floating horses to bush meetingsWest Australian Racing

perko

Mainly concerning trainers , strappers and owners , does anyone have any ideas about how much energy or ability does floating horses to bush race meetings [ ie 200 - 400 km] take out of them compared to horses that are trained locally at the days race meeting . Can walking , hosing down and brushing down in the couple of hours after being taken off the float before the horses race freshen him up. Just trying to upgrade my form rules for country racing betting. Any suggestions will help.

lame

Horses temperament , temperature . Some get travel sickness others thrive , a lot of variables ,

RIO

I've not seen any rhyme or reason over the years. Sorry no help at all

Import

Exactly. It is one of those variables that can not be accurately measured by formula. Each instance has to be assessed individually in regards to the aforementioned criteria in addition to the suitability of the track in relation to the horse's assumed racing pattern.

BobbyDavis

I'm often mindful of horses having to travel a couple of hours on a very hot day. Again, probably not something you could factor into a system though

scullywag

Ok to answer that question
Have u ever stood in the back of a float whilst travelling?
Floating can take a great deal out of horses. There muscles is s major factor. From having to balance andthr vibrations. Also if the horse is a nervous floater too which majority of racehorses are.
So horses that actually live within a short float or walking distance would have a bit of an advantage.
I know travelling from bullsbrook to pinjarra i like to get there at least 3 hrs before the race so they can get thier feet back under them.
Also another factor is how the driver drives. I feel sorry for some horses when i see some drivers.

lame

Good point
After a day in the boat the next day muscles ache , even if not moving muscles twitching keeping balance

scullywag

lame said:

Good point
After a day in the boat the next day muscles ache , even if not moving muscles twitching keeping balance

Exactly

Rodent

Horse's have a stay apparatus, humans don't. Apples and oranges.

scullywag

Rodent said:

Horse's have a stay apparatus, humans don't. Apples and oranges.

Good point. However for the stay apparatus to kick in a horses muscles have to relax. Eg when u see them dozing in the paddock or stalls. When floating its an entirely different scenario. Thats why u have scramblers, kickers, pawers etc cause thier muscles can not relax whilst travelling. I dont think ive ever floated a horse thsts fsllen asleep or dozed in the float. Even my doey old boy. Its not on the nature 1 because they r a flight animal and 2 whilst travelling due to vibrations and movement makes it very hard.

perko

Wags seems like you've got tons of experience around horses , I've just got in from the Boulia races today and one trainer come 600 kms with her team of horses . I got there a couple of hours before the first and watched the stables and most of our trainers/strappers walked each horse around the stable yard , hosed them down and gave each horse a good brush over. Is the main thing each trainers trying to do is to get the horse back into their normal routine before start time.

scullywag

Perko thats sounds bout right.
Walk and hose and brush then walk again :) we spend alot of time walking lol. Gotta get that circulation flowing again.
600ks bloody hell pinjarra is to far for me lol.
Also makes a diff if horses are trucked or floated. For some reason they tend to truck better then float. Mau have something to do with them travelling in the dark relaxes them. I know when we go track at 3am my boy floats a hellva lot better then when we r coming back in the light.
And yeah between owning 9 horses and working at studs and training etc you learn a thing or 2 and u never ever stop learning.
Like today i learnt that my horse doesnt like a wet track lol.