[21twelve]

Thanks for the information.

Sounds like the “quarter horse” training may have the most to do with it? Having several horses for specific races?

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“All of these slow gallops served to dull his speed—he ran very much the way he had been trained!”

I used to coach my kids’ soccer teams. We sucked early on and I didn’t know anything and followed the slow and boring things the league gave us to use (dribble around a cone, lots of drills with one kid doing something and a line of kids behind her. BORING)

Things changed when I found a new system where everything was done at game speed. The Seattle Seahawks incorporate the same speed style in their practices.

They sure are beautiful animals!

[Nepeta]

Things changed when I found a new system where everything was done at game speed. The Seattle Seahawks incorporate the same speed style in their practices.

The same kind of thing applies to horses.

There is plenty of evidence to back this up. Gradually increasing demands upon the horse over time is key, on many levels--building the endurance and strengthening the bones.

Few people do this because of the culture of racing in this country. Trainers don't want owners telling them what to do, and owners with deep pockets rarely have expertise in equine physiology. Highly successful trainers often are the ones with the skills to handle their owners, as opposed to highly skilled training.

Training is different overseas.