The cohort of trainee trainers currently attending the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) Training School was given a practical session that focused on the proper procedures to prepare horses for competitive racing. The practice session was held in the saddling barn area at Caymanas Park on Thursday, March 2, 2023. This practical training session came as the trainees come closer to graduation and the beginning of their careers as conditioners of thoroughbred horses.

Dr Sophia Ramlal, the senior JRC veterinarian, said the recent practice session was instrumental in preparing the young trainers for their final examination.

“The activity was to prepare them for their final examination, which will require that they saddle and prepare a horse for racing. We decided, with a group this large and in consideration of the fact that some persons may not be as technically competent as others, to have a practice session of this nature for the first time in this course,” Dr Ramlal told this publication.

“In the past they [trainee trainers] would just go to the final exam relying on the activity done with their assistant trainers, and there were also race day activities. But this time we have decided to have a practice session so all the participants would have an opportunity to bandage legs on a horse, to understand how the various pieces of equipment are properly fitted to a horse, and so forth,” Dr Ramlal added.

The JRC veterinarian also acknowledged the support given by current trainers who were present at the session.

“We were very grateful to trainers Gary Subratie, Gary Crawford, and Dalton Sirjue who took the trainee trainers through the various procedures and guided them in that process and helped them with the fitting of the bandages, the fitting of the bridle, as well as the saddling of horses and how it should be done properly.

“All the trainees who were present on the day participated in all the bandaging and saddling activities,” Dr Ramlal said.

“I thought it [practice session] went very well and was a good gauge as it was intended to determine how prepared the trainees are. It was good as all the participants enjoyed it tremendously, and the feedback I got from them and other observers is that there are areas that people are technically competent in, and the activity has helped those who feel like they need to brush up,” said the senior vet.

“So it met its goal in terms of allowing people to see where they are and how prepared they are, and we thought it went very well. The course started with 42 students. We had two who have migrated and are no longer in the group, and we had one who was not successful in part one and so did not make it to part two so now we have 39 students who are still enrolled in the course.

“We are looking forward to finishing up the course in another four to six weeks. We have a few more sessions; it is the practical side of the course now and we look forward to having more interaction with licensed trainers and other players in the industry as we get them ready to go out and start functioning as trainers,” Dr Ramlal affirmed.