rules to protect the horse's health
200921
Unlike baseball, basketball, hockey, etc., horse racing does not have a national commissioner. Each state has its own rules and regulations pertaining to medications, additives, disciplinary acton against jockey's and the connections of a horse, etc.\n\nThe rules of racing can be different within the same state and may even vary from racetrack to racetrack within a particular state, i.e., some standardbred racetracks are 5/8 of a mile in circumference-Pocono Downs in Pennsylvania, some racetracks are 1/2 mile in circumference-Yonkers Raceway in New York, Meadowlands in New Jersey-1 mile, and Belmont Park racetrack for thoroughbreds in New York is 1 1/2 mile in circumference. All with a different set of rules and regulations as to racing, training and caring for a horse.\n\nAnd, there is the matter of dirt or turf and claiming, allowance or graded racing...And, on and on.\n\nTo answer the question, you would have to get in touch with the Racing Secretary's Office of a particular racetrack for more detailed information.
171698
GENERALLY THIS IS THE NUMBER OF DAYS SINCE THE HORSE'S LAST RACE
129305
Yes, You are so right. I hope people will read this.............\nhttp://www.doctor-horsefeathers.com/archives/000296.php
352438
Back in 1985 I had to have my horse put to sleep because of old age.  The following day, we took the rest of the horses out for a ride because we (horses included) were all missing him and were glum.  To get to the woods, we had to cross a bridge.  Every time we went over the bridge, I would look at the shadows of the horses' legs - mostly because by doing that, you could see whether anyone was lame or moving badly.  As I looked, I realised that there was the shadow of another horse behind me.  That horse had a very short, bushy tail.  My horse had had a very short, bushy tail.  I had thought it was funny, that the horse I was riding kept turning around to look behind her and wasn't very comfortable, but I just assumed they were still jumpy from having lost their friend.  I didn't realise it was that their friend had decided to come along for the ride!  I was glad to see that he wasn't lame any more and happy that he could now run and gallop with the best of them.  :)
316379
I have to say it is the basic fight or flight instinct.  Horses are built more for the flight, they are good at it.  When a horse gets spooked, it will bolt.  TB's are bred down for their speed and stamina.  This selective breeding produces horses that are easily trained to break from a gait and race away.  The jockey may signal a horse that things are okay and the horse will hold back, then the jockey tenses and asks the horse for more speed, the horse senses this as a need to run away faster.  Jockeys race toward the finish line, horses run away from something.  If the horse injures itself, the thing it thinks it is running from is still there.  In nature the weak or injured are the ones who get eaten.
607394
Yes a lot of racehorses are being bought for slaughter. Auction houses that are known for selling to "killer  buyers" are a great place to get a great horse/athlete/friend for cheap. There are programs out there that are dedicated to saving these animals before they ever hit the autcion houses. C.A.N.T.E.R. is the most famous. A lot of these horses comeoff the track and are prefectly sound for normal disciplines.
14118
wikipedia.org ... call a vet or a horse stable
532216
You need to use your seat and legs.  Keep the legs on- you should be able to hold a peice of paper to the horses side with your lower leg.  Relaxing the back and pelvis also allows the horse to move better underneath you.  You can't change a horses personality.  If they are quiet by nature, there's not much you can do other than asking.  You shouldn't whack your horse with a whip, but use it as an aid.  If you are asking with leg and seat, and they don't respond- tap with the whip.  But first you have to make sure you are using your leg and seat.
66942
The first link in the Source(s) block is a Sacramento Bee news article. You might check with the paper for personal contact information. They are already doing what you are planning to start.\n\nThe second link includes resources for business plans, tax assistance, and other helpful information.\n\nThe third link provides legislative information affecting, and regarding the horse industry.\n\nThose are just a few basic searches using Google for results. Those listed might be a good place to start gathering information.
53122
If it make you feel any better, I only know English, and I have the same questions as you. I think that I would have to have the whole article to know what the author ment by the statements. I will give it my best shot anyway. If I am wrong on this, I am sorry. Like I said, it is hard to know for sure without reading the article myself.\n\n1) The second rule of horse racing could be mean that the first one didn't work. It could also be that the author expected you to know the rules already.\n\n2)you are right in what that means. Another way of wording it is, "play towards" means to add to or give more.\n\n3) I believe you are right on this as well, it means love and compassion.\n\n\nJust a side note for you, the sentances are not writen very well, and that sometimes makes it harder to understand. Good Luck in learning more! You are doing a good job.
