Breed: The English grew up at the crossroads of equestrian worlds

Known as a jockey and a crack at the racetracks, he shines in other equestrian sports as well. The English Thoroughbred often begins its career on the racetrack and ends as a leisure horse. A career between equestrian and classic riding.

” It’s great to watch the jump run. When I watch a race, it’s a real spectacle. Since he was so young, Thierry Laurent was a complete enthusiast. He first spent a lot of time at racetracks before studying genetics to breed his own racehorses.

Built for speed

Originating in 17th-century England and 18th-century France, the Thoroughbred is a cross between local English and Andalusian, Arab or Barb stallions. Wherever it is exported, it is destined for racetracks. However, working with these horses can be tricky. “ Thoroughbreds are more nervous, less docile, and harder to manage than other horses “, explains Thierry Laurent. Hence the importance Train it well with respect to people “.For the breeder, these are horses to watch out for.” Get success » and for those who require large pastures. ” With the thoroughbred, it should move, but without hurting yourself “, he details.

And for good reason, thoroughbred speed is cut. His Sanguine side also makes him a good racehorse. Its morphology – a long, sloping shoulder – gives it the range it needs to win canter strides. At the Haras du Cadran in Seine-et-Marne, a hundred foals are born each year for racing. Pierre Talwart has been breeding horses from 1.62m to 1.64m for forty years. Good feet and well established foot “. The Thoroughbred is characterized by an ample chest and straight back and a horizontal band.

A precocious hero

On French racetracks, thoroughbreds represent the majority of gallopers. Other classes of horses authorized to run in gallop races are specified by the AQPS, meaning “other than thoroughbreds”. Among them, there are especially half-breeds, crosses between sales francois and thoroughbreds, cut for jumping, pure-bred Arabians and Anglo-Arabians. According to France Gallop, the company that organizes Gallop races in France, about 3,800 races are reserved for Thoroughbreds each year. They represent almost 100% of the species on the flat. France Gallop notes that the horses are getting faster and faster. Records continue to be broken “.

Beyond speed, the Thoroughbred’s other specialty is its precocity. From the age of 2, horses are broken on the flat and can do their first races. Sandy Marmeuse is a hurdler and flat horse trainer. Every morning, the Thoroughbreds go out for one to two hours of training, he explains. “ Before they recover from a 30- to 45-minute walk, warm up the canter and hunt — the equivalent of a professional working canter. Canter designates a trial run before a race. She points out that the horses run different distances.” Their appearance, their morphology, their speed and their clothing “. Sprinters, up to 1,400 meters, milers, 1,600 meters and stayers, beyond 2,000 meters.

Although they are known to be nervous horses,” notes the young lady. Once you get used to it, the training is very easy “. She explains it by their character ” Very generous And the fact that they are Ask only to go forward “. The thoroughbred also has a serious sensibility. Marion Barra was an apprentice rider for five years with Freddie Lemercier.” We break them too young and too quickly, and if we’re not careful, we lose them from the start, they withdraw, they don’t like what they’re doing and they’re underperforming. The rider had some tricks up the slopes when a horse got in the way. ” I let some of them walk me around, or at least let me think they walked me around. entertaining the rider, Their morale suddenly rose. “Some are very good at the start but wear out quickly, others don’t race. For them, it’s time for a change.

thoroughbred off-piste

Trainers or riders sometimes rehabilitate their retired horses or try to put them back. In 2016, when she left her training center, Marion Barra left with Speartooth, a horse she had trained for three years but had not proven herself on the tracks. Kathy Besanker, who was approached by two friends from the racing world to recover her first good character in 2012. Very quickly won over by their kindness and generosity, the Belgian welcomed the other four.

