Getting Correct Leads Into The Clubhouse Turn

My purpose is to indicate on-track training in terms of performance. We have a two fold problem of 1. trying to get the horse to do what we want done, and 2. trying to get the rider to do the same.

Avoid letting those Larry Zapeye UTubes with the hall of fame jocks at Santa Anita breezing horses by Zapp's camcorder making this look easy fool u. Look closely and observe plenty that should worry, or stand track side through a morning workout there'll never be a day pass without spotting a rider or horse in error out there that will guarantee that particular horse will never see the track again. #1 of course we want avoid this unlucky animal to be our horse, and we also want to get the max out of our workout.

If the rider enters at the 3/16s he's immediately surveying traffic and track surface conditions. There are horses on the right back tracking and inevitably some fool ancient rider up ahead going through hijinks's or some idiot ponying too far on the inside that u have to get around. Thus, immediate steering problems while simultaneously the rider should be calculating the warm up.

This warm up will be conducted to the 5f pole where the 2m gallop will begin 5f to 5f. Thus, if the horse starts the trot at the 3/16th we have about a 4.5f to warm up the horse. Let's take note that "warm up" has some significant meaning in exercise physiology. Will discuss after I get this horse around the track an ideal warm up in terms of 2 m gallop. For now let's observe that 4.5f of distance from 3/16 to 5f, though less than an ideal warm up distance still provides enough length to get the minimum physiological processes going since we also walk-trotted the horse to the track from the barn.

For the rider at the 3/16th the horse will be eager into the trot which will be carried on to the finish line where the gallop will commence. We'll plan about 1.5f of slow gallop from the finish line and then accelerate into the :15s by the 5f. Easy, right?

The time we're on the track is 7:50 a.m. There's still some serious low sun shining straight into the horse and rider's eye balls coming off the 7f in that Club House turn. When the duo reach that point neither will for about 1f be able to calculate traffic or see what's up ahead including horses coming out of the gate. Essentially shortly after the 7f the rider will be galloping blind for a spell, and so will the horse. Additionally the 7f at the Woodlands is also the gallop end point and where most of the horses turn around to back track off, i.e. on a busy morning there's always an excess of traffic at the 7f to weave around. So, this time of morn--sun and traffic in the Club House turn and likely a breezer or two coming up behind.

This is the lovely scene for our rider viewing the Clubhouse turn up ahead as the horse trots across the finish line which is where the most crucial aspect of this whole work will happen. What is the "crucial aspect:?

As the rider commences the trot at the 3/16 the good riders will immediately calculate what leads they need to be on. The manner by which the horse commences trot, i.e. the particular diagonal on which the horse commences the trot will determine on which lead the horse will commence its gallop at the finish line. If the horse commences trot on the left lead diagonal the gallop will commence left lead. Why? It is impossible for the horse to gain a right lead gallop off a left lead trot diagonal. The trot diagonal dictates the lead at the start of the gallop. Why is this crucial, next post.

Training:
Sat: 10/8 light riderless. To dark to rider after I replace lost rear shoe.d
Sun: 10/9: light riderless + 10 min trot-gallop around around large arena size area in the pasture. The sunlight once again goes down way too fast and a herd of deer is standing in the dark and wind right on the track. However, the horse is doing well under tack, and we're on the verge if the weather holds.