To
Start a Racehorse Ranch
Horse
Racing is often referred to as the “Sport of Kings”. Many find that title to be
true, including me. This is a step by step process to help you get yourself
started in the sport of kings.
*this is compiled of websites like ehow that
give step by step plans and by my personal opinion
Basic Outline
Instructions
1 Education
You need to be educated about raising
and training of racehorses. The University of Arizona and the University of
Kentucky both offer excellent equine degree programs like the Race Track
Industry Program (RTIP) that will allow you to literally earn a degree in horse
racing. These courses will teach you everything you need to know about
breeding, raising, training and racing horses. www.ua-rtip.org
2
Business
Plan
Write a business plan. Your plan should
identify not only where you will get the money to start your horse-racing
business, but also your business goals and how you plan to achieve them. You
should also state what kind of staff will be required to operate your business,
what their salary will be and what other costs will be associated with
operating your business.
3 Purchase
Stables
Purchase or lease a ranch to serve as
the headquarters for your horse-racing business. A ranch ranging from 50 to 100
acres in size is adequate for most startup horse-racing businesses, although a
larger ranch is certainly better. The location should have stables to house
your horses, open areas for exercise and enough space for a practice racetrack.
A ranch like this would be perfect.
4 Horses
Buy the horses that will be used to
start your stables. There are two philosophies when it comes to stocking a new
stable. One is to buy horses that come from champions, with the hope of those
horses being good racers. The other philosophy is to simply buy strong horses
for breeding, in the hopes of breeding a champion horse. You can follow either
or both of these strategies, but be prepared to pay big money for a horse that
has a champion for a parent. Most stock horses for racing will cost several
thousand dollars, but those with a championship bloodline can sell for hundreds
of thousands of dollars.
5 Staff
Hire the staff you need to operate your
horse-racing business. The required staff members will be identified in your
business model, along with their respective salaries. You can expect to have
stable hands to clean the stalls and feed your horses. You will also need
trainers to exercise your horses and mold them into racers, as well as a
veterinarian to keep your animals in good physical condition.
6 Make it Official
Join any associations that are relevant
to your horse-racing business. The main association you must join is the
National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA). Each state also has its own
racing association or quarter-horse racing association. Being a member of each
trade group in the states where you will be racing will make it easier for you
to get your horses entered into races.
Tips &
Warnings
·
If you do not wish to take on the expense of owning the entire
operation yourself, you can invest in a specific racehorse at another company's
ranch.
Read more: How to Start a Horse Racing Business | eHow http://www.ehow.com/how_4687461_start-horse-racing-business.html#ixzz2V22Ji200
Buying Horses
1
Agent
Decide if you have the knowledge to buy on your own or if you
need help. If you know very little about buying racehorses, a bloodstock agent,
who is paid a commission to buy and sell horses, will offer advice and
recommend those that meet your budget. Horse trainers may also offer important
advice.
2
Budget
Factor in all the costs before you make a purchase. Expect to
spend $25,000 to $30,000 annually to keep a horse in training. Costs include
$35 to $100 per day for training expenses, $150 to $500 per month for vet
charges, and $100 for monthly shoeing expenses. Don't forget the hay, straw,
grain and other dietary supplements to keep your horse in tip-top racing
condition.
3 Partnerships
Decide whether you want to own a racehorse outright, share an
interest in one with a partnership, or invest in multiple horses through a
syndicate. Many partnerships advertise in racing trade publications and host
Web sites that list their horses and track records. Shop around; contact numerous
syndicate managers and prospective partnerships before you invest.
4
Where to Buy
Buy a racehorse in one of three ways: Through a claiming race,
at auction or through a private purchase.
Claiming races literally have the horses running for sale. Price
is set before the race, based on the quality of horse, cost ranging from
$4,000-$12,000. Veterinarians cannot inspect the horses beforehand.
In auctions, horses are grouped by type: Yearlings, horses in
training or brood mares. Each horse is listed in an auction catalog with a
family tree, birth date and blood-type listing. Bloodstocks are allowed to view
the horses at auction.
Private purchase is the easiest way to buy a horse. Horses are
sold directly from stud at a negotiated price, and they can be inspected by a
vet beforehand.
5
Get a Trainer
Hire a trainer. The best source for locating an experienced
horse trainer is RaceHorseTrainers.com, sponsored by the United Thoroughbred
Trainers of America Inc.
