I think if you look up @McGurk’s history, they do have track experience.
But you’re almost never having to correct them with it. It works kind of like a twitch. It’s tight on the gums and the pressure causes a desirable change in behavior… people used to say it was endorphins but I honestly think it’s more distraction and the horses are just smart enough to realize it’s not worth it.
Additionally, a lot of people use rubber or leather coated chains to minimize the risk of damage.
This clip is after the really egregious way the outrider brutalized the horse’s mouth and face, after which he became significantly more upset and aggressive.
All of these horses get started by hacking out across the countryside as late yearlings and 2yos, they go back by themselves after the race, there is no safety reason to only have the winner accompanied by an outrider, it’s for interview purposes only. To me there is nothing at all in this horse’s behavior that signals he’s going to go on a rampage if let go. He’s pissed and feeling claustrophobic.
Yes. As should be pretty clear from my other posts.
And also yes, the progression is chain across nose to offside side ring, chain through mouth over tongue, lip chain.
I also agree that I’d rather use a lip chain than be yanking on an ineffective nose chain, but I still would consider it a step up.
If this colt’s behavior after the race is not atypical, why yes, then I’d want a lip chain on him to take him anywhere.
However, I did think it’s a little funny for the trainer (who seems like a lovely man) to be talking about what a sweetheart the colt is on the ground while the horse is lip chained in the background.
Maybe it means nothing. Maybe it means that they’re being extra careful because their colt just won the Derby.
Or maybe it means he’s not exactly a sweetheart on the ground.
PS - I have certainly heard trainers tell owners and the general public highly embellished accounts of a racehorses “good behavior” that the grooms and exercise riders wouldn’t recognize as the same horse. Especially a studdy colt.
Then possibly I stand corrected. But in my experience at one of the top farms in North America, lip chains were standard practice, even on the farm.
I can’t claim experience at one of the top farms in North America, but I do have experience breeding, breaking babies at the farm, galloping, working, and working at the track.
I do not see every horse in the paddock lip chained. Some, but certainly not all.
Apologies then, for my erroneous assumption. Where I worked, fillies went in chifneys, colts went in lip chains.
I don’t mean to discredit your experience. It’s just different from my own doing the same thing.
You see less in the paddock because you have a bit in their mouth and that usually offers sufficient control. If the chain over their nose doesn’t get their attention, you can grab a rein and tell them to knock it off.
It’s a personal preference definitely, but not an uncommon preference and not an automatic indicator of temperament.
or is handled with a chifney(sp) bit.
Training on the farm generally tries to reflect how horses will be handled at the track, is part of their training.
Here’s an article about the King Ranch TB breeding operation, including Assault, the 7th Triple Crown winner.
I have no problem believing it’s standard practice at some farms and some training setups. And from a management perspective, if you’re moving staff and horses from backside to backside, I guess it makes sense to say every horse has a chain shank leaving its stall, maybe even used as a lip shank. That way there’s no risk that the new guy takes rank Studly McStudly out of the stall with a rope shank.
But at the smaller farms I worked for; there was not a one size fits all approach. It was based on what the individual horse needed. And there were thankfully only a few really rough studdy ones in each crop.
Texarkana,
That is a very good point. In my recent experience, I don’t see the horses on the backside, before they’re walked over. I see them on the walk and in the paddock, when they’re also wearing bridles, so the handlers do have more control.
I have only ever seen a chifney 1.) in a book or 2.) in British racing. I don’t know why they appear to be more common in the UK.
because lip chains are uncommon in Europe?
Really? That’s interesting. Didn’t know that.
And this is apropos of what? Are you assuming that all the people who don’t have cable or satellite TV do have Internet and the ability to watch online videos?
Although this YouTube clip is about catching a ‘loose’ horse, it shows the danger that an out-of-control racehorse and outrider can face:
Preakness Stakes 2019: Containing Bodexpress’ joyride | NBC Sports - YouTube
Donna Brothers is the former jockey, and now sports news caster.
I really wonder what would have happened,if the outrider pony had attacked back? I hate to think of a full on horse fight.
There was an interview with the trainer and jockey, and the jockey says a couple of months ago, Rich changed a lot. I guess his testosterone kicked in.
See the after attack pictures, that poor outrider pony certainly took a lot of abuse from Rich.
Short features on Churchill Downs outriders… some need to buckle up their helmets…
Likely a gelding - but as you said, no difference.
I think you were a bit abrupt with Lah0808 simply sharing some information…
That is not my experience, working at three racing stables.