You have a gorgeous young thoroughbred that’s sure to be a star on the track and so you’re anxious to ride it. However, if you break it in too soon, you could risk injuring it in such a way that it will never again quite be able to perform as a thoroughbred should. However, if you break it in too late, you’re going to have difficulty training and controlling the horse.
Thoroughbred breaking is a fine art best left to professionals who have tons of experience.
Thoroughbreds are known for their hot-bloodedness. In other words, they’re fast, agile, spirited, and geared for high-intensity performance. As with any finely tuned racecar designed for high-performance, precision is key. Use the wrong kind of lubricant in the engine or the wrong kind of fuel and you could do serious damage to the car’s performance.
A thoroughbred is no different.
A thoroughbred needs to be broken at just the right time ‒ not too soon and not too late ‒ to ensure that, from that moment on, it’s primed to be the best horse it can be.
The Risks
For most horse breeds, it is advised that one breaks them in at around 24 months old. However, it is generally believed that thoroughbreds mature faster than other breeds and can therefore be broken at about 18 months so that they’re ready to race by 24 months.
Some argue that this practice is risky because the horses are not fully mature by two years. This means that their bones are not yet fully formed ‒ even if they look fully grown on the exterior with impressive musculature. Riding a horse whose bones haven’t properly matured could cause potentially severe fractures and deformations to occur, which could effectively end a thoroughbred’s career before it’s even begun.
The Benefits
That said, the immaturity of the bones could actually be a pro rather than a con if handled correctly. As young thoroughbreds train, microfractures in the leg bones occur. If the horses are trained correctly, the microfractures won’t be too bad. If the horses are given enough time to let the microfractures heal, the bones become even stronger and make the thoroughbred less likely to suffer an injury later on.
Most thoroughbreds actually suffer injuries in the four- to five-year-old range rather than in the two- to three-year-old range. Often, these injuries result from the horse’s bones not being strengthened sufficiently during early training, which is usually a product of not being broken soon enough.
If a horse is broken soon enough, it is more likely to have a good and long career.
For expert assistance and expertise in thoroughbred breaking, contact Glenrae Thoroughbreds now!
Thoroughbreds are known for their hot-bloodedness. In other words, they’re fast, agile, spirited, and geared for high-intensity performance. As with any finely tuned racecar designed for high-performance, precision is key. Use the wrong kind of lubricant in the engine or the wrong kind of fuel and you could do serious damage to the car’s performance.
A thoroughbred is no different.
A thoroughbred needs to be broken at just the right time ‒ not too soon and not too late ‒ to ensure that, from that moment on, it’s primed to be the best horse it can be.
The Risks
For most horse breeds, it is advised that one breaks them in at around 24 months old. However, it is generally believed that thoroughbreds mature faster than other breeds and can therefore be broken at about 18 months so that they’re ready to race by 24 months.
Some argue that this practice is risky because the horses are not fully mature by two years. This means that their bones are not yet fully formed ‒ even if they look fully grown on the exterior with impressive musculature. Riding a horse whose bones haven’t properly matured could cause potentially severe fractures and deformations to occur, which could effectively end a thoroughbred’s career before it’s even begun.
The Benefits
That said, the immaturity of the bones could actually be a pro rather than a con if handled correctly. As young thoroughbreds train, microfractures in the leg bones occur. If the horses are trained correctly, the microfractures won’t be too bad. If the horses are given enough time to let the microfractures heal, the bones become even stronger and make the thoroughbred less likely to suffer an injury later on.
Most thoroughbreds actually suffer injuries in the four- to five-year-old range rather than in the two- to three-year-old range. Often, these injuries result from the horse’s bones not being strengthened sufficiently during early training, which is usually a product of not being broken soon enough.
If a horse is broken soon enough, it is more likely to have a good and long career.
For expert assistance and expertise in thoroughbred breaking, contact Glenrae Thoroughbreds now!
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