Owning a Racehorse

For horse enthusiasts, owning a racehorse is the ultimate dream. However, training and caring for a racehorse can be very costly, considering the numerous needs of a competition horse, such as medical care, shoes, stabling, food etc. In fact, according to the British Horse Racing Board, the average annual cost of owning a racehorse in around £16,500. Training a horse is probably the highest expense of owners, which is understandable considering the amount of products required for training, such as all weather surfaces and racing rails.

Due to the high costs, sole ownership of racehorses is rare and it’s usually reserved to millionaires and celebrities. Shared ownership of racehorses is quite popular and the process is usually initiated by joining a syndicate or racing club. In the UK, these types of clubs and syndicates are very popular and they offer different packages at competitive prices. Clubs and syndicates take away the hassle out of ownership, as they look after all the needs of the horse. Another way of owning a racehorse is company ownership. However, this is usually a marketing trick for prestige and advertising. Finally, if your purpose is to get involved in competitions, leasing is an option as well. This means that you do not own the horse completely, but you can have it for a set period of time for competing purposes. At the end of the lease, the horse returns to its initial owner.

Racehorses usually receive top class care and their health is of utmost importance to owners and trainers. Their stables are very clean and they have rubber flooring and comfortable bedding. Racehorses have a strict routine, similar to human athletes. During peak season, training usually consists of fast gallop twice a week, trotting and cantering all week long except Sundays, which are usually reserved for rest.

The food of a racehorse is extremely important and their diet is taken seriously by trainers. Racehorses are fed several times a day, at regular hours. Their diet consists of high levels of protein, starch, vitamins and minerals, which work together to improve performance during racing. Fibre is also vital for racehorses, as it helps them keep their digestive system healthy and their energy levels up.

Winning a race is the biggest wish of racehorse owners, but the competition is extremely high. The quality of training, combined with extra care for the horse are the most important success factors. Trainers work hard to maximise the potential of horses in a timely manner. Horserace training starts very early and if the horse does not show enough potential until he is 2 or 3 years old, it is not usually kept in training anymore.

At D&E Behan, we are proud to support the horseracing industry by providing our customers with top products, such as all weather surfaces and racing rails. Many of our customers compete on an international level and their horses have now won in excess of 170 Group One Races training on our surfaces. This is a testament to the quality of D&E Behan products provide to the equine industry.