Cover image courtesy of Dynamic Syndication
Early education is about far more than simply getting a horse broken in. For Shane Rose, every step at Bimbadeen Park is designed to build understanding rather than fitness, ensuring each horse leaves the property with the confidence and education to progress through the next stage of its racing career.
Having prepared around 150 yearlings this year, Rose has refined a low-pressure system that prioritises learning, while experienced riders and a consistent routine allow each horse to develop smoothly and under minimal pressure.
An education-first approach
Rose said Bimbadeen's philosophy has always centred on education rather than asking too much of young horses too early.
“Basically our process is very much education based, it's not about wearing them out, which is very important to us.
“I'm looking at them, and wanting them to understand what it is that I'm trying to do with them and as soon as I have that understanding, then I move on.”
The process begins with three days of groundwork, introducing the yearlings to equipment and long reining before gradually exposing them to a rider.
“Generally we do three days on the ground, where we start with putting the gear on and putting them on long reins on day one and reining them in a round yard, literally just getting them used to the gear and getting them to go forward.
“Generally we do three days on the ground... literally just getting them used to the gear and getting them to go forward.” - Shane Rose
“We do get them to turn, but it's sort of pretty basic, just as soon as they understand to turn a couple of times that's sort of day one wrapped up. It's sort of just a natural progression from there. Day two is very similar and Day three is the same. We do jump on their back on days two and three, and when I say jump on their backs I mean just lay over them, stuff like that, and just get them used to having someone above them.
“On the third day we graduate or step up to a bigger open yard, so that if they want to run away, at least you know what they're going to do. It's not too far that they could get away, but just a bit more space.”
Shane Rose | Image courtesy of Dynamic Syndication
By the fourth day, riders are in the saddle before progressing onto the track and introducing the youngsters to a variety of experiences.
“On day four, we jump on them in the round yard, just sort of make them realise that someone's on their back and that they can't buck you off and we actually sort of ride them out of the round yard from there on. The next couple of days, we'll get on them and go out to the track which is right next to where we are.
“There's quite a bit to look at here, which is good because it prepares them and teaches them, some logs on the side paddock that we go and step and jump over and lots of little things, so they see plenty.
“I want the horses to realise that they have to go where we steer them, so when they get to the track they can just get on with it, really.”
“I want the horses to realise that they have to go where we steer them, so when they get to the track they can just get on with it, really.” - Shane Rose
Building confidence through progression
With those foundations established, the focus shifts to exposing horses to new experiences, including working alongside other horses and becoming familiar with the barriers. Rose said each stage is introduced gradually, allowing confidence to build without placing unnecessary pressure on the youngsters.
“About half way through the second week we then start pairing them up so they just get used to going next to another horse. At the end of the second week, we'll introduce the barriers.
“We lead them through and walk them in and out on the ground to start with, and then on their back. Week three is basically just continuing on with that. We start riding through the gates in and out next to other horses, and then on the fourth week, we start closing them in and letting them try and canter out, and then a few do a mini jump-out depending on the trainers.”
Shane Rose educating a yearling at Bimbadeen Park | Image courtesy of Dynamic Syndication
While every horse receives barrier education, Rose said the emphasis remains on teaching rather than testing them.
“They all get jumped out to a degree, whether they're trotting out or a little canter out.
“Some trainers, if they don't have access to barriers, they'll ask you to do a bit more. But quite often, that's the second time around when they come back in and generally, they pick it up pretty quick. You don't really have to put a whole lot of pressure on them to understand that when the gates open they have to jump out.
“So that's what I mean by the process being education based, we don't do any fast work. The most I'll do is just under 2000 metres around the track, cantering. So it's more about just getting used to things and education and, you know, steering and stopping and being next to a horse forward and back.”
“It's more about just getting used to things and education... steering and stopping and being next to a horse forward and back.” - Shane Rose
The four-week program concludes with trainers deciding whether horses head straight into work or are turned out for a spell before returning.
“They will have four weeks with us, it's probably 50-50 with the trainers in terms of half will then head to the stables for a week or so and half of them get tipped out and give them a break and come back in.”
Graduates consistently making their mark
Bimbadeen Park has produced an impressive list of graduates over the years, including the Group 1 winners and stallions Shooting To Win, Capitalist, The Autumn Sun and Hellbent, as well as the superstar mare Autumn Glow, the five-time Group 1 winning gelding Racing To Win (Encosta De Lago), as well as many, many more.
