You’ve watched your horse be educated, you’ve chosen their racing name, and now the moment has come for them to hit the track for trials!
Watching your horse trial can feel like the Melbourne Cup, but in reality it is just another step in the process of building a racehorse: a racehorse that can handle different tracks, riders and race situations. Horse racing trials are basically mini races without the pressure of result driven outcomes.
When working in a race preparation, all horses are accustomed to training with stable mates but this is not racing. Racing has a large number of unknown runners (all with different styles and paces) plus there is all the noise, lights and colours of a race environment: a different track, stables, travel and you have what could seem like a whole new situation.
For a young horse, trials are key activities that can bridge this difference from training to racing. A trial exposes your young horse to racing without the expectations and pressure of winning.
When you take this into account it is understood why most jockeys are instructed not to push a horse too hard during a trial. The trainer wants the horse to have a great outing and be ready to come back for another in the next fortnight. They want the horse to long for this experience again and again.
A trainer will be looking to see the following from a young horse as a minimum:
- How the horse handles getting around the track
- How the horse deals with the barrier – did they get a clean jump from the barrier?
- How the horse settles into the run – are they able to work comfortably within the group?
- The impact other runners have on their horses
- How the horse responds to the jockey signals
- What the jockey reports back after the trial
- How the horse travels and deals with the hustle and bustle
Then, of course, the trainer would like to see your horse finishing strongly, really striding and being comfortably ridden hands and heels with signs that they can improve on their next outing. They want something in the tank to improve with. Below is video footage from a barrier jump out for our 2YO filly Lyrical Girl in December:
With so many of our miRunners 2YOs currently hitting the track, it is an exciting time for all owners. However, it can’t be forgotten that not everything goes right all the time for young horses. Many preparations are long, and have a gradual workload increase to help strengthen tendons, ligaments and increase bone density to ensure they have the best chance of a longer racing career. With all the excitement brewing, it is important to keep all of these important things in mind.
Experience affordable thoroughbred ownership with miRunners!
With all of this excitement surrounding our miRunners 2YOs hitting the track, don’t miss out on your opportunity to own your share in one of these well-bred thoroughbreds. We have units available in the below thoroughbreds, trained by some of the best trainers in Australia:
Don’t miss out on owning your very own share in one of these beautiful fillies. Our Lyrical Girl and Not A Single Doubt x Countess Dehere fillies are raring and ready to head to the races soon, and with both at majority sold, there are only limited units still available. Secure yours now to have the opportunity to get to the races with your very own thoroughbred this Autumn!
