[QUOTE=Belplosh;3187441]
Not sure where this goes…and please, this isn’t a slam but questions as I saw things today at our Gold Cup race in VA where each time we have it I am an EMT there. Because I love horses, I usually stand and watch them come in then go out.
Several things caught my eye again this year. First, after those horses run, and watching them, the jockeys seem to be really holding them steady as well as how fast they run, the horses come in with bright red blood around their mouth and muzzle. Is this from them biting their tongue? Is it due to blood vessels breaking in their lungs?
Many of the horses have a flash, I believe this is what it is called on an english bridle, that goes over their nose and fastens under their jaw to keep their mouth shut. If you watch closely, it looks like a wider version of a shoe string is in their mouth and tied to either one side or the other to keep their tongue down. If this is so, why do they do that?
Also, some of the grooms just seem really harsh with the horses leading them in our out. Yes, the horses seem ready to go and race, but one yanked hard on the lead shank and told the horse to behave. Wouldn’t it be better to be firm but talk to the horse in a less threatening tone of voice since he is still full of adrenaline?
Thank you to anyone who will answer these questions…[/QUOTE]
Darnit, I had a lOOONG post answering all your questions. And then ZAP, gone.
Ok let me start again…
1.) Grooms “Shanking” a horse.
Many things can contribute to a horse being nervous prior to a race. Anxiety, anticipation, adrenaline pre-race drugs and their side effects or even the groom’s own adrenaline that the horse is picking up on. In these cases its far far far safer to use a chain shank to remind a likely distracted horse to pay attention to those guiding him. I have seen unruly horses that were a danger in the paddock because they were not properly handled. In one such instance a women had her leg broken by a horse being allowed to get too close and kicking out. I would still prefer a little shanking to a broken bone.
2.) Flash nosebands.
Yes it’s a flash noseband. The flat tracks, jump horses and show horses all use them. All for the same reasons. To keep the mouths shut. In racing it helps to allow the air processed most efficiently if the mouth is not gaping open.
3.) Red mouths and muzzles after a race:
A couple reasons for this… One is a horse can easily bite their tongue during a race. And the tongues bleed very much like most other head injuries human and horse, they gush a lot. Another possible reason is that the horse could have suffered from EIPH, or Exercise induced pulmonary hemorhage. The horses receive drugs to help with this but horses all have different metabolisms and as such its possible the dosages were not enough.
4.) Tongue ties.
Tongue ties are used to help racehorses with better air intake and lung functions during races. Horses can hold their tongues in such a way that they block their optimal breathing capabilities. And as such the loss of air can lead to bleeding. So tying their tongues can make their air functions more useful and also keep the tongue in a non-intrusive location. Additionally tying a tongue can help with problems from flipping a pallette. This is another issue that can inhibit the air.
And just for some info, a tongue tie is made up of a couple different materials. Many people use flannel wrap materials. Additionally some use polo wrap materials. I found the most success with womens knee highs as they allow more circulation than the less elastic materials.
I hope this helps. If you have more questions, ask away!!
~Emily
We did not go back out to the field for months and months. We stayed in the arena learning what half-halt meant.