Training Compliance

Back on subject--performance--and today specifically getting our good horse to comply with our training.

What, why and how--knowledge of technique(how to), knowledge of exactly what it is that we want our horse to comply to(what). " Why" involves, of course, both performance and injury prevention. Posted on this, good grief, in July, and then distracted by subjects of lasix and trainer failure at scientific exercise.

Last immediate post on compliance was here:
http://ratherrapid.blogspot.com/2011/08/riding-around-race-track.html

and, 7/28/11 post identifying the subject of compliance as the horse motors around the track:

1. lead changes in general (#1 for the reason of health and injury prevention)
2. getting the over-enthusiast under control or stopped after the run.
2a. In contrast, dealing with the lazy horse or refuser.
2b. In general dealing with "antics" particularly in a crowd.
3. creating a push button horse on the race track--slowing, speeding up, trotting, galloping.
4. approaching the gate without protest.
5. gate work in general.
6. manipulating the horse in company--often tricky and dangerous.
7. On track turn arounds--e.g. back tracking and keeping horse calm in the turn around that often takes place amid oncoming traffic, getting the desired lead at the start of the gallop.
8. Keeping the horse under control and close to the rail in the trot off.

Many of the above are critical in injury avoidance and important in creating a competitive race horse. Again, two Qs. How do you get (find) a rider paying attention to all this stuff, AND if you find your rider, how to train the horse on track, and what is it necessary to communicate to the rider in this regard.

Before starting on this, there's also the interesting Q of whether the particular trainer is even aware. Will confide from experience that most are somewhat aware, but calculating the odds that your trainer will exercise that awareness with your particular horse is a roulette with probably low odds for your horse. Too bad, as in my experience, race horse success is ultimately in the details.

Training:
Wed. 9/21 10 min trot.
Thurs. 9/22 4 times up and down hill walk trot gallop.
Fri. 9/23 4 times up and down hill trot-gallop.
Last two w/os set stage for more serious work.
Sat. 9/24 scheduling problem. with sun dropping out of sky like rock get there too late to gallop. Riderless piss poor workout. Refusal. One short spurt.