Outline for Owner/Trainer Elite 310

Philosophy & Methods of Training Racehorses

I. Introduction

1.    Definitions

a.    Trainer

b.    Training

c.     Teaching

2.    Terminology

a.    Horse

b.    Racing People

c.     Races

3.    Training Methods Defined

a.    Conventional

b.    Interval

c.     Quarter Horse

II. Equine Anatomy

1.    Skeleton

a.    Identification

b.    Types of bones

c.     Bone maturity – “Are its knees closed?” 

2.    Muscles

a.    Identification

b.    Types of muscles

c.     Types of muscle fibers

3.    Connective Tissue

a.    Facia

b.    Ligaments

c.     Tendons

III. Body Systems and Training

1.    Respiratory

a.    Anatomy - scoping

b.    Physiology 

c.     Pathology – EIPH & Lasix

2.    Circulatory

a.    Anatomy

b.    Physiology

c.     Pathology

3.    Digestive

a.    Anatomy

b.    Physiology

c.     Colic

IV. Training Philosophy

1.    Training Horse’s Mind

a.    Starting (Breaking)

b.    Preparation

c.     Racing

2.    Training Cardio vascular system

a.    Heart Rate – using heart rate monitor

b.    Red Blood Cells – blood tests

c.     Lungs – measuring Oxygen

3.    Training Muscles

a.    Slow twitch fibers

b.    Fast twitch highly oxidative fibers

c.     Fast twitch fibers

4.    Training Bones

a.    Long slow gallop

b.    Speed

c.     Demineralization

V. Rules of Racing for Owners & Trainers

        1. Acquiring a racehorse

                a. Yearlings

                b. Two-year old in training

                c. Claiming

        2. Daily Routine

        3. The Condition Book and working with the Racing Office

        4. Workmen’s comp and managing employees

VI. Options for post-racing life

1.    Quarter Horses

2.    Thoroughbreds

3.    Never forgotten