When To Take The Training Wheels Off?

Ian Nicastrin · Post by **Ian Nicastrin** » 17 years ago

Do most SIM horses outgrow there need for f8 bridles as they mature... or are the optimal equipment conditions for a horse a non-dynamic thing in the SIM?. I have a 4 year old gelding competitive at an allowance level that has raced with an f8 since his second start, due to some wide turns on his first start as a 2 yo... and I want to run him without the f8. Is this wise?

Jolene Danner · Post by **Jolene Danner** » 17 years ago

I say why change whats not broken.

Edit: I also love the silks!

Ian Nicastrin · Post by **Ian Nicastrin** » 17 years ago

haha... thanks guys... i can't claim credit for thinking them up thou...

i saw the design on Desert Smoke, a 3 yo colt running 12.5k claiming races in so cal that i think is currently trained by O'Neil... I don't know if he still runs with the flames as he has been in at least three claiming races since i took this pic.

Sean Feld · Post by **Sean Feld** » 17 years ago

That picture just gave me Del Mar flashbacks! I cant wait til opening day.

Ian Nicastrin · Post by **Ian Nicastrin** » 17 years ago

me too.. are you in San Diego too Sean?

Sean Feld · Post by **Sean Feld** » 17 years ago

I am a Cal bred that goes to school in KY and spends summers in Del Mar.

Laura Ferguson · Post by **Laura Ferguson** » 17 years ago

To answer your question, only the Steward knows for sure, but I tend to think of the horse's optimum equipment as non-dynamic (lasix in particular). The real question, though, is whether your horse needed a figure 8 in the first place. If you're going to experiment with a figure 8, I'd do it in a race similar in condition/distance to the horse's previous race, so you eliminate as many other variables as possible when conducting the experiment. That way, you've got as good a chance as possible of seeing what the figure 8's impact is on your horse's performance, good, bad or indifferent.

Ian Nicastrin · Post by **Ian Nicastrin** » 17 years ago

thanks laura, i think i found a good race to expt in

Brianna McKenzie · Post by **Brianna McKenzie** » 17 years ago

I personally play with equipement all the time. Always trying to get a horse to go with less. Real life habits creeping into the game I guess.

Kotya Peekin and Tycoon are two examples of horses I put f8's on, then took them back off after they had served the purpose I put them on for.