Get your racehorse running faster
Punchin' trained by Gary Boyce. Photo credit: Atkins Photography.
Racehorses are high performance athletes, with their value (and the trainers livelihood) dependant on how fast they run and how many races they win. Every sporting team has a physio on their bench, as physios help athletes (both human and equine) before, during and after competitions to optimize their performance by treating the muscles, spine and joints. Here is how racehorse trainers can use a physio to their advantage to get the edge over the competition:
Pre-race: Getting racehorses treated 7-10 days prior to their race ensures the horse is pain free and feeling supple at the time of racing. Tight muscles and stiffness through the spine can reduce stride length, decreasing running efficiency and resulting in slower times.
Post-race: Treatment after a race is focused on recovery, reducing lactic acid build up within the muscles, reducing delayed onset muscle soreness and treating any minor ‘niggle’ injuries or sore spots which they may have sustained during the race. If horses are running back to back races, post-race treatment helps to get them back to the training track quicker between races.
Four weeks into their prep: If you’ve ever returned to the gym after a hiatus, weeks three to four are definitely the hardest. Your body is sore and tired from the increased work load, especially if you have had a long spell. Getting racehorses treated at this point can identify any sore or weak areas which need to be addressed to maximise their performance.
Before a spell: Don’t let your horse carry an injury out in the paddock. Getting them treated before they go out prevents them developing compensatory movement patterns to avoid the sore area, which can then impact their run times when they come back to the track.
The ideal treatment schedule for racehorses is getting treated every three to four weeks.
Regular follow up ensures racehorses are always at the top of their game. Given that race placings (and prizemoney) are often decided by a few inches, racehorse trainers should take every advantage they can over their competitors.
Call or text 0474069723 or use the contact form to book your horses in.