How to Exercise a Thoroughbred Race Horse
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Now that you are walking back to the barn, you have to think about where you are going, and how you are going to get there. If you are not sure, ask someone. Walking home on the horse path, allow your horse to drop its head, stretch its neck downward and poke its nose outward toward the ground. This action allows your horse to swing its neck and back side-to-side and to stride out in an elongated, relaxed manner, stretching its muscles. Not every horse will do this every day, but it is an objective to strive for, as this position frees up the horse’s mind and body after its maximum physical effort during the gallop or breeze. To allow your horse the freedom to relax in this fashion, you must trust your horse enough to lengthen your reins considerably. Let the reins slide through your hands, so the horse does not feel constrained in the mouth as it is walking back. Keep a slight, gentle contact with the horse’s mouth, so the horse knows where you are and vice versa. Walking in this way does wonders for the Thoroughbred race horse’s overall confidence and trust in its rider and itself; however, do not endanger yourself or the horse when asking the horse to relax. If you feel the horse is not going to settle, or trust you enough, keep a light contact with the horse’s mouth to support the horse and give it confidence.
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About the Book
Janice L. Blake, Thoroughbred race horse jockey and author, describes how to take a horse to the race track and back safely. This guide is great for beginners, owners, and other rail birds who want to know more about what goes on behind the scenes of a Thoroughbred race track as the horses are being exercised in the morning. Follow along with Janice as she gets a leg-up on the race horse, rides to the track, exercises the horse, and brings it back to the barn unscathed.
About the Author
Janice L. Blake is currently loving living near New York City and riding Thoroughbred race horses on the New York circuit of Aqueduct, Belmont, and Saratoga. She is married to hall of fame jockey Braulio Baeza and has a calico cat named Pumpkin. Janice began her riding career at the age of thirteen, working as a guide on a livery trail in Michiana Shores, Indiana. Following her passion for riding horses, she discovered barrel racing, eventing, dressage and, eventually, horse racing. Janice started exercising race horses for P. Noel Hickey in Chicago, Illinois and moved on to riding Thoroughbred sale horses for Eddie Woods in Ocala, Florida. At Tampa Bay Downs, Florida, she won her first race riding Friendly Goose, trained by Jason Stodgill. Riding Thoroughbred race horses has taken Janice all over the United States, to Brazil and sundry places in between. Visit her online at www.janicelblake.com or on facebook at How to Exercise a Thoroughbred Race Horse.