Racehorse Pre-Training
AVOCA PARK STANDS APART FROM OTHER
THOROUGHBRED PRE - TRAINERS
We pre-train your horses with the aim to improve your horse’s symmetry and balance, creating a stronger, more balanced racehorse.
We will create a specialised program for your racehorse using our cross-training techniques. This program will be built around your thoroughbreds asymmetries. By working on these patterns and improving them, will enable them to have more relaxation, suppleness. strength and ultimately SPEED.
Long term it will give MORE LONGEVITY in their CAREER.
The use of incorporating these training techniques will be greatly beneficial for your horse’s development in both their body and mind.
We will educate your horses mind to develop the ability to relax throughout their training with confidence. Spending the time to fix the problems, create manners so you can both see and feel their improvement. Our focus on correct balance will improve their speed, endurance and longevity.
Our training will benefit a racehorse during any stage of its training as we work on the development of symmetry and balance for their physique at any age.
With our previous success in training horses and our experience with backing horses of all types - we believe we can give you a stronger and better balanced horse; set up to both physically and mentally to advance through it’s on track training and racing career.
The service we provide is the most beneficial for the start of any racing prep. It can also be a great alternative to a water walker holiday between racing preparations.
Your horse would be kept in their own private paddocks or stables, rugged and tended to as they would in a racing environment.
We can keep them fit with daily training in our approach to create a balanced, comfortable and confident racehorse.
If your horse is having behavioral issues, our process is built on respect and trust. We can determine what needs to be done and work on a program to amend your horse’s issue.
In conjuction with the stand alone training we do with horses we can also maintain their fitness with daily sessions on our treadmill. So while we are working on the horses bio-mechanical or their balance patterns we won't lose the valuable fitness that has already been put into them.
Weanling Foundation Training
Our weanling foundation training program takes approximately 3 weeks, this consists of catching, tying up (straight tie & cross tie), rugging, leading, hosing and any other issues your young athlete may have that will prevent them from moving forward in a confident manner.
We have a unique method of teaching young horses to tie up.
For us, it’s not about them just being fixed to a solid object and staying still, it is them understanding and accepting the whole process along the way.
Our system gives your horse the confidence to be left by themselves and be easily handled in any given situation.
Our extremely safe ‘give and take’ system enables all horses to be educated to the process without any kind of skeletal damage.
Our Cavesson Work
Cavesson work is essential in the earliest stages of preparing a horse for a racing career.
This part of our training program establishes relaxation first.
If your horses are not breathing in their training, the Parade Ring will be so overwhelming, the focus on the whole job at hand, racing successfully, will be lost.
Lengthening and relaxing of the body and mind starts here.
We work on re-training the contracted muscles, developing the bascule of the horses topline
After relaxation, we commence the development process of symmetry - both at the halt and forward into walk.
The components that we address are –
The diagnosis of longitudinal, lateral and diagonal balance in the horse. The diagnosis of these symmetry issues are an
integral part of enabling the horses to develop to maximum potential.
The diagnosis of longitudinal, lateral and diagonal balance in the horse. The diagnosis of these symmetry issues are an integral part of enabling the horses to develop to maximum potential.
How and when to initiate the bio-mechanical changes to improve the horse’s symmetry.
How to maintain the horses balance as the locomotion increases into the gallop phas
The importance of teaching the pushing action in preparation for the gallop.
Our Lunge Training
Lunging is an integral part of our training system.
Using the lunge, we commence their locomotion (movement) whilst they maintain a more relaxed, balance, symmetrical posture.
It is the first time we get to see the ‘natural balance’ of your horse while they’re moving.
The ‘natural balance’ is the balance that the horse travels in naturally, without any influence from us; this can be a longitudinal, lateral or diagonal balance.
We then get to make more of a diagnosis of where we have to address our training.
The natural asymmetrical pattern of the racehorse in training is not going to be beneficial to them on a racecourse.
We have to show them the posture they need to give them the added advantage over the rest of the field.
It is also the time that we get to assess the muscular development of the horse.
The addition our cavelletti (elevated pole work) training, enables us to teach the horses to carry themselves correctly.
This ultimately gives them soundness and longevity, allowing them to learn how to organize their bodies and develop strength in a way that is conducive with carrying a jockey with speed and safety.
Our Mouthing Process
Our Mouthing Process can be broken down into 4 easy to understand components –
CONTACT
When we talk about the word “contact” we are talking about the connection between the horse’s mouth, through the hand via the reins, to the bit.
