Articles from the European Trainer Magazine archive - available to read online.
Losing an under-achieving horse is a reality trainers live with daily. But how do you lose a horse who performs spectacularly in his debut? How do you lose a horse you’ve waited your whole lifetime to train?
Bill Heller (14 October 2008 - Issue Number: 10)
Preparing a horse for his first start on turf is trickier than most people realize. Most tracks ban maidens from their grass courses, and many allow only grass stakes-nominated horses who have not made their last start against maidens or claimers to work on the turf course.
Bill Heller (10 July 2008 - Issue Number: 9)
Research studies have shown that warming up prior to competition is an important factor in preparation to enhance performance and potentially reduce injury risk. When it comes to cooling down, research shows that active cooling down is more beneficial than passive cooling down.
Nicole Rossa (European Trainer - issue 22 - Summer 2008)
Read MoreThe term alone, "resistance training," invites at the very least skepticism, and in some cases, even a trace of joviality. As Hall of Fame conditioner Dick Mandella remarked when asked about it, "I'm very familiar with resistance training. For many years, I've had owners who resisted my training. I've had a few horses who resisted, too."
Caton Bredar (14 February 2008 - Issue Number: 7)
While the Thoroughbred racehorse has evolved through methods of breeding, raising, feeding, vaccinating and training, one thing that has remained fairly constant is that they must be broken in with great care and patience if they stand any chance of doing what they were born to do.
Frances Karon (01 December 2007 - Issue Number: 6)
Read MoreHistorically, oil has not featured highly in the diets of horses in training, or indeed those of other horses. The natural oil content of pasture and other forages is quite low at between 2-3% on a dry matter basis, yet despite this, horses digest oil extremely well. Oil added to the racehorses’ diet is tolerated well, with no major palatability problems having been reported.
Dr Catherine Dunnett (European Trainer - issue 20 - Winter 2007)
Read MoreDr David Marlin (01 July 2007 - Issue Number: 4)
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With Thoroughbreds racing fresher and less frequently these days, traininga horse to win off a month layoff is commonplace. But when a trainerstretches his Thoroughbred’s layoff to six months or longer, and he winsthat first start back, that’s special. Doing it consistently stamps a trainer as one of the best in the business.
Bill Heller (01 October 2007 - Issue Number: 5)
Lunging and long reining may seem like old fashioned, basic disciplines for working horses. However by the end of this article, I hope to remind you that these disciplines, when incorporated into your horse’s work routine, can really enhance their physical and emotional state.
Bolette Petersen (19 October 2006 - Issue Number: 2)
Read MoreFrom stud to stable, weighing machines have augmented, and even supplanted, the empirical judgment of the eye. Applications range from gauging the development of the weanling to assimilating the optimal fighting-weight of the performance horse to monitoring the effects of transportation.
James Willoughby (European Trainer - issue 7 - Spring 2004)
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