Racing horses tend to live lives that are quite different to recreational or pet horses. A typical racing horse that will be taking part in professional events will spend a significant amount of their early lives learning how to run with a professional trainer, along with the actual, physical training that they will need to do.
It can be a hard life that means the adoption of strong discipline, but it does ultimately mean that the horse will be able to compete effectively once it is out on the track. Let’s explore what the life of a racing horse generally looks like.
How It Begins
A potential racehorse will usually be purchased when they are still a yearling, which means that they are under the age of two. Once they have arrived, they will generally be put on the pasture and given the time that they need to develop naturally and will be given the best nutrition available to ensure that they grow properly.
Before they turn two, the trainer will make sure that the yearling is comfortable with having a saddle on, which usually means fitting the saddle and letting it get used to the feeling. Race horses tend to grow fairly quickly, and by the time that they are around 18 months, they are just about fully grown. This is also close to the period where their training regimes will begin, and they will start to learn everything they need to compete on a professional racing track.
The Training
Just like online slots in Canada, every single horse is different, which means that each one gets a slightly different training regime, which is set by the trainer. It can depend a lot on the overall temperament of the animal, and a trainer will go to great lengths to make sure that their horse has a training regime that suits its personality. This can also help with increasing the growth of the horse, as well as cutting down on the chance of potential injury.
By the time that the horse is ready to start competing on the track, it will generally be a well-tempered, contented animal that will be able to control its nerves.
Its First Races
In general, when a trained racehorse has turned two years old, it will enter its very first race. This is more of a test to see how the animal performs under stress and against other animals. This can be a critical phase, and it’s not uncommon for a horse to quickly show that it can’t deal with the stresses of the racetrack.
Most, however, will find their stride and begin their career. Typically, a horse will race until it’s around 12 years old, and from there it will enter retirement for the rest of its life, which usually means spending it on a farm, and if the horse was particularly successful, it will spend its retirement as a breeding animal to produce other talented offspring.
