Breaking in worries

A

ajph

Member
Joined
14 May 2013
Messages
18
Location
Hampshire
Visit site
Hi everyone,

I've never worked with racehorses but have signed up (so to speak, no contract) to work at a breaking racing yard in Australia for 6 months starting next year. Am I being incredibly stupid and putting myself into unnecessary risk? I don't know much about racehorses and am starting to have cold feet as don't want to come back to the UK in a body box!!......
Anyone worked with breaking in racehorses, or knows what they are like? Please tell me outright if I am being an idiot or worrying for no reason !!!

Thank you!
 
I used to provide services to north sea divers in the oil industry.

One old boy, who was an old diver, told me he had a wide yellow stripe painted down the back of his wet suit. Whenever he was asked to do a dangerous job, he'd turn his back and exhibit his yellow stripe. He had a saying, "There are old divers and there are bold divers, but there are no old bold divers".

Remember that and you will be fine. Let some silly young beggar show off and do the dangerous jobs. That's what the young are for.:D
 
ajph said:
Anyone worked with breaking in racehorses, or knows what they are like? Please tell me outright if I am being an idiot or worrying for no reason !!!
Click to expand...

Depending on how good they are at doing it, it shouldn't be too different from breaking in a competition horse. Breaking in is the quiet bit - once they go into training and become green racehorses, that's when it become difficult!!

I don't know what Aussie horse culture is like so I don't know what their approach to breaking in is like, but as long as you don't overestimate your ability, and you have an experienced person on the ground, and take things quietly and at the horse's pace, it shouldn't be too different from breaking any horse with a bit of blood.
 
Did they ask for references regarding your ability/experience with backing TBs?? If they didn't, then I doubt very much that will be an essential part of the job (unless they're barking mad in which case - when they tell you to jump on a youngster being sat on for the first time - tell them to get stuffed!!

I don't know how much has changed in the last 35 years but I used to work for one of the top trainers in Australia - and I was never asked to be first on a breaker - the foreman - who was a top notch rider - did that! Method was a bit more basic than seen in competition/training yards here. There was a covered round yard, with walls sloping outwards. Youngsters were lunged around that in a saddle and bridle for a couple of days, then foreman vaulted up and down a couple of times before going into saddle. Then he rode them around it on both reins a few times - before taking them straight out ono the track. It was rarely a problem - they were 2 year olds who didn't have the strength to fight!
 
I told them I basically have no experience with racehorses whatsoever and they said that where I have experience with other young horse breeds I would be fine!
 
I did several seasons breaking two year old racehorses, and lived to tell the tale. The aim of the game was to them moving freely forward on the lunge under saddle, and then with a rider on board, as quickly as possible. We got on, installed "Go, Turn, Stop" and then got on with it.

The trainer took a dim view of people falling off, and anyone who hit the deck regularly either didn't ride, or only rode the easy ones. It was not a nurturing environment - we were there to do a job, and there was no room for anyone who didn't get on and do that job. I enjoyed it though - lots of banter, and I learned how to stick on - it is a bit like riding a greased up salmon when a two year old TB has a go at dislodging you!

The most important thing I learned was that the most effective way to stay in the plate is to keep the neck straight, and keep kicking on. It's a lesson that I've never forgotten,and possibly one of the most useful things I've ever learned!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top