Q:
When do you put shoes on these yearlings?
Pam Woolley
Wallingford, CT
A: Coz had his first pair of shoes put on in February. We don’t put them on initially because they don’t need them here. There’s no concrete here—it’s all dirt and grass. The trainer gets a pristine foot. There are no nail holes and they aren’t cut a certain way. Also, when they have shoes it’s much harder to let them be out in the paddock. There’s a risk that they’re pull them off.
Q:
What’s the difference between exercise riders and jockeys? Do they have different skill sets? Do exercise riders work for multiple farms?
Sam Shaffer
Albany, CA
A: To start, it’s often their size and weight. The smaller riders usually aspire to be jockeys, to be famous riders. Jockeys wouldn’t necessarily know how to break a baby. They wouldn’t know how to get them nice and quiet, to gallop and stop a lot, to stop and stand. Exercise riders are more attuned to the “kids” as they’re part of the teaching phase.
Most exercise riders work for multiple farms. A lot them will go to the tracks in New York and New Jersey to gallop, and then come down to work in Florida for the winter. Right now, we have so many horses that we have riders who just work for us. Our two main guys have been with us for almost seven years. We have them almost year round—they’ll take a month off in the summer.
Q:
Why did they send Cozmic One to start training at such and early age? Why not wait into he was a full 2 years old before sending him to training?
Abel Hernandez
Phelan, CA
A: It’s a disservice to the horse, to us, and all the people around them to wait. By the time they’re three years old, they’re big and strong and set in their ways. It’s like finding someone who was raised by wolves. You don’t want to wait until they’re teenagers to teach them anything. You can break them early, and if they’re not ready, you can pick up again in the fall. Just because you break them it doesn’t mean they have to train.
The exercise helps their bones develop and strengthen. In Europe horses jog up and down asphalt and cobblestone roads because it makes them stronger. That’s another reason you don’t want to wait longer—that older horse that you waited on is going to be a softer boned horse.
Q:
Do you break all the yearlings the same way? Or is it individual based on their personalities, temperament etc?
Cathleen Siegel
Lake Worth, FL
A: That’s another thing that makes us different from other farms. We don’t put our horses in a program; we develop a program for the horses. You can’t lump them all together. Our horses get a leg up because the training is tailored to them.
Certain horses like certain people. If a rider doesn’t get along with a particular horse then we’ll have someone else get on him; we don’t force it. We take them to the round pens to teach them to turn, to stop, to trot; they learn figure eights and to back up. Some of them don’t like that, and if they really don’t we’ll skip it and go to the field. They jog and trot in the field and do big figure eights.
Our Experts
Mayberry Farm
Jeanne Mayberry runs her farm in Ocala, FL with her daughters, April and Summer, and their cousin Jacki. Both Zenyatta and Cozmic One received their early training at Mayberry Farm. Jeanne’s assistant, Margarita, is pictured on the left.
♥ Auntie Judy aka JAG / So. Calif. ♥
Very informative answers. Thanks! {{hugs}} and kisses to COZ
XO Auntie Judy ♥
Gloria
Great Q&A. Thanks for posting!
Debbie
thank you for this great info! I’m so anxious to see Coz race but always pray for a safe trip 1st, win 2nd…xoxoxoZ,Coz,Ziconic&ZPrincess
Maryp NY
Those are good questions. I enjoy learning how the Mayberry’s handle these young horses to ready them for graduation to the trainer.
Thank you all for taking such good care of Cozmic One. Always look forward to any new reports or photos of Zenyatta’s babies.
Kim
Thank you for all the information!
Karen Kania-Forehand
Great questions and informative answers! Hope Coz is adjusting to Belmont and training well! Look forward to his first race as is everyone who watches this “royal” family of horse racing!
Perky Green
Thank-you for this question and answer portion, it gives a informatible insight to the development stages of the horses, Very interesting.
Marty
Wow. Those were great questions. So grateful that everyone takes the time out to answer them for us who don’t know anything about the process. Have a great day everyone.
Bobbie --- Elkhorn WI
No wonder you have so many horses right now. Sounds like an excellent training program!
Vicki Matney
I disagree about starting track training so early on these 2 year olds. Their bones are still growing and aren’t strong enough to take the punishment and pounding of the track. Personally, I feel that there should be an age limit as to when a horse can hit the track. I admired the fact that John Sherreffs didn’t start Zenyatta until she was 3. I think that is soon enough to start racing…..but racing them hard at 2 year olds isn’t in the horse’s best interests, in my opinion.
