By Kristen Baird


Owning a race worthy animals is an exciting experience. There is just nothing to compare with a day at the races cheering on your own horses to a winning finish. But behind all the fun there is a tremendous amount of work and expense. Working with a really good trainer is the best way to ensure successful race horses. These professionals really understand the business and know how to pick a winner.

Owning race horses is a great opportunity to really get up close with the animals. Most of them are placed with horse racing trainers who know how to get the best from any animal. It typically takes many months of careful work and training for the equines to be ready for the track. Some animals are especially bred to race on the flat, but other jump fences on their way around the course, and yet others have special breeding to be trotters or pacers pulling a light cart and jockey behind them.

A prospective owner should spend time learning about the important bloodlines in racing. There are certain lines that have produced many winners whilst other stallions and their offspring have not been so successful. Spending time on the race course with some knowledgeable friends is also a great way to get an inside track on the horses and their trainers.

Thoroughbreds are carefully bred from the best blood lines. Finding horses that are from winning lines is fairly easy, however, most will come with a hefty price tag. It is a good idea to look at young unproven animals as they will be priced lower. Once the horses have won a few races or shown good potential their price shoots up dramatically.

A good trainer will work with each client to find them the best horses. These people have spent their lives around horses and really know what they are looking at. Yet even the horses with the best breeding do not always go on to be track winners. Owners must be prepared for many disappointments before they find that all important winner. For most owners there will only be one really good horse in their lifetime.

A good barn will also have plenty of well fenced turn out areas so the horses can relax and enjoy some grass to eat. Even a valuable race animal needs time outside to stretch his legs and play. Many of the top horses have a small donkey or even a goat as a companion. This is a huge help to keeping them psychologically happy, but reduces the risk of injury from a kick or bite.

Personality really does matter in the racing game. It is important to have a really good connection with the trainer. After all this is the person trusted with the well being of a very valuable animal.

Keeping a horse in training is not cheap. Owners must be ready to pay for many extras on top of the regular board and care. Veterinarian bills can be quite a lot, especially if the animal gets sick. There are also race registration fees and other costs such as paying the jockey and transportation to the races.




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