The Racehorse Experiment

At this early stage, training consists of daily grooming and handling. Leading, feeding her minerals mixed with grain, brushing her, and cleaning her feet all help to teach her manners, and get her used to people. Although she is calm and quiet, she is somewhat indifferent to people - as she was to the other horses in the herd. We want a horse who is engaged with both horses and people. In short, a mentally and emotionally healthy individual. Along with normal handling, Zola is getting exposed to many new and different things on the farm. She is tied to my horse trailer for her daily grooming, and as the trailer is partially covered with a tarp, she's quickly gotten used to it flapping. There are both ducks and chickens nearby and they pose another good opportunity for becoming accustomed to strange sights and sounds as they make various noises, beat their wings and occasionally fly short distances without warning.

Zola's training is not going to be the traditional racehorse training. It's my belief that a horse who can adjust well to strange environments and situations is preferable to one always on edge and dancing around ready to bolt. Calm confidence seems a better attitude for true performance, whereby the horse's energy can be fully focused on the job at hand. And racing is a job and will be presented to Zola as such.

Unlike the vast majority of racehorses, Zola will have freedom and a normal "horse" life with her friends in the herd. She will have "work" and she will have play. Her life will have balance and be satisfying. I feel great sadness at the plight of most racehorses - their only reward for a job well done is to be put back in what amounts to solitary confinement. In fact, there is no reward, there is only serving man at man's convenience.