344335
I'll try to cover as much as I can :) I'm assuming your horse comes to a full stop just by using your seat, not the reins. Also make sure you can flex your horse at the poll, shoulder, and hind quarters. This is a must if you want to teach your horse to turn a barrel \n\nStart out walking the pattern. You want to train your horse to rate when approaching a barrel. Do this by bringing him to a halt at your pocket (about 4 ft away from the barrel) with ur seat and legs and voice. Have him stand for 5 seconds, then take him around. If you get this into your horse's head, he will prepare to stop and make the turn instead of running past it in the future. Get him good and used to this, then do it at the jog. Stay at ONLY the walk and jog for a good few weeks. Do tons of exercises like flexing and bending. Some good exercises are serpentines, figure eights, rollbacks, and spiraling in and out around a barrel.  \n\nWhen you feel your horse is anticipating the stop, or he slows down when approaching the barrel, you're ready to move on. Walk him and jog him without stopping. Slow down at the barrel, give the command to stop, but turn almost immediately. Get him used to this. When you feel you and your horse are ready, introduce loping the barrels with stops. Soon he will understand that a barrel means STOP and TURN. Gradually add speed.\n\nTips - Do not work on barrels more than twice a week. This is how horses become arena sour, because they become bored of running barrels. When your horse is fully trained, you'll only want to do barrels maybe once or twice a month. When you're not working on barrels, have fun. Do exercises, go on a trail ride...do other stuff. Fully training a barrel horse takes about 2-3 years. If you ever do go out to practice the pattern, ALWAYS start and end your session by walking the pattern. That way, your horse doesn't always want to run when he enters an arena or sees a barrel. (my horse does both barrel racing and western pleasure because of this. How many horses do u know can do that? =D) Take your horses to local shows and jog or lope the barrels just for the experience. Practice being relaxed and getting your body position right around the barrels.\n\nI would suggest hiring a trianer specializing in barrel racing to help you. Good luck and have fun with it!
167063
Yes it is safe if you get a good horse that is "bomb proof" which means does not get spooked at any thing. Most horses that are rented out are that way, and are used to all sorts of things without spooking.\nPRactice an "emergency dismount" a few times.\nIt is where you grab the horse around the neck with both arms and swing down to the ground quickly. It is the first thing you should learn about horseback riding and is used when you have to get off fast if the horse becomes uncontrollable.\nWhat happened to Superman is a freak accident.\nHe was jumping in the woods. That can be dangerous but you won't be doing that.\nStay in a riding ring with a group.
498886
Some horses seem to have a good ability to balance on slick ground.  They aren,t always as fast as the ones who go best on a dry track but they have good balance and traction, and don't mind the crap flung in their faces as much.  This may be born in, but it can be trained to some degree.  Mostly it is temperment and balence.
250643
Why change horses in midstream?
580859
In the case of Horatio Nelson he had as much potential to go to stud and breed as Barbaro (he was one of the top-rated two year olds last year and was favourite for the Epsom Derby) and cost was not a factor - he was owned by Coolmore Stud and they are multi-millionaires (if not billionaires).  If there was any way of saving him they would have paid for it.\n\nAs I understand it there was also an open fracture (the bone had broken through the skin) and the risk of infection, as well as shock, laminitis and other welfare issues, was too high.\n\nIf five experienced vets (four of whom had no financial interest in the horse) say there is no hope, we just have to accept it.\n\nUnfortunately horses do break down, it is part of racing.  We just have to do our best to fund and advance veterinary science so that we can start to prevent it happening in the future.\n\nThere are a lot of people out there that seem to think everything boils down to money in racing.  A lot of the time it does, but as someone who has worked in racing for many years I can confidently say that the vast majority of people in the industry (owners, trainers, lads and lasses) are in it for the love of horses and not the money.
145322
communicate to the horse w/ ur leg pressure. basically u want ur horse to not only respond to clicks & reins, but also the amount of pressure ur legs r giving the horse to speed it up (in ur case)
673667
In and of itself, barrel racing is not abusive, unfortunatly there are cases of abuse in every disipline, either because people don't care or people are ignorent.  You obviously care and take measures to protect your horse.  You can tell if your unconsiously abusing your horse with 100%  accuracy by asking yourself the following questions:\nDoes is my horse happy to see me?\nDoes my horse accept the saddle and bridle without too much fuss?\nDoes she react positvly to starting/ending a run?\nDo I try to learn as much about horse care as I can and try to do what I think is best for her?\nIf you answered 4 yeses, then your definatly good to go.  If not, you may want to investigate things like saddle fit and the way you ride.  Horses don't lie.  They really don't, if your girl is happy to do her job, then she's not being abused.