Rose said watching those horses progress to the elite level remains one of the most rewarding parts of the job.
“We have been really lucky to have had a lot of lovely breakers and successful horses and stallions go through our system. We have had two Golden Slipper winners, and probably 10 or 15 that have placed.
Autumn Glow winning the G1 Epsom Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Some of the nice horses include going back to Streama and English, She Will Reign and Capitalist.”
One race in particular stood out this season.
“One race that was really cool this season was the G1 Epsom Handicap. I broke in the quinella of Autumn Glow, who has been an amazing horse, and Fully Lit, who ran second.
“One race that was really cool this season was the G1 Epsom Handicap. I broke in the quinella of Autumn Glow, who has been an amazing horse, and Fully Lit, who ran second.” - Shane Rose
“To make it even more special was that I also broke in The Autumn Sun and Hellbent, the two sires of those runners, so got the quinella of their sires also.”
While Rose prefers to let the results speak for themselves, he admits it is satisfying to see former graduates perform at the highest level.
“I do my job because it is my job, but I also love it and to see these good horses come through is great. I'm not great with the whole self-promotion thing, but we have a pretty good line-up of graduates that have performed at the elite level on the track.”
The feeling every good horse gives you
When asked what separates an outstanding horse from an average one, Rose said temperament is important, but one quality consistently stands above the rest.
Power.
“I listen to a few sports podcasts and they have spoken to a few jockeys and it's always disappointing to me how they don't really explain what the difference between the feeling of a good horse and an average horse is.
“I sort of think if you sit in a car and you rev the engine, you don't have to do anything to feel what it might be able to do and the power involved, you don't have to be moving to feel the power.
“I think horses are a bit the same, you can feel it. I think a good horse needs to have that power to give you that feeling. With our breakers, we rate them and we don't go any faster than half pace, so you can feel that power they may have.”
“I think a good horse needs to have that power to give you that (good) feeling.” - Shane Rose
While temperament remains valuable, Rose believes raw ability can present itself in different ways.
“A good temperament helps, but obviously with the sprinters, some of them can be a bit wound up and still be good but they need that power.
“With sprinters, some of them feel pretty average as movers because it's all about speed and not necessarily having that lovely type of gait like the stayers might. But they have that power.”
Young stallions that have impressed this season
Among the younger stallions represented in this year's intake, two have particularly impressed Rose, the nine-time Group 1-winning Champion Anamoe and the sadly ill-fated Sejardan who only got to serve three books of mares.
“I've broken in a few Anamoes this year and they have all been very good, they feel like they get across the ground really nicely and are nice horses to deal with.
“A stallion that has impressed me has been Sejardan, obviously sadly he is no longer with us, but they have certainly caught my eye, big and powerful horses, but nice movers. I've actually broken in about four or five of them and really liked them.
“We work with a lot of lovely bred yearlings, but those are two of the younger stallions that have caught my eye.”
Sejardan | Image courtesy of Blue Gum Farm
A business model that takes away from seasonal staffing
Rose said expanding into pre-training has also strengthened the business by providing year-round consistency, particularly from a staffing perspective.
“I might have had about 150 breakers this year. We used to do a whole lot more, but we used to be mainly a breaking farm, whereas now we're probably 50-50 breaking and pre-training.”
“Being a split between breaking and pre-training has been great for my business. It's better for my business because it's not so seasonal.
“It's a bit easier with staff, it's a little more consistent, which is great and it's busy enough all of the time.”
Rose has a point of difference with his staff, with many of them equestrian competitors like he is, so there are plenty of very strong riders within the group, but also plenty of cover in case staff are away competing which enables the business and the continuity with the horses to continue.
“I'm fortunate because I still do competitions with my riding, as do a lot of the staff. All of our staff I would describe more as competition riders than horse racing people, so they've all got their own horses here and they all want to become good competitors.”
“All of our staff I would describe more as competition riders than horse racing people.” - Shane Rose
“So we have lots of very good riders and staff may be away competing at times but we can do that as we don't lack riders. All of our staff pretty much can ride a horse if they need to, not all of them do, but they could if needed.
“It's a nice point of difference. Our staff would be here for between three and five years, so we aren't having to chop and change a lot. We are very lucky in this regard and it makes a big difference with the business, as there are plenty of staffing issues within businesses like ours and the horse industry in general.”
