Barrier Trial Question

[Erin Erskine]

How long does it take to for a horse to recover after a barrier trial?

I have a horse I ran on Week 8, Day 6... And want to run him in a graded Stakes on Week 12, Day 3
Would doing a Barrier trial on Week 10 Day 7 exhaust him and/or injure him?

[Laura Ferguson]

I wouldn't do it. I don't think it would injure him, but I think he'd come into the graded stakes tired. I'd feel a little differently if the barrier trial was a walkover, or if his next race was Week 12, Day 6.

Edited to add: by tired, I mean that frustrating kind of tired where the vet says yeah he's fine, but the question that isn't answered is, is he ready to put on a peak effort?

[Carole Hanson]

I personally think a barrier trial would be fine but if you want to stay on the safe side then do a workout week 10 day 6, less taxing than a barrier trial but will keep the fitness up just fine.

[Erin Erskine]

Thanks for your feedback!!
I'll work out instead!

[Jo Ferris]

Honestly I’d do nothing if the horse has been raced consistently. I do 3.5-4 weeks between races quite a bit, as long as they’re fully fit they won’t lose fitness that quick. Some do better than others off of long breaks but they don’t lose fitness in that time. Could maybe do a jog or gallop, but I always just let them have the extra time off and do nothing.

Speaking from experience, definitely no barrier trial, you’ll risk an injury

[Erin Erskine]

I just had a look at him..

He ran week 4 day 6; week 6 day 6 and week 8 day 6. And he came out of a busy second half of last year. Maybe the break would do him good..
He is "Sound"

[Randall Allen]

I personally have had a lot of success with giving the horse a 3 week rest after 3 back to back 2 week races. So for example: Race week 1 day 3, week 3 day 3, week 5 day 3 then skip to week 8 day 3, without doing any other exercises at all. There is no need to work the horses to death.

[Erin Erskine]

I personally have had a lot of success with giving the horse a 3 week rest after 3 back to back 2 week races. So for example: Race week 1 day 3, week 3 day 3, week 5 day 3 then skip to week 8 day 3, without doing any other exercises at all. There is no need to work the horses to death.

Yes, for sure. But, it's going into a fourth week. I worry about losing some fitness...