From The 4.5f: Preserve And Enhance

Few internet images remain of this fellow. Tom Ivers early on used the phrase PRESERVE AND ENHANCE that encapsulates, pretty much, TB race horse training. When we're out there struggling, trying to figure out what the heck we should be doing, think "preserve and enhance".

And so, with the mythical rider now at the 4.5f near the beginning of a 2m gallop, what is going through the rider's head at that point? Consider first the "preserve" portion of the equation, and this certainly applies to horse and rider.

Viewing those jock web cam vids watch those front lead legs slamming into the track. Running on one side of the brain every single time I go out there--maybe the jocks think differently than do I--will this horse survive the next stride(that's stride not ride)? Any outward signs of injury or fracture? How is my horse traveling today? We are motoring through the divets with my eyeballs glued ahead and down on the race track attempting to steer the safest course to avoid any bad step or unsafe landing on the side of a deep divet. How deep are they? Vid next post. And, needless to say, for my self, I am planning an exit if something goes awry. Falling at 35 mph with about 1.5 seconds reaction time can be hazardous to your health.

In the mornings, particularly if u go out there when I do when the track is closest to pristine condition there are also traffic problems to consider--ahead there's invariable the older oblivious rider sure to steer directly in your path especially near the gap or that pony person way too far on the inside, and, from behind the unexpected worker going faster than you that may spook your animal. Traffic and planning the pathway is track number 2 running in the rider's head in the morning.

For those of us believing we can improve our horses, at the 4.5f what is the the rider thinking about on the "enhance" part of the equation? This likely is what the trainer would be working on with his morning riders.

First, to view what these riders are doing on board in terms of "enhance" you get a better view by freeze framing those web cam shots. What are these pro riders, particularly the ones at Delmar doing. And take note there are subtle differences in technique compared to those riders on the bull ring at Hastings. Interesting that they have different techniques in the stretch and I was surprised at how little verbal play there was with these world classers at Delmar compared to the whooping and hollering I used to hear at the quarter pole at the Woodlands.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkFsj705ziE&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLF21D9CC7EF4BD762