Choosing a Standardbred trainer
Choosing a trainer can be just as important as choosing the right horse. Trainers are tasked with the daily care of your horse and ensuring your horse has the best chance to succeed.
‘’We started ownership in support of a young trainer who is a family friend - our love of horses and harness racing has grown from there."
Time for a trainer
WA has more than 430 registered harness racing trainers located across the State.
These range from small, hobby trainers with only a couple of horses, to mid-range trainers (around 10-20 horses) and large training operations with 30+ horses in their stable.
Depending on your location, lifestyle, budget or syndicate, choosing a trainer is an important step to ensure your racehorse is given every possible chance to excel on the track.
In many cases, you might choose a trainer before you choose your horse – trainers can provide their expert advice and opinion to guide you in choosing the most suitable horse for you or your ownership group.
-
The questions to ask.
How do you weigh up which trainer will best meet your needs as an owner?
There is no really easy answer, especially given the amount of variables that exist in horse training!
What you do need, is a trainer who is dedicated to caring for and striving to help your horse achieve its maximum potential.
The following questions are a helpful guide when deciding who is the right trainer for you…
- How do you communicate with the owners in relation to the racehorse?
- When can I visit my racehorse?
- Where will my racehorse be based – when it is training, and when it is taking a break (also called ‘’spelling’’)?
- How many horses do you train at a time?
- What type of horses have you had the most success with? (eg: young horses, older horses, country class horses, etc)
- Where have your most successful racehorses come from in the past? (eg: yearling sales/proven racehorses/locally bred/interstate or overseas purchases)
- Who are the driver/s (‘’reins people’’) you use regularly?
- What are your career highlights, or best race you have won?
- Who has been your best racehorse?
-
What qualifications does your Trainer need?
Training a horse to win is not an exact science, as you’re probably aware – it involves a great deal of instinct, experience and in many cases – luck!
To be a successful trainer you don’t need any formal qualifications other than a RWWA Trainers Licence. You do, however, need lots of experience, dedication and an enormous passion for horses.
In the harness industry where early mornings, long days and late nights are the norm, you won’t find a racehorse trainer who doesn’t love their horses.
