Plan of action for a TB weanling

Question
Hi Stephanie

My partner and I have just purchased a TB weanling but are very new to the racing game and are trying to get as much advice as possible.  Our plan was to let him develop in the paddock and teach him about basic handling until he is ready to be broken-in and start training. However, I'm really not sure at what age we should be sending him off to be broken-in. I've also heard of people sending their weanlings off to a trainer to be 'mouthed' before putting them back in the paddock and then later be properly broken-in and trained. Can you tell me what they mean by 'mouthing'? Should we be looking into this? Any advice you can give us about where to go from here would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Leisa.

Answer
Leisa

I have never heard of sending a weanling to be "mouthed".  Perhaps this is a regional type thing.  Most major racehorse breeders/trainers let their babies be babies until late in their yearling year, when the breaking process starts in earnest.  Frequent touching, leading and general handling is always a great idea, but I'd save anything involving tack of any kind until at least August or September of the yearling year.
Some people do like to break their yearlings in September and then turn them back out until after January, when they start them back in training.  Maybe that is what you have heard about.

Good luck with your baby,
Stephanie Frost
www.alchemybloodstock.com