How many of these babies make it through their 2 year old year before breaking down and have to be euthanized?
I know it’a all about the $$$ but the horses are the ones who suffer for the human greed aspect. I also know this happens in most venues…..horses started way too young and taking a pounding that some of them cannot stand up to.
Just my two cents worth. I’m a long time horse owner and rider…..
Scott Ullery
I couldn’t agree more with you on this topic. I think you are going to find many in the industry who also agree with your analysis.
It appears to me that the connections for Cozmic One are beginning training so early so that he can race at two, earn graded winnings and thus qualify for the 2015 Kentucky Derby field and the following Triple Crown try. It’s about the $$$$ as you so correctly point out, but I could be totally wrong on this issue in regards to what the connections of Cozmic One are thinking and why they are doing training so early. But let’s see when he starts to race, what races he runs in and if he does try to go down the Triple Crown road and see if my hunch is correct.
My wife and I have a horse in training right now as well. A two year old who won’t even go to the track to train until August at the earliest. Probably won’t race until his early three year old year or later, which is fine with us as we are in no rush. He’ll let us know when he is ready to go as we don’t want to tell him when he should be ready. Perhaps we will see you at the starting gate Cozmic One someday.
lauraj_cincinnati
Boy, you haven’t been following this blog for very long, have you? The Mosses are not about “$$$$” as you put it. They are billionaires, for cryin’ out loud. They didn’t sell Zenyatta when they had the chance, because they love her. They are keeping Coz to train and race, even though he would have brought millions at any yearling sale. He his starting training so he can learn his job. John will race him when he is ready, not before. Zenyatta went to his barn at about the same age, but didn’t race until she was almost 4. Eblouissante (not owned by the Mosses, but in Johns’s barn) also went for a long while until making her first start. But there is also no reason to make Coz wait longer than necessary. If he is ready for the fall two-year-old races, he’ll go. If not, he’ll wait.
As for training 2-year-olds in general, there are physiological changes that can only be achieved through exercise, and they are most effective in young, growing animals. These benefits include increased mitochondrial density, capillary growth, and exercise-induced bone remodeling. (See: Maryland Shin Study.) Running around a paddock won’t do it. Breakdown rates are lower for two-year-olds than for older horses, and horses that start at 2 have longer careers and fewer breakdowns throughout their careers, compared to horses that start at 3.
Liz
I do love horse racing, but I hate how early the horses are started. It is absolutely false that it’s harder to start a horse that’s 3-4 years old (if they’re being worked regularly on the ground). I’ve started very hot 5 year old Arabian endurance horses with no problem. If horses are kept on pasture and given plenty of access to move around as a natural horse, their bones will not be “soft” because they weren’t worked at 2.
There are a lot of baseless attacks on horse racing, but I would really love some reform on racing/training ages because that is one area that is absolutely outrageous.
Cathleen
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions. Coz couldn’t have been in a better place to learn his “first lessons”. XOXO
indie lozano
Thanks for the great info! I wish all horses had caring people like yourselves to train and care for them. Coz will be a dynamo for sure! It is good to know that Zi and Baby Girl Z will have the same outstanding care.
Joanna_TX
Seems to me your program in general tries to give the youngsters the basics of being a riding horse; so valuable! There’s so much more that just going forward full tilt on a track and then there’s life after racing. Good job, you guys!
Lynda
That’s a bunch of crap that by the time the horse is three he’s set in his ways. I dont break ANY of my horses til 3 or later. They are much more ready for work by then. Babies need to be babies. By breaking a horse as a long yearling like you all do in the racing world you end up crippling the horse. I’ve seen way too many OTTB at 3, 4, 5 year olds that cant do a thing because they are crippled from racing. What happens to them…. well they get shipped to slaughter.
Barbara Wood (Texas)
Thank you very much. Always good to add to our knowledge bank. Loved the last answer in particular about forcing repetitive exercises in the round pen. Godspeed, Coz and all who work with him.
Margaret
What a lovely way to wake up! Hearing about Coz! Sounds like you guys have a pretty program designed SPECIFICALLY for the horse and not the humans! Hoofs up!
sharon in seattle
an individual program for the individual horse and not a horse having to fit into a program! excellent pedagogy!!!!!! Thank you!
Jan S. / Houston
Thanks Mayberry Farms! I always enjoy the Q & A segments. Coz seems to have graduated from a prestigious prep school!