6
Racing License
Obtain a racing license. Owners must have a license in order to
participate in races. Each state has its own licensing applications, procedures
and fees.
7
Register
Register your Thoroughbred with the Jockey Club. A copy of the
registration papers must be kept on file at the racetrack during the period
that the horse is racing. These papers include the horse's name, pedigree and
physical description.
8
Jockey Silks
Apply for colors with the Jockey Club. Brightly colored racing
silks must be worn every time a jockey rides your horse; your pattern will
become your trademark at the track.
9 Racing
Recoup your investment by finishing in the top five. Typically,
the winning horse takes home 60 percent of the listed purse, 20 percent goes to
second place, 12 percent to third, 6 percent to fourth and 2 percent to fifth
place. A horse that performs consistently well will increase in claim value and
can be worth millions as a breeder depending on its pedigree.
Tips & Warnings
·
Thoroughbred refers to a breed of horses.
·
The birth date is important for a yearling because all
Thoroughbreds are given a January 1 birthday by racing authorities. A foal born
near that date will therefore have a developmental jump on a horse born later
in the year. That edge can be crucial when they begin racing as two-year-olds.
·
First-time buyers should consider a horse already in training
(rather than a yearling), because it can race immediately.
·
The average Thoroughbred races about 12 times a year.
·
When you buy a racehorse at a claiming race or auction, be
prepared to pay for, insure, transport and house the horse immediately after
the race or at the auction's fall of hammer.
Choosing the
Horse
1 Look of
the Horses
Identify Thoroughbred horses by their
sleek, muscular bodies. Thoroughbreds should have long legs and slender bodies
which are ideal for racing. Thoroughbreds come in many colors. If they are tall
they will be good jumpers. A graceful horse will excel in English disciplines.
2 Measure
Measure the adult Thoroughbred at 16 to
17.3 hands, with a weight of 1,000 to 1,300 pounds.
3 Identify
their Competitive Edge
Note that being high-strung and
sensitive gives Thoroughbreds an edge and helps them to compete successfully as
race horses. You can usually see a horse’s spirit and fire in their eyes. Those
horses make great racers.
4 Legal
Breeding
Be aware that insemination by
artificial means is not currently allowed or sanctioned by the Thoroughbred
industry. All breeding must be accomplished through live coverage, in which the
mare is physically bred by the stud.
5 Retirement
Organizations
Locate organizations that exist to
protect retired racehorses and that work to find these horses new homes.
Tips &
Warnings
·
Because Thoroughbreds are so tall, owners and handlers need to be
aware of the environment surrounding the horse so it doesn't injure itself in
trailers and stalls.
·
Before you purchase a horse, spend time with it and get to know
its personality. Horses have personalities, just as humans do.
·
Because the Thoroughbred has a tendency to be high-strung, it
might not make a good horse for a child or inexperienced rider.
Read more: How to Choose a Thoroughbred Horse | eHow http://www.ehow.com/how_9047_choose-thoroughbred-horse.html#ixzz2V2AnS3rn
Training
Early Training
- A
young horse in between the ages of one and two, known as a yearling, can
begin conditioning for the racetrack. The process of "breaking" the
horse begins by getting it used to a bridle. The bridle has a piece called
the bit that most horses often dislike. This is used to direct the horse
and should be introduced gently. Next, the horse should be acclimated to a
saddle and eventually to having a rider on his back. Once this has been
accomplished, you should start slow walks with the horse, moving up slowly
to faster speeds and longer distances. During this process, it is
extremely important to be kind and gentle to the horse, and this will pay
off in later handling and training.
Two- and Three-Year-Old Training
- Two-
and three-year-old horses are trained in a similar manner. They should
start with shorter distances and slower speeds, gradually working up to
increased distances. In addition, a two-year-old should be "gate
schooled," meaning it should be trained in how to stand still quietly
and then break out of the gate when the race begins. Many racehorses act
up in the gate or refuse to enter. Getting the horse used to this can help
prevent any accidents before a race or your horse breaking through the
gate which takes all its energy and can hurt it. It also is important to
keep a record of each workout as you do not want to overtax a horse. You
should never give a horse a speedy work until you are sure that he has had
the proper foundation of slow work to make him physically fit for the
faster move.
