What to look for in a good yerling/two year old

Question
QUESTION: Can you tell me a bit about racing two year olds (sprinter), when is the best time to break them in, are there any exceptions to this, if the two year old is quite big and is bum high dose this matter, when would you break but not race a two year old, what are points to look out for when choosing a yearling/two year old for sprinting.

Thank you
Nicola

ANSWER: hi-- you have to make sure that the 2 years olds have completely closed knees. a must before you even think of training them. you can always break them to the saddle and basic training, but no training unless the knees are completely closed. a big 2 year old should have some time to grow up before you start them in training. i always look for correct standing posture, wide under the throat where you can place your closed fit under their throat. high in the back is ok , make sure they have a good balance with the front and back. the pastern should be about a 45 degree angle also. see how they travel when trotting  front and back. . hope that helps you  thanks ED HESS

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Can you tell me about the time of the year sprinter normally start?, i.e. break as yearling November time, train for 3 months and then race 3-4 times, I am unsure of when all this takes place and what a trainer would look for during this time to weather the horse would be suitable to go on to race, how meany times would you expect a horse of this age to race.?

Answer
HI --I KNOW PEOPLE WHO BREAK THEM AS YEARLINGS TO THE SADDLE , LINE DRIVING, WALK, TROT, CANTER, GALLOP, THEN THEY TURN THEM OUT TILL THEY ARE A TRUE 2 YR OLD. START THEM UP IN THE SPRING SLOWLY AND TAKE THEIR TIME GETTING THEM TO THE RACES. 2 YR OLDS COME UP WITH SHINS, OPEN KNEES, POLLIPS IN THE THROAT AND COLD LIKE SYSPTOMSWHILE IN TRAINING. ALL OF THESES THINGS TAKE TIME TO GET THRU. I WAS NEVER IN A HURRY TO RUSH THE HORSE TO THE RACES, AS IF YOU RUSH THE HORSE THEY WILL MAKE YOU WAIT ON THEM TO GET READY TO RUN. A TRAINER WOULD LOOK FOR SPEED STAMINA AND WAY OF GOING TO PICK OUT A HORSE THEY THOUGHT WOULD BECOME A GOOD RACE HORSE. SOME HORSES WILL NOT SHOW MUCH IN THE TRAINING , BUT WHEN THEY START TO RACE THEY  WILL BLOOM INTO A GREAT RACE HORSE.MOST TRAINERS DO NOT RUN THE 2 YR OLDS MORE THEN ENOUGH TIMES TO GET A LINE ON THE HORSE. THERE ARE BIG PURSES FOR 2 YR OLDS AND THAT IS WHY SOME PEOPLE RUN THE 2 YR OLDS TO RUN FOR THE BIG PURSES. HOPE THIS HELPS YOU. THANKS ED HESS