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Re: [RC] race brain behavior vs. Training? - Melissa Margetts Ms. Kitty

FXLivestock@xxxxxxx wrote:
In a message dated 11/09/2008 1:58:47 P.M. Pacific Standard Time, margetts@xxxxxxxxxxxx writes:

Like the original poster asked,
though the horses are "conditioned", wouldn't their energy,
control and
performance be enhanced and they would do even better if more time
was
also spent in "training" and "ground manners?"


What makes you assume that time was not put into training and ground manners? How can you make this assumption without knowing what the particular trainers/riders did to prepare for competition. I am not defending how the horses behaved at the WEC. I am not making excuses for this because it is FEI racing. But, I don't think this is an issue that is isolated at this level or in this venue. I personally have seen horses behave in this manner at local AERC rides. I think some of the scariest starts I have ever participated in were at the Tevis before they put riders in a starting order. I recall witnessing and avoiding some pretty wild rodeo moments at those starts. Think about it....the majority of Tevis riders are just there to complete and earn their buckle and there is still can be a chaotic atmosphere at the start. This is not just about a racing mentality vs a riding mentality and if horses are trained or allowed to "race" in other rides.
Again, from personal experience I have put a huge amount of time into "training" out the race brain mentality in my horse. After working with him for nine years, the behavior is still part of this horse's make up. The difference is, I have learned to manage it better. It isn't just about how many hours you spend training for ground manners vs training for fitness. A part of this is about suitability and management.. If you choose to continue with a horse like this, it really comes down to management and trying to set up favorable conditions to manage this weakness. Again, the real question I have with this particular situation we are discussing is whether these horses had a past history of this kind of behavior/recovery at other rides and if they did what strategies were put in place for this ride to lessen the chances of race brain taking over at this big event? If this is an isolated event because of weather conditions etc., there would probably have been no way for the team to prepare if the horses had never exhibited this behavior in the past.
Kim Fuess
AERC #6648




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Holy cow! I was actually ASSUMING that they HAD been more trained, prepared, experienced etc. than any other horses in the world at this level. But at this event they certainly didn't act like the "perfectly trained" horses jvm said they were. That's why there was the question as to what the hell happened and is this just what is normal, common, expected and accepted at WEC and if you see this happen all the time at these kinds of rides.Do these types of endurance race horses just forget all that training we know they've been given, easier than other horses when it's time to perform? Like I said before, I've just never seen it in coverage of other top level equestrian sporting events like dressage at the Olympics. I have only seen it at racing events while the handlers are trying to get the horses into the gate, and attributed THAT to "race brain" and the inexperience of those being two year olds. When the question was first brought up, it was explained by the weather and the excitement of the event, the travel and change of conditions. But this type of behavior doesn't seem to happen with other types of events that have the kinds of challenges. My guess still is that it was a combo of a lot of these things but that a great part falls on the tendency for the horses for this type of event excel precisely because they were chosen because they HAVE a "race brain". But along with that quality they are probably more apt than most to just "loose it" than other breeds in other sports. It's also my guess that a rider WANTS them to keep that "race brain" in order to be competitive to win, and not train it OUT of them, but in turn, is challenged with the continuing NEED to continually try and train even more manners into them than other sports just so they can focus that "race brain" on the task at hand.

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Re: [RC] race brain behavior vs. Training?, FXLivestock