OwnerView hosted its fifth installment of the 2025 webinar series on July 1, focusing on young horse development with industry experts sharing insights on early training methodologies. The panel featured Niall Brennan of Niall Brennan Stables, David O’Farrell of Ocala Stud, trainer Lindsay Schultz, and retired pinhooker Eddie Woods.
Gary Falter, project manager for OwnerView, moderated the discussion, which was presented by Bessemer Trust, Keeneland, and Stoll Keenon Ogden. OCD Pellets sponsored the panel.
O’Farrell emphasized the importance of early interaction with foals.
“You know they would follow their mother if you let them and they’d lead right into the stall,” he said. “But it’s hugely important that you go ahead and put the mini halter, the figure eight halter, on and coax them down the shed row and teach them to lead right off the bat.”
Panelists unanimously advocated for patient, methodical training approaches when developing young horses.
“The slower you go, the better it is. If you get into a rush, it ends up a mess,” Woods explained.
Brennan reinforced this philosophy, noting the risks of accelerated training schedules. “If you go a little too quickly with it and frighten them, then that’s a different story,” he said. “We just take our time, and similar to Eddie, we spend about a week in the stall with the riders just playing with them, putting the tack on them, turning them around, and just judging them individually.”
The experts also highlighted the benefits of group training for young horses transitioning to track work.
Schultz detailed her approach: “We send them out in groups, especially for the first while that they’re at the track. And if we don’t have a group then you might send them out with a pony. The first part of the process, they always go in company.”
The webinar series — jointly hosted by The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association — will continue with its next session, “Buying at the Sales and Digital Sales,” scheduled for Aug. 12 at 2 p.m. ET.
Registration for the series is free but required. The complete webinar schedule is available on the OwnerView website.
The July 1 webinar recording can be accessed via the OwnerView platform.