Leading on from this is the horse’s “acceptance of the contact”. In essence, the question is “how confident is your racehorse on the jockey’s or track riders aids?”
Confidence comes from understanding what the bit is used for and what the rein aids are, this enables the horses to gallop confidently into the connection.
We can aid in the fixing of issues such as -
*Lugging
*Steering
*Tongue Issues
*Opening of the mouth
*Locked mouth or jaw
*Bridling issues
BALANCE
There are 3 types of balance to consider:
Longitudinal (forwards and backwards)
Lateral (left and right)
Diagonal (left front/right hind or vice versa)
The diagnosis of these symmetry issues are an integral part of enabling the horses to develop to maximum potential.
Without balance, the racehorse WILL NOT be able to use its body for strength and speed as it was designed to do.
WE CAN HELP YOUR HORSE WITH THIS!!
BEND
It is essential that the racehorse has the ability to symmetrically bend left and right.
Bend is the lateral flexion of the horse’s neck in front of the wither.
During our training this will progressively be developed with exercises to enable the horses to –
Learn to gallop confidently and symmetrically.
Have developed a healthy pattern of locomotion before speed is introduced.
Enable longevity in your racehorse’s career.
NECK EXTENSION
After the first 3 steps have been established, we will teach the horse to extend the neck.
This will be in a forward and lengthening position. Exactly what you are looking for in the final furlong to the finishing post.
Here is where you DO NOT want contracted body muscles!
We will teach your horse to stretch its top line muscles without losing BALANCE.
This will impact on the action and development of the core muscles to enhance the strength, bascule and SPEED.
Our In Hand Training
Our In-Hand work leads directly on from our “Mouthing Process”.
Once horses are confident with all the initial mouthing exercises, both from the front and from the sides (left and right) we can add in locomotion.
That is, walking while working on the contact, balance, bend and neck extension.
Initially it will just be working on stop, go, turn left and turn right, you can begin circles, counter bend turns, rein-back and transitions and sharpening the horses for the next part of their training.
All these excercises aid in developing the horses symmetry so they can then use both side of their bodies equally when they need to.
If one side fatigues, they can change leads and have just as much strength and co-ordination = SPEED on their other side.
ALL WITHIN the GALLOP PHASE.
By educating in this way there is no physical impact on the horse’s skeletal development.
We can get more done at an earlier age with very little impact on the development of the skeleton.
THIS LEADS TO LONGEVITY in a RACEHORSES CAREER...
Our Ridden Prep Work
Once we get to the ridden stage it is an exciting time for us as it is the time we can hand a strong sensible youngster over to move into the next part of their training.
They are confident, forward and straight.
Commencing their training at an early age without as much weight-bearing, enables the muscles to strengthen around the skeleton.
LEADING TO MAXIMUM BALANCE, SPEED and CO-ORDINATION.
These facets enable unconditional longevity in the career of ANY racehorse.
Aiding ALL racehorses to reach their FULL POTENTIAL!
WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO LOSE?
Check out the changes we have been able to make in these young thoroughbred racehorses.
AIDING THEM to REACH their FULL POTENTIAL and RACE COMPETETIVLY for many, many years!
Not Approved
Age: 4
Breeding: Magnus / Sandoras Dolly
Reason for Training: To improve her balance and her steering.
When Not Approved aka Maggie arrived she was inverted and unable to carry herself in locomotion. We put the Thoroughbreds on the lunge to see how they move WITHOUT a riders assistance.
To aid in developing the horses balance we use the cavesson to teach them to lengthen their necks. This in turn gets the horses engaging their core muscles, stretching their toplines and flexing their pelvis.
All for the gallop phase!!
Our Mouthing process educates the horses to the instructions of the bit.
Giving them understanding and confidence to follow the bit where-ever the jockeys hand position it.
Greater understanding - quicker responses!
More Winners!!
The work we do In Hand educates the mouth, teaching the thoroughbreds to follow the bit bit easier. Teaching them to move in balance
What we want to see is the racehorses naturally stretching around the line of a circle. Reaching for the contact.
All in relaxation!! Ready to race!!
The WINNING post is what we want to see!!
Mojo
Age:
Breeding:
Reason for Training: To improve his posture with the lordosis he was born with.
Mojo was born with a condition called Lordosis (and advanced curvature of the spine) He came to us to create the best posture possible and to continue his journey to becoming a racehorse.