Stella Bagwell in South Texas
Really enjoyed this ask the experts. I’m fascinated by the trainers and riders and applaud their hard work.
Hello to Queen Zenyatta, Coz, Ziconic and Z Princess! Kisses to you all.
Love,
Stel
Judy Brown-Lawson
Nice to see allusions to European training..when you think that colts are hacked to the exercise tracks and trotted around for a couple of laps before exercising..then hacked back again (Maisons-Laffitte circa 1975). The idea of turnout for a young horse is soooo under-used. If colts were allowed more exercise OTHER than formal training — a turnout for a couple of hours, rolling, grazing, farting around – he would mature in his head and body with so much more ease. Sadly, this doesn’t happen (it’s the battery chicken syndrome) but honestly, if someone has a good colt, give him time off to be a horse as much as possible, saddle them at 2 and begin serious training during his 2nd year but lots and lots of quiet time either grazing, hacking, etc. You get a wise soul in a 3 year old body.
Deb E.
Not that I don’t adore Coz and Princess Z, but could Lane’s End PLEASE post an update and pictures of my boy, Ziconic? I am eager to see how much he’s grown!
Bobbie --- Elkhorn WI
I’m beginning to wonder if Ziconic has issues. I can’t think of any other reason that they would keep him “under covers”.
lauraj_cincinnati
No one is keeping Zi “under covers.” The Lane’s End people have jobs other than running around taking pictures of the Mosses’ horses.
Seriously, he’s in a different part of the farm. The yearling barns may be nowhere near the broodmare facilities. Anyway, his life right now is pretty routine, especially since he is not being prepped for sale. We probably haven’t heard much about him because there is not much to tell.
Sharyn
Great information – always love your updates and pictures!! Thank you!
Stacey Meyer
I love to see the babies getting basic training, like figure eights and backing up and learning to stand quietly….as an adopter of several OTTB’s I wish more barns would do this. It would make transitioning them over to life after the track so much easier!!! Even so I love my TBs they have so much courage! And most of all we love Queen Z, Cosmic One, Ziconic, and Princess Z…love the updates and cannot wait to see more pics of Ziconic!!! Keep up the great work!!!
Susan In Fl
Thanx for the Q & A and the education! Peace & Happiness
LoriW (So. Cal.)
Great questions…..informative answers…..thank you for posting! I don’t doubt that CoZ was/is an exceptional ‘student’ just like Mom Z! Luv & kisses to Z, CoZ, Zi, & Princess :)
Allen
Thanks for all the information, I did not realize they trained barefoot.
Louise Spadafora
Dear Mayberry Farm
Thank you for the time you have given to the Z family fans with your answers to our questions. I have learned some information that I never knew before. Teaching young horses new skills so they can begin racing careers is amazing, and I never knew how much time and skill went into the process.
I recently read two articles that cited several research studies. These studies found that the earlier a race horse started training and racing the less likely they were to have break downs or major injuries. I was surprised and I am still wondering about growth plate damage if a young horse does too much hard racing at age two or three. Would love more information. I know this is a hot topic with some folks so I am looking for more research studies. If you know of any please post so they can be checked out by all.
Debra
Yes, I wondered about those studies, too. Intuitively, they didn’t make sense. However, like all studies, one must look to who funded it, not so much what institution did it. This is very much like the California race horse owner who happened to be a cardiac specialist doing his own study as to why Salix (Lasix) should be used in racehorses. Corresponding to thi s”study” was the study kentucky farm owner Casner did which stated Lasix should NOT be used in race horses. What is the truth? Who’s interest are being forwarded? Personally, no drugs. Oats, hay, water, thank you.
Louise Spadafora
Debra,
I just sent you a reply, but it is now lost in cyber space. Help! Will try again!
The two studies may have been bias, but were long term studies and done by groups that were trying to get information to improve track safety for the horses and jockeys. They seemed to be well done and I think they are still on going. Was really surprised by this information as I had always been told by trainer friends from other equine sports that you only do light training at two and riding the young horse at three. I really know very little about Thoroughbred training and have learned hug amounts by following Z and her family. Thanks again to Mayberry Farm, Lanes End, and Team Z for being such great ambassadors for the sport of kings. :-)
vicky
Thanks so much for keeping us ‘in the loop’!
sheena.davies(wales)
Dear Team Z.A very enjoyable and informative post.The horses,their health and happiness must ALWAYS come first.Love and hugs SheenaX