01/28/2023
If you are a trainer that claims horses, pay attention if the trainer you claimed from uses tongue ties, hay nets, or chains up high in the stall and gates instead of webbing.
Check immediately the condition of the tongue to see if there is damage (is there swelling or hematoma?). Is the tongue a normal shape, healthy pink or pasty pale, showing a permanent twist and torque or line that shows where blood circulation was cut off to the artery underneath? Don’t expect the use of a magna wave increase circulation when the tongue ties are destroying an artery with continuous use.
Just know in the upcoming weeks the horse may display being off balance, showing short and choppy steps and strides, hind end issues, not being able to stand square and riding with the head up high instead of down and normal.
Hay nets will get in the way of you and your horse. Hay nets cause restrictions and constrictions in the head, neck, and throat that affect the whole body. Horses absolutely need to lower the head to eat hay and graze off the ground. Their body is designed that way.
Gates in the stall cause repetitive motions that cause restrictions and constrictions in the head, neck and throat that affect the whole body. The horse should have as much space to turn to enter and exit the stall without further risk of hitting the hip. (Always look for scars).
The heels of the horse should never be trimmed way too short, that is a whole separate entity of problem in itself. Add an overly deep footing and this will make it very hard for a horse to maintain a healthy racing career. Dealing with deep footing is hard enough for the horse on a daily basis. However, I see a positive change and I am so thrilled to see new footing on the pony track at Belmont. So far I am hearing positive feedback from riders.
Now you can really help your horse that you just claimed.
Work smarter not harder. Think of all the time the groom can have hands on the horse instead of stuffing the hay nets that are affecting your operation in a negative manner.
Also, when you hire someone to clip your horse tell them to leave the horses sensory organ alone, aka the whiskers.
The body follows the head. What happens up top happens down below. What happens down below happens up top. Head to hoof and tongue to tail.
I noticed driving at 63 mph my jeep started shaking, at 65 mph was shaking like a washing machine. I took my jeep to get the tires rebalanced. Now, no more shaking, drives smooth and I’m comfortable when driving.
The same principle applies to your horse. If training on the track, an unbalanced horse sends the force of the concussion of the stride throughout the body. If unbalanced and overly tight and restricted, eventually the area in the horse will strain, tear, burst, break or tie up.
Ask your DVM how a hands on therapy can gently bring your horse back into balance.
Pay attention:
Tongue ties
Hay nets
Gates
Clipping
Hooves
