basic riding skills - better trainer

Question
hello sir. once you told me that a thoroughbred racehorse trainer must have basic riding skills. may i know how does the basic riding skills help him/her to become a better racehorse trainer?

Answer
I do not believe a trainer having basic riding skills is a must. I think it will make him a better trainer. I believe all trainers should know how to ride for the added benefit of understanding horses better but not a necessity. As a trainer who rides, I can feel how a horse performs in relation to the others in the barn and this helps me evaluate an individual's talent, rather than rely on someone else's opinion. A trainer of a large operation should be able to focus on conditioning, nutrition, injuries and overall management of the horse while relying on very skilled employees to carefully follow his riding instructions and training regimen.

Christopher Crocker

Crocker Racing Stable

http://CrockerRacingStable.com