But by the time he is six months old, he and his mother are permanently separated.  

Weanlings are often placed two to a stall or pasture in order for them to get over the shock of losing their constant companions, their dams.  Depending on how large the breeding farm is or how mild the weather is, weanlings may be turned out all in one pasture for them to kick up their heels and play, morning and evening.  The company of others help the weanlings become confident in their new lives away from their dams.

Playing is important for foals and weanlings.  Not only does it keep the young horse out of mischief, but also helps develop muscles, bones and agility.  Good grooms begin to note the personalities of weanlings and report them to prospective owners or racehorse trainers.

Yearlings

All Thoroughbred weanlings are considered one year old or yearlings on New Year’s Day, despite what date the weanling were born on.  This is to help keep race records in order so that a horse does not compete with three year olds one day and then suddenly switches to four year olds the next.

By this time, a yearling will be taught some basic ground manners such as standing quietly in cross-ties.  If the yearling is being sent to auction, then the yearling will be taught to stand still and raise his head up with his ears forward in order to best show off to prospective buyers.  The yearling will be taught how to walk into and out of a lorry or horse van.  The yearling will also need their first racing shoes.  Since they are much lighter than ordinary horse shoes, he will need shoeing frequently.  Many yearlings also wear a saddle and bridle for the first time.  Many trainers also give the yearling lunging lessons, especially in Europe, weeks before the horse carries his first rider.  These basic lessons will impact a racehorse for the rest of his life. 

References

“Strategies for Weaning.” Cynthia McFarland. Thoroughbred Times. http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/farm-management/farm-management-06-28-08.aspx

Horenstein, Henry and Carol Flake. Thoroughbred Kingdoms: Breeding Farms of the American Rcehorse.  Bullfinch Press; 1990.

Burch, Preston M. Training Thoroughbred Horses. The Russell Meerdink Company Ltd.; 1992.

Miller, Robert, DVM. Imprint Training of the Newborn Foal.  Western Horseman; 2003.

Image from Wikimedia Commons