With them, she jumps, dresses and walks. After all, she raises children. ” They are easy horses, to keep in all hands, and they are agreeable. She also notes their composure in the face of motor vehicles they are used to on racetracks. Perfect for walking. But before putting children on her supporters’ backs, she takes time to retrain them. She begins by letting them rest for a month to acclimate them to their new life. Then, “ From one to two months, I ride them on the flat, teach them to be quiet in three gaits, and to stop vocally. “. These are horses for Kathy Besanker.” Perfect for relaxation Very affordable price. Be careful not to fall into the trap of attractive prices. Thoroughbreds are blood horses that require a certain knowledge of the breed, a good condition or strict supervision.

Retraining of professionals

Virginie Terrin took her Gallop 5 ten years ago. After all, he works in the racing world. Nevertheless, Wally Collins keeps putting her on the floor… even though he calms down and goes out with him to the Grand Prix 110, kicking her at least once in the session. ” It’s his ritual, and if he doesn’t, I worry “, laughs its owner. To avoid unpleasant surprises, there are retraining stations for racers.

AT A second chance is constant In Maine-et-Loire, Sylvain and Amelie Martin prepare horses to transition between racetracks and classic riding. Four to twelve horses per week arrive at the stables and stay for three weeks to three months. The couple feeds the horses for their new life, returns to the pasture, and then begins the loaded work. “ We build flexibility, incorporate some restraints, and teach them new codes. »

With this organization launched in 2009, Amelie and Sylvain Martin have created an association to find a family for wounded reformers. The demanding couple failed to comply with all requests from trainers to replace their horses. To convince the classic equitation riders who were seduced by the racing reformers, Amélie and Sylvain Martin organized a day with experts from the racing world to inform them about these horses, their health, diet and temperament. A way to do away with clichés and deliver successful change.

For its part, France Gallop explains “ We have a birth policy according to our needs Avoid saturated training stables and associations again. The organization that organizes the gallop races in France has an annual budget dedicated to retraining and works specifically with the association. Beyond the tracks or the French League for the Protection of Horses. The league helps to retrain. When a race professional needs to part with a horse, he contacts her. It cares for the horse and redirects it to companies that care for its transition to leisure equine life. Beyond the declines created in 2016, the association further notes that “ More and more riders are interested in these horses for jumping, eventing, polo, horse-ball or even high school dressage. “.

Generous generosity

Robin Massichi Detri withdrew her mare from the association seven years ago Future horse. His goal put Minuccia on the horse. 5 years old at the time, very ” Compatible “. He teaches her Fundamentals of Classical Horsemanship “, flexibility, up and down changes, but to build muscle for the horse ball, to work down” Because in racing, they work horizontally “. In horseball, the Thoroughbred is interesting.” Its responsiveness, its agility, its generosity “. Robin Massichi Ditri mentions that they are horses ” Lots of heart and an instinct to be in a group and on the move Thanks to their past players.

Ryder also notes that there are some precautions to take on a day-to-day basis, especially for managing stress. On race tracks, They are used to doing the same thing with the same people all the time, so they get stressed out when there are changes in environment or habits. “. Because his mare was so emotional, he put her in a quiet stall and set up a training routine that would allow her bearings and reassurance.” She’s less stressed than she was in the beginning and she’s getting used to it “, he adds.

Even in equestrian centers

If horse-ball is an interesting outlet for reformed races, thoroughbreds are often seen in many equestrian centres. At the Petites Ecuries de Julie in Meurthe-et-Moselle, eleven thoroughbreds and a handful of ponies serve as mounts for training riders. ” I had a crush on a scent hound that had been mistreated by the club manager at the races and I rescued it before it went to the slaughterhouse. ” says Julie Vergno. After a lot of work, she finishes the event with the horse.

So when he started his business, he decided to work with these versatile horses “With a big heart”. “I only restore rough or broken horses. “Tendinitis, broken hip, Julie Vergno gives her reformer time to recover before teaching some basic clothing and obstacles.” They understand quickly and are very accommodating “, the instructor notes. They do everything: dressage, obstacles, trek and mountain trail. She has never had any behavior problems with her Tolkapis. ” I sometimes put 8 year olds in it and they are better than my ponies “, she laughs. Racehorses that teach young riders the basics of classic riding. What else? ?

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Mary Senechal