Nuts And Bolts Of On Track Training

We instruct the jock to do a 2 min. gallop, throw him up, presume girth tightness will be at comfortable level for the horse, equipment correct, and off they go down the path to the race track. At the Woodlands, where I rode, the path was flat out dangerous. Unknown to me what they were thinking when they built it. Rails close in, concrete abutments all over the place, a steep inclining hill down to the race track were an acting up horse could easily fall over, etc. Once a female jock cracked her head open falling on one of those abutments, and that was always on my mind on the way to that track.

Assume though that we have a compliant, trained animal instead of a protester or conscientious objector. This latter sort would be a special situation for which we'd need company, a pony possibly, or one of those rare riders willing and able to control the misbehaving horse. It takes both--willingness and ability.

The technique for getting the bad actor under control is fairly straight forward. You thump him with the whip and generally this brings instant ad hoc attention to the task at hand. Problem is that it takes a certain amount of courage and rider skill to use that method. Myself e.g., I have been unable to get that done. Why? Striking a horse with a whip creates serious unpredictability. You think you know that at the moment of the strike the horse will only take a little jump forward. However, there's uncertainty. In fact at the moment of the strike the horse might do anything, from a 180 to a rear and flip to running into a rail or--in case of the dangerous path to the Woodlands running into the concrete or falling on the steep incline. When the rider starts to raise the whip for a strike in those situations, it creates a bit of mental pause, to make an understatement. My thought was always, just do it , but invariably I lacked the guts. Why? I knew instinctively with my size and skill level there are certain antics I am unable to handle without risk of serious injury. And so, for the protester--company or a rider able and willing. The latter is a rare and difficult find on most race tracks, although they do exist.--let's also add that correct whip use--the thump--is almost the only rider technique available for the misbehaving horse, and if we have a rider unwilling to use that technique there are a few other things available such as "change the path to the track", glop on butt of another animal, have a human on the ground lead the horse by the reins, etc., your imagination. For the serious bad actor with a normal rider however, it's likely that company if you can get it, is the ideal solution.

And, so, our horse has made it to the race track. What's now, next post.

Training:
Wed. 9/28 after two days off we're back in the saddle. 4 x trot-gallop up and down hill. After three days away from riding the first two heats were leg tendon stretchers for our good rider on this wide animal. The horse has been brought now to a "go forward" point. See in next days if we can get it done this time.