A day in the life of a harness horse
Looking after harness racing horses requires dedication, knowledge, and daily care to ensure their health, performance, and wellbeing. These horses are athletes and must be treated as such. A balanced diet rich in quality forage, grains, and supplements tailored to each horse’s workload is essential. Clean water must be available at all times.
Exercise and training routines must be carefully planned and monitored, including regular trotting or pacing, warm-ups, cool-downs, and rest days. Proper grooming keeps the horse’s coat and skin healthy while also allowing handlers to check for injuries or irritations. Hoof care is critical; hooves should be cleaned daily and trimmed by a farrier every few weeks.
Routine veterinary care is necessary to prevent and treat illness or injury. Vaccinations, dental care, and deworming are part of a regular health schedule. Tack and harnesses should be checked for fit and condition to prevent discomfort or injury.
Mental wellbeing is just as important horses need interaction, stable companions, and time outside the stall. A calm, structured environment helps reduce stress. Caring for a harness racing horse is a full-time commitment, but proper care ensures the animal’s safety, longevity, and peak performance on the track.
Looking after harness racing horses requires a structured, consistent routine and specialized care to ensure the horses remain healthy, fit, and race ready. Here’s a comprehensive list of things you need to do when looking after harness racing horses:
1. Daily Care
- Feeding: Balanced diet (hay, grain, supplements) appropriate for their training level.
- Watering: Constant access to fresh, clean water.
- Mucking Out Stalls: Cleaning manure and wet bedding daily.
- Bedding Management: Replace soiled bedding and ensure comfort.
- Grooming: Brushing coat, cleaning hooves, checking for injuries, or swelling.
2. Training & Exercise
- Track Work: Jogging and training sessions based on the horse’s fitness plan.
- Harnessing/Unharnessing: Proper fitting of harness and gear before/after training.
- Cooling Down: Walking the horse post-training to bring heart rate down gradually.
- Monitoring Recovery: Checking for excessive fatigue, lameness, or abnormal behaviour after exercise.
3. Health & Veterinary Care
- Hoof Care: Regular farrier visits (usually every 4–6 weeks).
- Vaccinations: Follow required schedule (e.g., influenza, tetanus, EHV).
- Worming: Routine parasite control.
- Teeth: Dental checks every 6–12 months.
- Vet Checks: Routine health assessments and treatment of any injuries or illness.
4.Tack & Equipment Maintenance
- Cleaning Harness and Gear: Daily cleaning and regular inspection for wear and tear.
- Sulkies (Racing Carts): Maintenance and safety checks.
- Proper Fitting: Ensure all tack fits well to avoid sores or injuries.
5. Race Preparation
- Pre-Race Conditioning: Final training sessions tailored to race distance and horse condition.
- Travel Arrangements: Safe and comfortable transportation to the racetrack.
- Race Day Prep: Braiding, grooming, final check of gear, warm-up routine.
- Paperwork: Ensure registrations, health certificates, and licensing are in order.
6. Mental & Emotional Well-being
- Routine: Horses thrive on consistency; keep feeding and training times regular.
- Turnout Time: Allowing horses time to relax and graze when possible.
- Handling: Gentle, calm handling to build trust and confidence.
- Companionship: Social contact with other horses can reduce stress.
7. Record Keeping
- Training Logs: Track workouts, distances, heart rates, and times.
- Medical Records: Document vet visits, treatments, and medications.
- Feeding Schedules: Keep updated charts for each horse’s diet.
- Race Performance Records: Track finishes, times, and notes from drivers or trainers.
Trainers Questions and Answers
If you have further questions about harness racehorse training, visit our FAQ page here
Life After Racing
In New Zealand, Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) and The New Zealand Trotting Owners Association (NZTOA) actively promotes the rehoming of Standardbred horses for second careers after their racing days.
Several initiatives and organisations are dedicated to facilitating this transition, including the Harness Education & Rehoming Opportunities (HERO) program and the Stable to Stirrup Charitable Trust. There are also a number of individuals who actively help to rehome horses.
