HP, I used to be a SB racehorse groom.
Well, for starters, I wonder if she ever hurt her hip running into a stall?
Maybe.She’s no ballerina, when I got her she just did not seem to know where her own feet were. I have never even been to a harness race. She was at Vernon, pretty far from where I am…
At Charles Town Races in Charles Town, WV there is a woman who works on the gate. She doesn’t work full time, but she does work on the gate during schooling and fills in when someone takes a day off.
Could be almost anything from bad eyesight to ramming a hip into a stall door to maybe something neurological, since you said she didn’t know where her feet are.
So, you knowlegable people, what is a ‘flippin halter’ and how is it used in the gate?
[QUOTE=rustbreeches;6334897]
That was a complete fluke, I have never heard of it happening anywhere else, thank goodness.[/QUOTE]
Last year at the Newbury Racecourse, 2 horses were electrocuted by an old cable running under the grass paddock
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KpjJIl3thI
A flipping halter is a special made device that has place at the bottom of it where the gate crew puts a rope or chain through it and it keeps the horse from being able to flip or rear while in the gates. The rope/chain slips out as the horse leaves the gates.
Here is a link to live stream at Penn National --- they show a good bit of loading into the gates and the fellows holding.
http://www.hollywoodpnrc.com/Racing/General%20Information/Video
Plumcreek:
Go here for flipping halter threads:
http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=343941
and
http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?t=345628
Actually, there was a QH race on one of the horsie stations (tvg or hrtv) last night in which the flipping halter momentarily delayed the gate from opening.
As in what Beatsworking said in one of the above threads:
One problem with a flipping halter is if the horse leans back on the rig it might prevent/delay its gate from opening.
OK, how can I thank each & everyone of you - for your wealth of information, kindness in writing it up, the links . . .
What an awesome & knowledgeable group of people. 
I have to go out car shopping today (eeesh/snore) so I must run and can’t hang here much. Lots to read, study, learn here & I surely will.
Much, much, much, much, much thanks.
sonoma
What kind of fitness and size requirements are there for gate crew? Small and agile or large and strong? Each seem to have pros and cons…
Not too many years back there was an inside rail like on TB tracks. With the older race bike and horses racing too close, you would see wheels getting locked. Getting unlocked could take a lot of force resulting in the inside horse being knocked into and sometimes over the rail while still attached to the bike. Surprisingly very few of these accidents resulted in career ending injuries. A few are so mentally traumatized they must be driven outside of other horses.
The good news is although it may take quite a bit of time, once they are no longer racing trust and patient handling often overcome their fear.
[QUOTE=equine08;6344930]
Not too many years back there was an inside rail like on TB tracks. With the older race bike and horses racing too close, you would see wheels getting locked. Getting unlocked could take a lot of force resulting in the inside horse being knocked into and sometimes over the rail while still attached to the bike. Surprisingly very few of these accidents resulted in career ending injuries. A few are so mentally traumatized they must be driven outside of other horses.
The good news is although it may take quite a bit of time, once they are no longer racing trust and patient handling often overcome their fear.[/QUOTE]
Interesting. I have a 20 year old OT STB that has some of the most intense fear issues I’ve ever seen - specifically when being crowded. She’s got a pin in her jaw and scar tissue on one eye. I’ve often wondered if that wasn’t a result of a track accident. She’s excellent in hand, and she’s good under saddle, but she’s definitely not for a beginner rider as most STB’s turn out to be.
Sorry to derail. To bring it back on topic (I love this thread - I’ve always wondered about the gate crew!): how is the message that all is clear to ring the bell? Usually I see a flurry of activity and then WHAM the gate flies open. I hold my breath because it always appears at least a few posts aren’t ready - mostly the last loaded.
Generally, if an assistant starter (the guys on the heads) is having a problem, he will keep saying “NO” That way the starter knows NOT to spring the gate. The starter is positioned on the inside, just ahead of the gate, and slightly elevated, so he can look down the row and make sure he sees the correct number of heads, but vocal ‘all clear’ isn’t as important as “No, no, no” Because you want them out of there as quickly as possible, and every horse given as good a chance as possible, so speed is of the essence.
Thanks for that explanation. It definitely sounds like a precarious job!
[QUOTE=hundredacres;6346360]
Thanks for that explanation. It definitely sounds like a precarious job![/QUOTE]
They are the guys you want to bring baked goods to, and cold beer in the summer! Always take care of the grooms and the gate guys
Hundred Acres: Did you get her race record and find anything in there (accident/problem/fall) ?
[QUOTE=sonomacounty;6348767]
Hundred Acres: Did you get her race record and find anything in there (accident/problem/fall) ?[/QUOTE]
She never raced as far as I can tell, but she’s got a tattoo, so I assume she was trained at a track as a filly. She ultimately ended up in a kill auction at 11 and was being sold by Amish – my feeling is THEY didn’t put the permanent metal pin in her jaw. The Amish in this area aren’t known for their fine veterinary care…it makes more sense that the vet put that in while she was at her training home.
She ultimately ended up in a kill auction at 11 and was being sold by Amish
Awww . … Good karma back to you, HA, for helping her.
my feeling is THEY didn’t put the permanent metal pin in her jaw. The Amish in this area aren’t known for their fine veterinary care…
true, true
it makes more sense that the vet put that in while she was at her training home.
Absolutely. How did you find out she has a pin in her jaw? Did you ever contact her prior owner or trainer? A puzzle you have here, of sorts.
Pacer or trotter?
HPFarmette, I used to work at Vernon. I might know your mare, or have friends who do. I could try to find out some history for you.
[QUOTE=sonomacounty;6349199]
She ultimately ended up in a kill auction at 11 and was being sold by Amish
Awww . … Good karma back to you, HA, for helping her.
my feeling is THEY didn’t put the permanent metal pin in her jaw. The Amish in this area aren’t known for their fine veterinary care…
true, true
it makes more sense that the vet put that in while she was at her training home.
Absolutely. How did you find out she has a pin in her jaw? Did you ever contact her prior owner or trainer? A puzzle you have here, of sorts.
Pacer or trotter?[/QUOTE]
I’ve never contacted her old owners though I’ve thought about it - they’re listed with the USTA and still active in ILL I think (her name is Oh Yellowbear, she’s in my profile picture, and to me she’s as gorgeous as any WB :)), and she’s a trotter. The pin is really pronounced if you run your fingers along her mandible from the chin backwards. It’s about the thickness of a pencil and it goes from one mandible, across like a little bridge to the other. It’s set just below her 3rd molars.
Definitely a puzzle. I’ve contacted old trainers and owners for OTTB’s but never her.
STB: Vernon, - how cool? I’d love for you to tell me what it’s like there. I’m wondering if you should p.m. me or start another link, as not to really divert on this thread.
HA: she’s as gorgeous as any WB Yes, she sure is. I looked at the picture. I Adore, Adore, Adore trotters (and I think they are often “prettier” that pacers - at least in riding horse terms).
I think SBs are gorgeous, altogether - big built, strong, nice legs, I love a “strong” head, too.
Is she nice gaited to ride?
We want you to find out more about her 
,
(How’s that for me being invasive & too forward ? !
