ENGLISH TEXTS to tackle the issue seriously . I ’ ve just sent horses to prominent trainers like Marcel Rolland , Macaire , Fouin , and Chaillé-Chaillé . These aren ’ t small names . Today , nearly all horses go through pre-training ; it ’ s no longer just 30 % like it used to be .
G . What qualifications are needed for this job ?
D . L . None . You could be a dentist , veterinarian , journalist - it doesn ’ t matter ; our profession isn ’ t officially recognized . And the problem is , this opens the door to anything and everything . You see people offering their services as pre-trainers for € 15 a day instead of the standard € 33-34 . Ideally , we ’ d have a specific license . We ’ re not asking for a trainer ’ s license , it ’ s not the same job . Ours requires training , not necessarily a diploma . It ’ s vital and just common sense to have knowledge about soil conditions , hygiene , and so on . Personally , I have € 1 million in turnover , 14 employees , I run a proper business ! Meanwhile , many of my colleagues are changing professions or shutting down . We can ’ t even enforce payment for outstanding invoices .
G . You seem very frustrated … D . L . We support the members of our association . But how can we , legally , be prohibited from having horses race , when we ’ re not even officially recognized ? I ’ m calling on any lawyer who would like to explore this issue . The authorities just sweep it under the rug . And yet , between breeding and training , we ’ ve become a critical link in the chain : 95 % of horses today go through a pre-training center . We deliver them fully prepared .
G . Do all breaking-in and pre-training professionals use the same methods ?
D . L . 70 % of my colleagues do excellent work . After that , just like in racing , methods vary . I know trainers in the Top 5 who train in completely different ways . Some cover kilometers and kilometers , 6,000 meters , while others gallop 1,200 meters daily . In our profession , the Blondeau method is a benchmark . He had the merit of developing a method and putting it in writing — a kind of roadmap . But the underlying issue is that money is always the driving force . Some people are tempted to cut corners when they have fourteen horses to handle in one day .
G . How many colleagues do you estimate there are in France ?
D . L . That ’ s a great question . About 40 are easily identifiable ; maybe there are a hundred of us . The problem is , we don ’ t really know .
G . And you , how do you feel about your work ?
D . L . Passionate . I would never in my life choose to be a trainer . Every morning , I wake up at 5 a . m ., and I ’ m the happiest man alive . The heart of our job is the horse ’ s mindset - making them enjoy their work , play like a child , and want to push themselves . I remember Princesse d ’ Anjou , she had an incredible fighting spirit !
“ WE ASK TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR HAVING THE SAME CONSTRAINTS AND THE SAME BENEFITS AS OTHER PROFESSIONS .”
David Lumet
BACK TO THE ARTICLE �
� PAGE 62
By Serge Okey
ACCREDITATION : LET ’ S TALK ABOUT IT
What would be the benefit of an accreditation by France Galop for breaking-in and pre-training ? Three professionals in the field respond .
“ IF WE WANT TO HAVE RIGHTS , WE EARN THEM BY FULFILLING OUR DUTIES .”
Philip Prévost-Baratte
� PAGE 64
FIGURES & STATISTICS
BACK TO THE ARTICLE �
By Serge Okey
HOW MANY HORSES ARE BROKEN-IN AND PRE-TRAINED ANNUALLY ?
No matter how thoroughly we search or how many inquiries we make to organizations such as France Galop , Le Trot , IFCE , or Equiressources , breaking-in and pre-training seem to consistently escape detection . No statistics exist . As a result , it ’ s impossible to measure exactly how many horses undergo breaking-in and pre-training each year , except by extrapolating from the commonly accepted statistic that 95 % of horses now go through these two crucial stages of development .
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