To Start a Racehorse Ranch

So like I said I love horse racing and I made this for the future but I thought maybe someone would like this also.

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.