riding race horses

[elle]

hi

i've just started to work at a race yard on saturday mornings but i've never rode race horses before. have you got any advice about how short the stirrups should be or how far you should stand up when on the gallops etc?
also at the yard they use breast girth and i've never had need to use one before so could you explai nhow to tack up using one? is a racing saddle fitted on a horse the same was as a GP saddle.
Thanks for any information
Also thanks for writing your book, i've just had it for xmas, i've only read the first couple of chapters but i can tell already that its going to improve my riding vastly.

[Heather]

HI Elle,

I have to say that I am no expert on riding racehorses whilst they are racehorses! I have reschooled plenty of them afterwards! As for your length of stirrups,I am not the best person to advise you on this- I ride cross country length when galloping, but this is nowhere near as short as flat jockey's for instance. I would ask the other lads for some tips. Riding really short will kill your legs to start with! If you have a bicycle, ride it standing up as much as possible, rather than sitting down- this will really start to strengthen your muscles. I knew an apprentice jockey who was told to take the saddle off her bike and cycle round the Cotswolds minus the saddle!

You probably will need to gradually shorten your stirrups.
I would also ask the other lads for tips on saddling etc.You should not be expected to know all of this if you have been taken on as an inexperienced work rider- you should be given help when it is required.


Heather