quarter horse training

Question
I have a 9 year old quarter horse who is breed dash for cash an go man go. i do some dirt road racing an in fields an stuff. i was wondering how i could condition him to run faster an better on him also. thanks for the help.

Answer
Hello Josh,

Quarter horses need to sprint repetivly for short distances. If you have hills, that would be a great place to sprint to strengthen the hind end. On the flat, I would do multiple heats (if the horse is sound) at about 3/4 of the distance you will be racing him. You should feed him performance feeds as well and quality hay. Make sure he always has plenty of water and his feet get consistant care. If you notice his weight dropping too fast, increase the feed slightly every week until he maintains weight. I am not sure if you plan on putting this horse on a daily training program or how much he will be racing, so it is hard for me to tell you an exact program to put him on. If he is racing recreational, then a few days a week will be enough. If he has soundness problems, I do not recommend training until those problems are cured. Hope this helps get you started.

Chris