The life of a race horse, its trainer, its caretakers, and its owners is special. Those who are lucky enough to have experienced the 'backstretch' remember it fondly; some never leave it. Life for a horse in a California racing horse stable can be pretty good, as well as for the cast of dedicated people who orbit around it.
The barn area is the backstretch. Long barns hold individual stalls for horses, with room for hay and straw storage, feed, and tack (the saddles, bridles, grooming kits, and other gear). The barns have electricity, running water, and a covered aisle running around the inner stalls. This 'shedrow' is used for walking horses for exercise if they are not going to be galloped on the track or to cool them out after a workout.
Each thoroughbred, as well as any stable pony, has a stall, a roomy box about twelve or fourteen feet square. The ceilings are high, to keep a rearing animal from hitting its head and to keep the stalls airy and cool. The horses are given a deep bed of bright straw, which the grooms keep as clean and fluffy as possible.
Each stall has a large water bucket, a feed tub, and a place for hay. There will be a screweye in the wall to tie the horse while it's being brushed or tacked up, or when the stall is cleaned. The wide front door, with a top and bottom swinging barrier, lets the horse stick its head out into the shedrow to see what's going on. There may or may not be a window in the back wall, but the sides are solid to keep the horses from seeing and maybe nipping each other.
No one is allowed on the backstretch unless they have been granted a license by the racing association. Owners, trainers, grooms, exercise riders, farriers, jockeys, agents, and contracted hay and feed dealers have entry. Only certain vets can work the barn area. This isolation makes the backstretch a self-contained community.
Of course, the stars of the show are the horses, big, beautiful, brave, and athletic. They are immensely powerful but gentle overall. Fame, fortune, or mere continued employment depend on these beasts and their success. Hope makes this world turn, but it is new every morning and even 'cheap' horses are loved.
The races are exciting, but it's the early mornings on the backstretch, the regular routine of keeping the horses fit, well, and happy, and the comaraderie among racetrackers that means the most. Many longtime racetrackers don't even bet. It's a way of life that not many people know, deeply engrossing and compelling.
Horses need to be fed morning, noon, and night. They are exercised at least once a day, twice on race days. They are brushed, their feet are kept clean and shod, their teeth are attended to, and their legs are examined, rubbed, and wrapped with bandages. This is definitely not a part-time job. Few get rich in the sport of kings, but many are addicted to it. There is nothing like it.
The barn area is the backstretch. Long barns hold individual stalls for horses, with room for hay and straw storage, feed, and tack (the saddles, bridles, grooming kits, and other gear). The barns have electricity, running water, and a covered aisle running around the inner stalls. This 'shedrow' is used for walking horses for exercise if they are not going to be galloped on the track or to cool them out after a workout.
Each thoroughbred, as well as any stable pony, has a stall, a roomy box about twelve or fourteen feet square. The ceilings are high, to keep a rearing animal from hitting its head and to keep the stalls airy and cool. The horses are given a deep bed of bright straw, which the grooms keep as clean and fluffy as possible.
Each stall has a large water bucket, a feed tub, and a place for hay. There will be a screweye in the wall to tie the horse while it's being brushed or tacked up, or when the stall is cleaned. The wide front door, with a top and bottom swinging barrier, lets the horse stick its head out into the shedrow to see what's going on. There may or may not be a window in the back wall, but the sides are solid to keep the horses from seeing and maybe nipping each other.
No one is allowed on the backstretch unless they have been granted a license by the racing association. Owners, trainers, grooms, exercise riders, farriers, jockeys, agents, and contracted hay and feed dealers have entry. Only certain vets can work the barn area. This isolation makes the backstretch a self-contained community.
Of course, the stars of the show are the horses, big, beautiful, brave, and athletic. They are immensely powerful but gentle overall. Fame, fortune, or mere continued employment depend on these beasts and their success. Hope makes this world turn, but it is new every morning and even 'cheap' horses are loved.
The races are exciting, but it's the early mornings on the backstretch, the regular routine of keeping the horses fit, well, and happy, and the comaraderie among racetrackers that means the most. Many longtime racetrackers don't even bet. It's a way of life that not many people know, deeply engrossing and compelling.
Horses need to be fed morning, noon, and night. They are exercised at least once a day, twice on race days. They are brushed, their feet are kept clean and shod, their teeth are attended to, and their legs are examined, rubbed, and wrapped with bandages. This is definitely not a part-time job. Few get rich in the sport of kings, but many are addicted to it. There is nothing like it.
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You can find a detailed list of the factors that determine California racing horse stable rental cost at http://www.mogerracing.com right now.