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| sspa - 2017-12-10 6:41 AM
What are the different programs and timelines ya'll use to prepare for the futurities?
Obviously you have to go with what the horse can handle and what its ready for, but I am interested to hear how different folks go about getting their horse ready for its futurity season.
How do you use jackpots to prepare, how often will you go? Trail riding? Cross training? When do you start to pattern them?
I have never been a futurity fan for this very reason. You just never know how the horse will mature mentally and at most of these futurities, you have to start making payments to enter several months in advance. I do ride with some futurity trainers and they start them on the pattern as late 2 year olds, most of the work is done as 3's so they have some time to turn them out if the pressure gets to be to much. Having said all that, in order to be competitive at the futurities , the horse needs to be running with the big dogs/1D about august/sept before their futurity year. You can't enter them at all before Dec 1, so only way to tell is do a time only on the markers after a race. |
Preparing your horse for the futurities......