Horny Harry
22-11-2002, 17:34
Trainers walk fine line between success and failure
By Darren Beadman
November 22 2002
http://www.theraces.com.au/images/membership/beadmanletter.jpg
Who would want to be a trainer? It is a hard slog but, thankfully, plenty are willing to take on the task that has rewards as well as plenty of disappointment. The upside is to be savoured, for the downside is a road to much heartache.
Being a jockey is like having a garage full of motor cars. You get the whole range: classy, common, slow and fast. If one isn't purring as it should, hop into another one and take off. Not so a trainer. He has to fix the model that isn't running well.
Once the riding is over the jockey hands the trusted steed back to the trainer. The horse is once again the trainer's problem. And there is no disputing the problem lines for horses are exactly that.
In the wake of the Gai Waterhouse-Platinum Scissors storm in that old teacup, it's interesting to note trainers may well be obliged to let stewards know if a horse has had a setback in the lead-up to a race.
The rules are in place already to ensure trainers let the stipes know if anything has gone wrong but it would appear an early warning system is going to be introduced.
Dealing with horses is tough and trainers are forever walking that fine line. Is a horse fit and ready to race or do you err on the side of caution? Take the horse out because it has had a minor problem? If that were often the case I've a sneaking suspicion racefields would be devastated.
Most thoroughbreds carry some sort of injury. Minor or major, it doesn't matter.
Think of the human equivalent. The longer the campaign the more likely the sportsman is to pick up an injury. Even if it is only a strained muscle somewhere the athlete will more than likely suffer a handicap.
But does it stop the athlete from competing? The answer must surely be found in the extent of the trouble. Serious or not so serious?
Minor niggles are discarded when you are asked to carry out a sporting endeavour. It is no different when it comes to horses.
The amount of times I've jumped on a thoroughbred and trotted off to the barriers for a race and thought, 'this horse is in trouble' cannot be counted. Many a time I've called on the official veterinarian stationed behind the starting stalls for a second opinion.
Most times you arrive behind the gates and your mount feels just fine. Others feel sore but instinct tells you they will be right. The trainer has got the horse to the races and I'm not going to get it scratched. I've ridden horses that have felt sore and they've won.
Some horses give it their best shot each and every time while others, loaded with ability, just don't put in.
You know the type. You see it on the human playing fields. The gifted athlete doesn't front up willing to play at his peak. What is the reason?
Maybe they are having an off day. Maybe they've got a headache, a toothache, a stomach ache, any sort of ache, but at least a human can tell you. A horse can't.
That's why the trainer's lot is a difficult one. Working 24-7, there is little respite. Working on horses that may have suffered a stone bruise, the farrier might have pricked it, tending to nicks and cuts.
Icing legs, poulticing, getting the vet in. You may need a chiropractor, or to change gear. Does the horse need blinkers, a lugging bit, or do you stick to the norm? Should the horse swim to relieve aches and pains? Problems, problems and more problems.
And then you've got to keep the owners up to date. A horse of promise has hit a hurdle, in the shape of injury. Delivering that type of news cannot be fun.
Then the decision to tell the jockey or not. From my experience most times the trainer is loath to even tell the jockey a horse has had a setback. No doubt they don't want to clutter the jockey's mind with any doubt. They are keen to get the rider's opinion without any colouring.
Knowing the lead-up to the race hasn't gone exactly to plan can help a jockey. Knowing a horse might have missed a bit of work may well mean you wait another 50 metres before making a final run. You know that going early a horse's run may peter out before the finishing line.
Once again it is a tough call but the trainer knows what is best, knows what the horse has gone through.
That's why a jockey's post-race report is important. A good report and everyone is happy. Should I return and say the horse didn't let down as expected, was holding back, or felt choppy in its action up-front, or behind, the connections have something to think about and work on.
And sometimes there can be no warning a horse isn't on song. Everything feels fine but all of a sudden you go from travelling smoothly to a bumpy ride. Trackwork or races, it makes no difference.
Sometimes you get a warning but hindsight is a wonderful thing. Take Ribald, which I rode to win the Breeders' Plate. A promising horse which did everything right. A well-balanced two-year-old. A professional with no vices.
At Flemington in the week before the Melbourne Cup carnival he goes to the barriers for a jump-out. The Gauch, Darren Gauci, is on board. Ribald doesn't want to go into the barriers.
Never been a problem before. Coaxed in, Ribald emerges to break a leg. Life is over but was the horse trying to tell us something? I reckon he was but it is all too easy to say now.
And that's the problem when it comes to horses. Who is to say if everything is in order? I doubt if anybody knows for sure. It is all a matter of opinion.
That's why training thoroughbreds is the domain of a special brand of people. I can't imagine being one. The horsepower in my garage will do just fine. If there is a problem, call in the mechanic.
In this case it's a racehorse trainer and who would want to be one?