Feeding
- A
race horse in training requires a specific feeding schedule and diet. You
don't want to overfeed a horse that is in training and also don't give a
horse musty oats. They should be
fed clean oats with good, meaty kernels. The schedule should be a small
meal in the early morning, a second small mid-morning meal, and the big
meal in early evening. In addition, the horse should be allowed to eat hay
in its stall. On race days, the horse should be given only a handful of
hay in the morning and its usual breakfast. Always have fresh water in the
horse's stall.
Foot Care
- In
the racing industry, a common expression is "no foot, no horse."
It is important to make sure the race horse's feet receive frequent
inspections and attention. You should employ a good farrier, a person who
puts shoes on the horse's feet. They will be able to ensure the hoof is
level and help prevent injuries to the horse.
Read more: Race Horses in Training | eHow http://www.ehow.com/info_8234885_race-horses-training.html#ixzz2V24fmPrk
More Training
1 Trainer/Jockey
Choose a qualified trainer and experienced jockey. Look at their
previous track records and choose based on previous successes. Qualified
trainers have winning horses in their stables and good references from other
professionals in the business. An experienced jockey is one who has several
professional races under his belt and can ride any thoroughbred with ease and
confidence.
2 Veterinarian
Have a veterinarian examine your
thoroughbred to make sure she is healthy and able to race. Often, racehorses
are run when they are very young, and the knees have not yet
"closed." Make sure your horse is not so undeveloped that racing with
cripple her. Have a veterinarian x-ray her knees to see if her bones have
finished closing.
3 Schedule
Provide the trainer with the best feed,
care, and exercise schedule available. Keep up-to-date on your trainer's
methods and results; and watch the exercise rides to see how the horse is
coming along.
4 Exercise
Run your thoroughbred on the track for
practice and for "breezing," the term used for running a Thoroughbred
on the track for exercise, then cooling him down. The more used to the track
the horse gets, the more successful it will be.
5 Starting
Gate
Train the horse with a starting gate.
The starting gate, with its narrow confines and noise, can be terrifying to a
horse. Desensitize him to these stimuli before race day. Have your trainer and
exercise rider load and unload the horse into the gate, getting him used to the
"spring" of the doors and the appropriate leap out of it.
Tips &
Warnings
·
Allow at least six months to a year of training before race time.
This will give the horse a chance to toughen its bones naturally and fully
understand what is expected of it.
·
Never attempt to train a thoroughbred racehorse to run on your
own. These animals require professional training and can cause serious harm or
death to people who are not experts at handling them.
Read more: How to Train a Thoroughbred Horse to Race | eHow http://www.ehow.com/how_6607767_train-thoroughbred-horse-race.html#ixzz2V27BO6qq
Flat Racing
Training
1 Paddock
Allow your young Thoroughbred to run
free in any safe location as much as possible. Horse paddocks are great ways to
do this. This will allow him to develop a sense of its own natural ability, and
will give it more confidence when you begin to train it.
2 Ride
Ride your Thoroughbred for a minimum of
3 miles, but only about every 3 days. A young race horse must slowly build up
the muscle, tone and control to exert the huge amount of effort that flat
racing requires. A good session of building up the muscle should be followed by
an appropriate period of rest.
3 Massage
Invest in equine massage. Massage will
help your Thoroughbred develop his muscles in a more evenly distributed and
healthy manner. It also helps increase the circulation, which is extremely
helpful in reducing any inflammation of the ankle, which is extremely common in
horses during this stage of training.
4
Increase in Hardness
Increase the distance you ride your
Thoroughbred in steady increments. Be sure the horse can handle the increase in
distance before forcing it on him. The key is slow, deliberate building of
muscle and body control.
5 Increase
Speed
Train your Thoroughbred to run at full
speed for short bursts. As he improves in speed, he will also improve in
endurance and distance.
6 Don’t Push
Too Hard
Allow the horse's true speed to evolve
and blossom over time. Pushing the horse to train to speed under duress or violence
will not only sour the horse to racing, but it may cause serious behavioral
flaws as well.
Tips & Warnings
·
Never push a horse younger than 32 months into speed training.
Before this age the knees have not fully closed up, so you can do severe damage
to a horse if you push hard before the Thoroughbred's body is matured and
ready.
Read more: How to Train a Thoroughbred Horse for Flat Racing | eHow http://www.ehow.com/how_2188750_train-thoroughbred-horse-flat-racing.html#ixzz2V2C4AIrH
Now your ranch
can start making headlines in world of horse racing. Make sure you take great
care of your developing champions, because soon, they will be the Kings and
Queens on this great sport.
