Gate Schooling
Also called: starting gate training, gate approval
Gate schooling is training a horse to walk into, stand quietly in, and break cleanly from the starting gate — a step every horse must pass before it is allowed to race.
A young horse is taught to load, settle, and leave the gate in stages, supervised by the track's official starter. Until a horse is 'gate approved,' it cannot be entered in a race. Horses that load badly or break slowly cost themselves lengths at the start, so good gate schooling has lasting value.
Examples
- arrow_rightThe filly couldn't be entered until she finished gate schooling and got the starter's approval.
- arrow_rightA horse that breaks a beat slow from the gate can lose a sprint before the first furlong is run.