As told to Craig Young
By Darren Beadman
November 22 2002
http://www.theraces.com.au/images/membership/beadmanletter.jpg
Who would want to be a trainer? It is a hard slog but, thankfully, plenty are willing to take on the task that has rewards as well as plenty of disappointment. The upside is to be savoured, for the downside is a road to much heartache.
Being a jockey is like having a garage full of motor cars. You get the whole range: classy, common, slow and fast. If one isn't purring as it should, hop into another one and take off. Not so a trainer. He has to fix the model that isn't running well.
Once the riding is over the jockey hands the trusted steed back to the trainer. The horse is once again the trainer's problem. And there is no disputing the problem lines for horses are exactly that.
In the wake of the Gai Waterhouse-Platinum Scissors storm in that old teacup, it's interesting to note trainers may well be obliged to let stewards know if a horse has had a setback in the lead-up to a race.
The rules are in place already to ensure trainers let the stipes know if anything has gone wrong but it would appear an early warning system is going to be introduced.
Dealing with horses is tough and trainers are forever walking that fine line. Is a horse fit and ready to race or do you err on the side of caution? Take the horse out because it has had a minor problem? If that were often the case I've a sneaking suspicion racefields would be devastated.
Most thoroughbreds carry some sort of injury. Minor or major, it doesn't matter.
Think of the human equivalent. The longer the campaign the more likely the sportsman is to pick up an injury. Even if it is only a strained muscle somewhere the athlete will more than likely suffer a handicap.
But does it stop the athlete from competing? The answer must surely be found in the extent of the trouble. Serious or not so serious?
Minor niggles are discarded when you are asked to carry out a sporting endeavour. It is no different when it comes to horses.
The amount of times I've jumped on a thoroughbred and trotted off to the barriers for a race and thought, 'this horse is in trouble' cannot be counted. Many a time I've called on the official veterinarian stationed behind the starting stalls for a second opinion.
Most times you arrive behind the gates and your mount feels just fine. Others feel sore but instinct tells you they will be right. The trainer has got the horse to the races and I'm not going to get it scratched. I've ridden horses that have felt sore and they've won.
Some horses give it their best shot each and every time while others, loaded with ability, just don't put in.
You know the type. You see it on the human playing fields. The gifted athlete doesn't front up willing to play at his peak. What is the reason?
Maybe they are having an off day. Maybe they've got a headache, a toothache, a stomach ache, any sort of ache, but at least a human can tell you. A horse can't.
That's why the trainer's lot is a difficult one. Working 24-7, there is little respite. Working on horses that may have suffered a stone bruise, the farrier might have pricked it, tending to nicks and cuts.
Icing legs, poulticing, getting the vet in. You may need a chiropractor, or to change gear. Does the horse need blinkers, a lugging bit, or do you stick to the norm? Should the horse swim to relieve aches and pains? Problems, problems and more problems.
And then you've got to keep the owners up to date. A horse of promise has hit a hurdle, in the shape of injury. Delivering that type of news cannot be fun.
Then the decision to tell the jockey or not. From my experience most times the trainer is loath to even tell the jockey a horse has had a setback. No doubt they don't want to clutter the jockey's mind with any doubt. They are keen to get the rider's opinion without any colouring.
Knowing the lead-up to the race hasn't gone exactly to plan can help a jockey. Knowing a horse might have missed a bit of work may well mean you wait another 50 metres before making a final run. You know that going early a horse's run may peter out before the finishing line.
Once again it is a tough call but the trainer knows what is best, knows what the horse has gone through.
That's why a jockey's post-race report is important. A good report and everyone is happy. Should I return and say the horse didn't let down as expected, was holding back, or felt choppy in its action up-front, or behind, the connections have something to think about and work on.
And sometimes there can be no warning a horse isn't on song. Everything feels fine but all of a sudden you go from travelling smoothly to a bumpy ride. Trackwork or races, it makes no difference.
Sometimes you get a warning but hindsight is a wonderful thing. Take Ribald, which I rode to win the Breeders' Plate. A promising horse which did everything right. A well-balanced two-year-old. A professional with no vices.
At Flemington in the week before the Melbourne Cup carnival he goes to the barriers for a jump-out. The Gauch, Darren Gauci, is on board. Ribald doesn't want to go into the barriers.
Never been a problem before. Coaxed in, Ribald emerges to break a leg. Life is over but was the horse trying to tell us something? I reckon he was but it is all too easy to say now.
And that's the problem when it comes to horses. Who is to say if everything is in order? I doubt if anybody knows for sure. It is all a matter of opinion.
That's why training thoroughbreds is the domain of a special brand of people. I can't imagine being one. The horsepower in my garage will do just fine. If there is a problem, call in the mechanic.
In this case it's a racehorse trainer and who would want to be one?
As told to Craig Young