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Cheekpieces and Tongue-ties

  • 31-03-2007 11:13am
    #1
    TOm Kelly
    Closed Accounts Posts: 182 ✭✭


    I never like to see horses wearing blinkers ... not sure why - but I just don't trust them - and indeed they usually live up to my expectations - but I am unsure about these other two pieces of equipment (do they qualify as tack?).

    a) What are the (potential) advantages of wearing cheekpieces?

    b) What are the (potential) advantages of wearing tongue-ties?

    c) Is there more significance when any of these are applied for the first time?


    Thanks.


Comments

  • #2
    wb
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,752 ✭✭✭wb


    a) What are the (potential) advantages of wearing cheekpieces?

    Some horses have a tendency to look around at the other runners during the race which slows it down, and makes it lose concentration. Blinkers work for some horses, and others are fine with cheekpieces, which still give plenty of vision, but 'aim' the horses vision in a forward direction.

    b) What are the (potential) advantages of wearing tongue-ties?

    Not all horses need them, but some horses are at risk of letting their tongue slip back into their throat and limit or even cutt off their air supply. If it is noted that a horse was breathing funny during a race, or gasping for breath, a tongue tie may help next time out.

    c) Is there more significance when any of these are applied for the first time?

    I don't really want to clog boards up with loads of stats as it is mainly a discussion forum, but I have a section on letsbet where I deal with stats. If there are any particular stats you want regarding 1st time blinkers, cheekpieces etc. Post them up and I'll have a look into it. http://www.letsbet.ie/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=43


    Hope this helps.


  • #3
    Volcán Masaya
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5 ✭Volcán Masaya


    Cheekpieces are a milder version of blinkers. The idea is to limit the horse's field of vision to keep his mind on the game.
    A tongue tie is to prevent dorsal displacement of the palate (aka, swallowing the togue), which prevents proper air intake or it is used to stop the horse getting it's tongue over the bit and rendering the steering and brakes less effective. Some trainers will tie all horses tongues as a matter of course, others only if they feel it's an issue.


  • #4
    Robin1982
    Closed Accounts Posts: 323 ✭✭Robin1982


    Volcán, you seem to know the US scene; why do so many American trainers use blinkers for their horses?

    Aren't there many difference types of blinkers i.e. normal, half-cup, visors and then those "covered mesh" ones used by Choisir when he came over to Ascot.


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