Horse racing is one of the oldest sports ever. Today, however, it is still one of those with many fans. In most countries, horse racing is very popular, so it is organized and highly commercialized. They have become a massive industry that has continued to flourish to achieve their goals.
Horse racing represents a competition where the speed of at least two horses is tested, although the number is generally higher. There are the best-thoroughbred horses, with a horseman leading them along an exclusive track for this competition.
The basic principles that mark a horse race are. Who breeds the horse, the owner, the trainer, and the horseman? Although in law the owners themselves were responsible for raising the horse, about 100 years ago, a difference was made. The breeder-owner relationship was set aside. So many owners went on to buy horses and not raise them, but hire coaches. They prepare them to compete in the races.
Preparation for horse racing
Preparing for a horse race requires a few essential points to attend to. In this sense, one of the aspects we must consider is the selection and training of the horse. In the case of the horse, a well-formed animal must be obtained, which is complete in terms of the conditions to compete. There must be a right balance of the horse, and it is also expected to have high speed, as it is a determining factor in these competitions. However, the temperament of the animal is not necessarily a limiting aspect in this field.
Coaches are primarily responsible for the care and care of horses during their competitive lives. You must devote a good time to maintaining the condition of the horses. Also, as part of the preparation, they must select which races are suitable for the horse they train. All this must be based on aspects such as the quality of competition and also the distance from the game. These are all critical factors to consider because although each country may have its characteristics in terms of careers, they are usually performed for several months and several in one day.
Type of horse racing training
As for horse training, we can say it’s just as an athlete needs to train. With constancy, daily, to achieve a physical state that adapts to what you should do. Thus, horses also require very rigorous training to keep up with the competitions.
Coaches must undergo daily training for various exercises โ some like gallop and speed. In the case of gallop training, these are carried out daily at distances of up to 3.5 kilometers. And for speed training, exercises are done at a much lower distance limit. All this, until finally, the horse reaches the rhythm of activity suitable for the competitions.
One of the objectives of constant training is to achieve adequate control of both the cardiorespiratory rhythm and the horse thermoregulatory. And it is hoped that you will be able to adapt the muscles, tendons, and skeleton to all the requirements of the competition.
When achieved, the result can be seen in the same animal. The behavior of the horse is affected by the release of endorphins that produce a pleasant feeling of satisfaction in both people and animals.
However, all training exercises performed with horses must be within the correct limit. To have a higher demand than the animal has to play can only be harmful to him.
Procedure in horse racing
For horse racing, a simple method was established but which reflects a strict organization as well. First of all, when the horse arrives at the racetrack, it must be checked by the veterinary service. There it is confirmed that the horse is the one that is written down and also the physical state in which it is found. In the case of the rider, he must also pass through the weighing area, where he is taken his weight before starting the race, and this procedure is also performed after the race.
Given the spectators, the horses must be saddled, and the riders must also be mounted. After this, they must be driven to the exit, and each horse with its passenger will be placed in the exit box assigned to it. All are located well there. Then, the operator who gives the output presses the button that allows all drawers to be opened at the same time.
Within the regulations, judges are also assigned to monitor careers, and these are to be recorded in a film. In addition to this, photoelectric cells are placed that have the function of measuring the Times of the horse that wins the race. It is measured both in the final line and in some other places already selected along the track.
Also, for the competition to be as even as possible, horses must be of a particular type. They are assigned weight compensation based on age, sex, records, and also rider experience. With lead bars placed at the bottom of the chair, they can match the weight of the rider to the pressure that was assigned to him.
Horse racing categories
Horse racing is separated into a variety of types. This diversity allows those who are attracted to horses to choose some category or discipline that is more attractive to their tastes. Within this variety, we can mention the following. There are flat or smooth races, fence races, cross country races, match races, and jogging and harness races. Among the best known in almost every country, we can point out the following two:
- Flat races or smooth races
These races are comprised of competitions of between 2 or more horses, mostly pureblood, and are performed on racks or tracks explicitly designed for this purpose. They are called Flat races or smooth races because they contain no obstacles to avoid during the competition. And the road to be covered can range from about 400 meters to about 2.2 kilometers away. In these races, each horse has a chair and must be led by a rider. This style of competition is included in the category of gallop races.
- Fence races
Fence races are in the category of gallop races and are at high risk of falling. Precisely because in these the rider must make the horse jump about 20 fences approximately 1.10 meters each. It indeed represents a complicated racing style.