We started with our normal process of stretching his topline by lengthening his neck with the neck extension in our cavesson work. This aids in the engagement of his core muscles and the development of his strength.
We used the cavelletti training on the lunge to aid in him lifting his legs higher which in turn creates more strength and stability through the torso and lifting of the top line.
The canter work was very important for Mojo on the lunge. The canter being a 3 beat pace is the only pace which naturally rounds the spine during each stride. This is hugely important to create the push from the hind legs.
Our Mouthing process not only educates the mouth for more fine tuned steering but also creates a more independent head and neck from the torso. This enables the whole body to be used to maximum efficiency, not just the pulling of the front legs.
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Bob
Age: 4
Breeding: Written Tycoon
Reason for Training: To create the best posture and balance for racing.
Bob came to us as a very BIG young horse, his posture was not ideal for him to stay sound long term as a racehorse.
His natural balance on the lunge was inverted and contracted.
We used the cavelletti training on the lunge to aid in changing his posture so that he lengthened his neck, lifted his core muscles and developed the pushing action of the hind legs.
The cavesson work showed him how to stretch his neck, lengthen his topline and flex his pelvis. Here we added in improving his balance to aid the pushing action of the hind legs.
Our Mouthing process not only educates the mouth for more fine tuned turning it also improves the balance, stretches the body laterally both left and right creating symmetry. This is so important for the gallop pace!
The cantering on the lunge is a vital part of the training as it is the only pace which has the action of naturally rounding the spine. The engaging of the core muscles aids this plus the improving the action of flexing the pelvis.
Once Bob was in to the ridden prep he was strong in his body. Long and telescoping in the neck and his body was set up for longevity.
Danny
Age: 3
Breeding:
Reason for Training: To create relaxation and improve posture.
When Danny arrived he was an extremely, young anxious horse who was racing but not successfully.
He was weak and very inverted.
In the initial stage of his training with us his anxiety levels were very, very high. Our cavesson work enabled us to teach him that it did not have to be this way. We were able to teach him to lower and lengthen his neck and start to breathe.
We then introduced our Mouthing Process, teaching him to relax his mouth to the bit and reach into it instead of trying to escape it.
This creates the correct development of his muscles for racing.
Our In Hand work takes our Mouthing process into locomotion. We are still asking him to lengthen his neck to the bridle not contract behind the bit. We also keep working on his breathing and relaxation.
As the work on the lunge improves we can start to see the relaxation, the length of stride getting longer, the neck lengthening and his confidence building.
The last part of the training is the ridden component where we can see all the benefits of the work that has been completed previously.
Unfortunately the damage to Dannys' knees from his bad posture was too significant for him to return to racing,
We find this really sad.
My Dad Joe
Age: 3
Breeding: El Mahor
Reason for Training: Joe was refusing to go out on the track to race.
When Joe arrived he was inverted and contracted his natural balance was very, very poor. He was unable to carry himself at all.
This is demonstrated here in the trot on the lunge
Our Cavelletti work aids the horses to improve their posture, organise their legs develop strength and develop more symmetry in their bodies.
Our Mouthing work with the horses develops their confidence in the bit & the bridle, improving the contact issues and educating the horses on how to respond to the aids confidently and correctly.
Our In Hand work adds in locomotion to the Mouthing education, the horses are getting more confident in the organisation of their legs and this process teaches them how to carry themselves off the forehand.
The canter work on the lunge is a vital part in the horses developing the pushing phase of the stride in both directions before they move into the pulling phase of the gallop.
We then put the horses under saddle with strong organised bodies so that they can go to the trainers and start their speed work.
Sub Gauge
Age: 5
Breeding: Star Craft
Reason for Training: To improve his balance and posture. He was VERY on the forehand and not using his body correctly. His knees were suffering the result of this.
Sub Gauge's posture in walk on arrival.
Sub Gauge's posture in walk after 4 weeks training.
Click the box below to check out Sub Gauge's racing results.
He came to us on (Date) and had his first race back after being with us on (date). Check out how much his results have improved!
Diamanda
Age: 3
Breeding: Golden Snake /
Reason for Training: Improve her ground handling and overall posture.
Diamanda's Story
Click the box below to check out Diamanda's racing results!
BethPage
Age:
Breeding:
Reason for Training: To set het body up more correctly for a successful racing career.
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Click the box below to check out Bethpage's racing results!
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