Post by Kate on Jun 24, 2009 22:55:01 GMT -5
Originally published as part of the racing education series written by Hannah, Kaitlyn, and Kate, in summer 2007
This month we will give brief explanations of some of the more popular pieces of tack and training equipments used in Thoroughbred racing.
Bandages are used in a race for support or protection against injury. "Rundown bandages" are used during a race and usually have a pad under the fetlock to avoid injury due to abrasion when the fetlocks sink toward the ground.
Bits are obviously not horse-racing specific, but certain types of bits are exclusive to racing. The most common type of bit used is a snaffle, specifically a D-ring snaffle. A "run-out bit" is a special type of bit to prevent a horse from bearing out or in. A Dexter or ring bit is a large metal ring combined with a snaffle-like bit and is particularly effective at controlling headstrong horses (a "harsh" bit).
Blinkers are a common piece of racing equipment. They are eye cups attached to a hood that block side and rear vision in one or both eyes to prevent him from swerving away from objects or other horses on either side of him. The use or disuse of blinkers must be approved by the stewards and the change reported on the official program.
Caulks are a projection on the heels of a shoe, similar to a cleat, on the rear shoes of a horse to prevent slipping, especially on a wet track.
Earmuffs cover a horse's ears to prevent it from hearing distracting sounds, i.e. the noise of the crowd in the grandstand.
Furosemide or lasix is a medication for the treatment of bleeders, which acts as a diuretic, reducing the pressure on the capillaries. Many associations and tracks are discouraging the use of this and all other medications now.
A Figure-8 noseband goes over the bridge of the nose and under the rings of the bit to help keep the horse's mouth closed. This keeps the tongue from sliding up over the bit and is used on horses that do not lke having a tongue tie used.
Shadow roll is a usually sheepskin roll that is secured over the bridge of a horse's nose to keep it from seeing shadows on the track and shying away from or jumping them.
A tongue tie is a strip of cloth-type material used to stabilize a horse's tongue to prevent it from "choking down" in a race or workout or to keep the tongue from sliding up over the bit, rendering the horse uncontrollable.
This month we will give brief explanations of some of the more popular pieces of tack and training equipments used in Thoroughbred racing.
Bandages are used in a race for support or protection against injury. "Rundown bandages" are used during a race and usually have a pad under the fetlock to avoid injury due to abrasion when the fetlocks sink toward the ground.
Bits are obviously not horse-racing specific, but certain types of bits are exclusive to racing. The most common type of bit used is a snaffle, specifically a D-ring snaffle. A "run-out bit" is a special type of bit to prevent a horse from bearing out or in. A Dexter or ring bit is a large metal ring combined with a snaffle-like bit and is particularly effective at controlling headstrong horses (a "harsh" bit).
Blinkers are a common piece of racing equipment. They are eye cups attached to a hood that block side and rear vision in one or both eyes to prevent him from swerving away from objects or other horses on either side of him. The use or disuse of blinkers must be approved by the stewards and the change reported on the official program.
Caulks are a projection on the heels of a shoe, similar to a cleat, on the rear shoes of a horse to prevent slipping, especially on a wet track.
Earmuffs cover a horse's ears to prevent it from hearing distracting sounds, i.e. the noise of the crowd in the grandstand.
Furosemide or lasix is a medication for the treatment of bleeders, which acts as a diuretic, reducing the pressure on the capillaries. Many associations and tracks are discouraging the use of this and all other medications now.
A Figure-8 noseband goes over the bridge of the nose and under the rings of the bit to help keep the horse's mouth closed. This keeps the tongue from sliding up over the bit and is used on horses that do not lke having a tongue tie used.
Shadow roll is a usually sheepskin roll that is secured over the bridge of a horse's nose to keep it from seeing shadows on the track and shying away from or jumping them.
A tongue tie is a strip of cloth-type material used to stabilize a horse's tongue to prevent it from "choking down" in a race or workout or to keep the tongue from sliding up over the bit, rendering the horse uncontrollable.
