Username:
Password:
Log me on automatically each visit
 
 
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 2:17 pm
Post a new topic Post a reply  [ 1 post ]   
Author Message
 Post subject: tongue ties
PostPosted: Mon Jun 01, 2015 1:27 pm 
Site Admin
User avatar

Joined: Wed May 27, 2015 10:20 am
Posts: 515
From Tom:

Quote:
Two years ago I got back into owning quarterhorses. I have several racing at Los Al in California. I have two horses that my trainer uses a Tongue Tie on. The filly I claimed always seems to have her tongue hanging out the side of her mouth so using a tie seems logical and since the former trainer used it my trainer continued to do so. A 2 year old I purchased as a yearling was "snorting" while working out at the track so the trainer said he needed a tongue tie also. 15 Years ago with all the horses I owned I never had this situation so this seemed new. I also noticed over the last couple of years that a vast majority of horses I saw pictured in the "Blood Horse also had a Tongue Tie with either cotton string or a special head set. So..is this the "latest thing" that more trainers are using inorder to help keep the air passage open and help the horse run better? Is it really needed? I can tell that a horse fights a tongue tie or at least is aware of it and the possible slowing of blood flow into his tongue....so can this be more of a distraction to a horse racing than helping it to keep the air way open?



My answer:


I have used tongue ties for years and years. In my early years, I have
worked for trainers that used them on almost all of their horses as common
operating procedure. When I started training, I pretty much believed in a
minimalist view. The less tack the better. If they seem to need it and race
well with tongue tied, I used it. If not, I didn't. You will ride some
jocks that seem to want a tie in every one of their horse's mouths, if they
hear strange throat sounds. I take whatever they say with a grain of salt.
One suggestion, does not a change of tack make. If I run across a horse that
actually "swallowed" his tongue in a race, then that is a pretty much sure
sign that they need one. Those types of horses are a bit rare in the
thoroughbred business. You will see more tongue swallowing in the harness
horse business where a horse's head is checked up high, and they often have
a lot of iron in their mouth etc. Quarter horses seem to be more hyper and
maybe more prone to tongue swallowing than many thoroughbreds, I don't know.

In short, don't be in too big a hurry to pop a tongue tie on your horses.
If you think you need one, make sure you give your horses plenty of time to
become accustomed to one by wearing them in the stall, while galloping, etc.
Don't tie it too tight. A blue tongue is not a good sign. I have found the
leather strap types with buckle to be pretty useful designs. They are less
prone to cutting off circulation.


Reply from Janet:


Quote:
Doug-
I want to clarify the term "swallowing" I know you know it is an impossibility to swallow the tongue-it seems when a horse is nervous then he may try to curl his tongue up in his mouth or control it in other ways-when you find the horse doing this then it is useful to tie the tongue. As far as the tongue hanging out side of mouth-sometimes the tongue is longer than the mouth and doesnt fit in comfortably-the horse may bite the tip when he runs as some horses bite down hard when running and this helps keep it out of the way.

Janet


My answer:

I agree, the term "tongue swallowing" is simply jargon used in the
business. As far as the tongue-tied horse with the tongue hanging out the
side of the mouth, I tend to believe that this is mainly the cause of how
the tongue is tied. Many grooms (and other horse people) seem to think they
have to grab mightily on the horse's tongue and PULL it out, to wrap it
with cloth and wrap it high so it won't slip off the end before tying the
rest of the cloth around the lower jaw. What happens is the unnaturally high
encircled tongue is forced much lower than it should be and is pulled down
by tying the rest of the tongue tie around the jaw. The tongue is forced by
this improper tying to hang out unnaturally. If the tongue is encircled down
much lower toward the end of the tongue, where it should be, the tongue will
stay in a horse's mouth.

Just think about it! Why on earth would any animal want his tongue
hanging out in the drying and often dirty air? Because it is most
comfortable for him! Why is it more comfortable for him? Because the tongue
tie is fastened so high (or deep) on his tongue that to reduce the stress on
this structure, the horse keeps his tongue elongated, causing the end to
hang out of the mouth. Tongues are not too long, ever. Who ever saw a tongue
hanging out of a running horse in nature? I consider this a disgrace and on
the par with a "blue" tongue. All horse people should know better!
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

DougA

Top
OfflineProfileReply with quote
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post a new topic Post a reply  [ 1 post ] 
 

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum
 
Search for:
Jump to:  
cron