Some factors of the time of breaking and training affecting racing performance in young trotters

Authors

• M. T. Saastamoinen Agricultural Research Centre, Equine Research Station, SF-32100 Ypäjä, Finland

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci.72413

Abstract

Saastamoinen, M.T. (Agricultural Research Center, Equine Research Station, SF-32100 Ypäjä, Finland). Some factors of the time of breaking and training affecting racing performance in young trotters. An inquiry study was carried out to query the main reasons for non-starting and poor racing results, as well as to estimate the effect of some factors of the time of breaking and training on racing performance. The numbers of acceptable responses were 796 for Standardbred trotters and 857 for Finnhorses. About 72 % of the Standardbred trotters raced before the end of the five-year season, and about 42 % of the Finnhorse trotters raced before the end of their six-year season. The main reasons for non-starting and poor racing results were injuries and ailments, bad character, lack of talent and poor training. In general, young age at the beginning of breaking and training was favorably associated with racing performance. For instance, three-year-old Standardbred trotters broken at the age of 1 or Wi years were 2.1 seconds faster (p <0.01) and had a larger number of starts (p < 0.05) than their racemates broken at 2 or 3 years of age. The influence of class of persons responsible for breaking and training was minor. However, trotters broken and trained by professional trainers seemed to have better racing results than trotters broken and trained by breeders and owners.