How to break a champion

Story by Mick Sharkie – @TheSharkTweet
from G1X : How to break a champion

Warren Diggles and a yearling Sepoy colt

A noisy, dust stained truck pulls up at a country property.

The back gate opens and nervous feet tread the steel floor inside.

One by one, three young horses walk anxiously from the truck into the rough, weather beaten hands of a stranger carrying a lead rope and a chest full of courage.

The first young horse rears and strikes out, but the man gently coaxes it back to earth. With a comforting voice he runs a hand down the young horse’s jowl.

“It’s OK mate, it’s OK.” he says.

Welcome to the world of the breaker.

Around Australia right now on horse properties both far flung and urban, breakers and pre-trainers are helping hundreds of yearling thoroughbreds take the first step to a career on the racetrack.

Warren Diggles from Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm is one of them.

“Every horse is different and you have to treat them that way,” he said.

“I am a bit like a teacher I suppose. I can’t make them faster than they are but I can teach them what they need to know to be a racehorse.”

Diggles works with all types of young horses, shy ones, brave ones, tough ones, naughty ones, and of course, fast ones.

G1 winners Malaguerra and I Am  Star are just two of the fast ones that have passed through his classroom.

“The ones with attitude problems, the naughty ones, they misbehave because they don’t understand what you want them to do,” he said.

“You need to take your time with them, show them, and help them understand. It’s a challenge and a very satisfying job.”

G1X.com.au spent a day with Diggles at the beautiful Lauriston Thoroughbred Farm at Corinella, on the shores of Westernport Bay, to find out just what it’s like to educate tomorrow’s champions.

Take two minutes from your day to witness a true horseman at work.

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