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Thoroughbreds start training from a very young age, a foal will be guided and learn the basic whilst getting used to humans, a yearling foal will be walked, brushed and holted in the first 6 months this would lead to breaking in, the horses would then lunged both ways around teaching it to trot and canter, the horse will then have shoes placed on them for the first time before being saddled, saddling can be very tricky as horses don't like the feel of a girth and may resent, bucking and pig rooting.

The horse will then enter in a round ring a rider or breaker will attempt to mount the horse, getting the horse used to weight and the feel of something on its back, many a rider has been hurt doing this, a horse will then be taken to the track for pre-training, as thoroughbred are a creature of flighf they can spook at anything, a rider will trot and canter around the track for approximately two to three weeks picking up speed and confidence, the thoroughbred is usually given a short break in a paddock before being returned to training, for the first week the horse and rider will go back to basics, the horse will the return to the track once again picking up speed and distance.

The thoroughbred will then be barrier trained, the horse will first be shown the gates, the rider will lead the horse into the gates getting it used to the closed surrounding and noise of the gates opening, the horse will have a jump out, the horse and rider will enter the gates and run up the track 10 times for approximately 100 to 300 metres picking up speed and technique along the way this would lead to a short barrier race in which other horse who are at the same point of training will assist in getting your horse used to company, it should be advised all training on the track should be in company.

Once again the horse should have a short spell, the tendons and knees of the horse are most delicate and two much work to early can lead to injury, when the horse returns to work pick up the training, slow work would consist of two laps of moderate canter working home the last 600 metres, whilst taking your horse on to the turf, do this training for say 6 weeks to pick up the workout, increasing the speed over the final stages of his work, say working over 1000m with a 400m short sprint over three weeks.

Working Gallops give your horse a few gallops on the turf, try this 2 gallops at 600m working home the last furlong, 2 gallops at 800m working home the final two furlongs, then 1000m working

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