The RR Rules

Here they are, with comments.

1. Never do anything with a horse unless you're 100% sure you can do it without injuring the animal.

Rule 1 of race training. How do you plan today's workout? This is it, governs everything else. How many times have I reduced what I'd planned, even at the last moment, in observance of this rule! This is how you have to think about racing and training to avoid injury. When in doubt, back off!

2. Always better too slow than too fast.

There will be rare exceptions at such times that performance requires maximum speed. But, for the most part, this rule is vital. Again, see Rule #1. You've already planned the most you can get away with for today. The rider must never exceed this, and always back off when necessary! Unable to stress this enough if the horse is to remain healthy.

3. When horse takes the wrong lead, always abort.

How many times have you seen a horse win a race on the wrong lead down the stretch, never be heard from again? Happens 80% of the time, I'd guess. Standard rider instructions: horse takes wrong lead, abort,and restart. In a race, forget the win and bring it home as gently as possible, I'll deal with the Stewards. Most good race riders will continue to attempt a lead change. That is correct procedure. Many will disagree including Jack Van Berg on his tape. For me, his might be the most important rule besides Rule #1.

4. Always abort if horse exceeds planned speed.

But, small adjustments are allowed. If :14s are planned, and the horse does a :12, there needs to be compensation. You work this out with the rider in advance.

5. Avoid stupid stuff on track, rough riding of any sort, trotting sideways, clumsy stops, etc.

How many times have I gritted my teeth watching some horse trotted almost perpendicular to the rail, or watched the horse being pulled to the halt landing its fronts in clumsy position by some careless rider? Never happens with mine. Rider selection and education.

6. Always work for stride length and stride efficiency.

Every day. I keep my rider thinking about this. Drum it in their heads. Minimally this sort of instruction will get your riders attention, and with a good rider, you'll improve the horse over time.

7. Never proceed when there's the slightest suspicion of injury.

Once the horse is on track, this is rider stuff. The rider is instructed to monitor the animal in the warm up trot and abort with any thinking of injury. My instructions, if in doubt, stop and bring it back. Of course, same instructions for the gallop.

8. Always conduct an appropriate warm up.

How important is this? See five months of posts on this blog, beginning April 2007.

9. Always avoid surprises, including

the same work, heavier weight.

surprise increases in speed or distance

changes in track conditions

frequency of workouts, etc.


19. Plan training in advance. Never plan on the fly or spur of the moment.

Improvised workouts on the fly, the bain of the careful trainer. I rarely cause an injury, but, generally when I do, this is the reason.

11. Rider control. This one requires several upcoming posts.

A hard drive crashed and I lost my original rules. These above are from memory. Hope I got them all. With these rules I'm now easily able to lay the wood to conventional training, and injuries. But first, I just finished "Seabiscuit", and that's next.