Other Devices Used on Horses Part 2
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This paper is about various devices used on horses to force control. Please, see facts on bits, whips, and spurs to learn about those torture devices.
This list is split onto two pages to make is easier for loading.
Directory:
First Page:
Second Page:
- Bit Burrs:
- Rein Burrs:
- Overchecks:
- Headpoles (Boring Poles):
- Curb Chains:
- Tongue Ties:
- Tongue Clips (Gaits):
- Serretas de Muserola (Professoras):
- Twitch:
- Earplugs:
- Jawbreakers:
- Cruppers:
- Blind Folds:
- Martingales:
- Hobbles:
- Shackles:
- Bit Lifters:
- Cheekers:
- Tails Chains and Butt Plugs:
- Breathing Aids:
- Gum Protecto:
- Video Scope:
- Anti Bite Armor:
- Other Gear:
This is the most comprehensive list of devices used on horses to force control by implementing pain, fear, and/or sensory deprivation. This paper does not contain anything about bits, whips, or spurs. To learn more about those please see these papers:
Bits: https://thevegandragon.com/index.php/educational-journals/animals-as-entertainment/bit-encyclopedia/
Whips and spurs: https://thevegandragon.com/index.php/whips-and-spurs/
To see a list of rulebooks of where this gear is allowed, here are some OFFICIAL PDFs for different countries and industries:
Canadian Harness Racing Gear Rulebook: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lSXnTKZgmxpR_-mZ7Id2i3fQV20blANR/view?usp=sharing
Hong Kong Jockey Club Gear Rulebook: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13qfgyFOi6qBq6CaZiuTEUib9LP4cVYEc/view?usp=sharing
French Thoroughbred Racing Gear Rulebook: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fgPcLM3bxks4mEcQPg2WzVxOvMRlpS_z/view?usp=sharing
Italian Thoroughbred Racing Gear Rulebook: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TQ0a2QcIakcLhVf2_GK8MufX_b0VPAAe/view?usp=sharing
Australian Thoroughbred Racing Gear Rulebook: https://drive.google.com/file/d/177FugLHvea3TPT-hBXb4JjVScfWebH7H/view?usp=sharing
Victoria, Australia Thoroughbred Racing gear Rulebook: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1maUz4bz6q2Gh2T09pOY260w6KzzM68r8/view?usp=sharing
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Gear Rulebook: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CHlaw51YjC9CLvtESTgpKWFWrvy6Tiza/view?usp=sharing
Us Eventing Rulebook: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yM_kqfZsBSXPFbnQpAeVYlk7Jh7d4zsC/view?usp=sharing
US Dressage Equipment Rulebook: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cBTL0eeBq0TOU-c5-Y-s_-mAvh9Dz3gm/view?usp=sharing
FEI Eventing Gear Rulebook: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jYx_AARVUo80uAGIs6Q-9MoG3L_-bCZE/view?usp=sharing
RDA Equipment Rulebook: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZPdK_XaQR7SHEOWnCB2NDv-QgQRIIVaZ/view?usp=sharing
And here are some catalogs so you can see all of these devices being advertised:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jJEGBRqAMe44l5MQLqgwP-mimSwGGBfv/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-IKyjvxexWkRiow15Fja0LhpthKx9Vgr/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gbR9bmtp_ybYDLmHj0dbM4M4bTFWIihj/view?usp=sharing
Before we begin, please familiarize yourself with the terminology of the anatomy of horses if you’re not aware. This will help you better understand what will be discussed.
Bit Burrs:
Bit burrs are circular, hard plastic pieces that are placed onto the mouthpiece of a bit right where the cheek attaches. They sit on the outside of a horse’s mouth, pressed against the lips. When the bit is pulled, on say the left side, the right side of the bit cheek will press into the horse’s lips. Adding the bit burr will cause instead the bit burr to press into the lips, stabbing and causing pain. This forces the horse to obey, trying desperately to alleviate the pain by turning away from the pain, and thus going in the direction the bit it pulling them.
They are used in horseracing for both harness and thoroughbred (although some countries do not allow them for thoroughbred racing), eventing, showjumping, rodeos, and more.
These burrs can cause injury to the horses, from chafing skin to causing bleeding.
They can sometimes be difficult to spot as harmless rubber bit guards are also very common to use. Unless you can see the inside you may not be able to tell if it has burrs or not.
Pricker:
Pricker bit burrs are bit burrs made of plastic with plastic or metal spikes on the inside. They are usually plastic, but metal versions are used in France and some other European countries.
Brush:
Brush bit burrs have a plastic base with hard, plastic bristles on the inside, like mini brooms.
Rein Burrs:
Reins burrs are rubber or plastic straps with hard, plastic spikes in the inside. These are placed on reins, or headpoles, with the spikes pressed against the neck of a horse. If a horse is not turning, the rider or driver will press the rein on the neck of the horse for the opposite side they wish the horse to turn. The horse will turn away from the pain, thus going in the direction the slaver wants them to turn.
Reins burrs, like other burrs, cause injury to the horses, sometimes resulting in bleeding on top of chafed skin.
They are primarily used in standardbred or ridden French trotters, and are most common in the US, Canada, France, Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand.
Overchecks:
There are two types of overchecks: Bitted Overchecks and Bit Free Overchecks. To learn about bitted overchecks please go to The Bit Encyclopedia page.
Overchecks, or headchecks, are devices used to prevent a horse from lowering their head. Bitted overchecks do this by putting a bit on the roof of a horse’s mouth, and attaching that to straps that run down the top of a horse’s head and neck. Should the horse try to lower their head the overcheck bit will stab into the roof of their mouth, hurting them.
With bit free overchecks, they instead wrap around the jaw, which then attaches to straps that go over the top of the head and neck of the horse. The end of the overcheck attaches to the girth.
Chin Chain Overchecks:
Chain overchecks are the most commonly used bit free overcheck. These are simply a curb chain attached to an overcheck strap, the same kind of strap used for most bitted overchecks. The chain wraps under the chin, just in front of the bit. Sometimes the chain is wrapped in fabric, but usually is left bare.
These overchecks are used in most countries.
Frank O’Mara Overcheck:
The Frank O’Mara Overcheck is a metal overcheck in a bent, rectangular shape. It has two openings at the bottom ends for a curb chain or strap to wrap under a horse’s chin. The middle holes another strap is placed to go onto the horse’s nose, and the top holes is where the overcheck straps that run down a horse’s neck are placed.
These overchecks exert more pressure on a horse’s chin and nose, making lowering their head more painful. It creates a scissoring effect between the chin strap and noseband strap.
They are used in most countries for standardbred or ridden trotting races.
Raymond Overcheck:
The Raymond Overcheck has a thick noseband part that sits on a horse’s nose, while the lowest portion has a strap attached that goes under the horse’s chin. The two tall ends with the circular metal parts is where the overcheck straps attach to. Should a horse try to lower their head, the chin strap will push into the horse’s jaw while the nose band section will painfully push down on the horse’s nose, making a scissoring effect.
They are used in most countries, but primarily European countries. They are very popular to use on ponies.
Z-Guide Overcheck:
Z-Guide Overcheck is a fairly common bit free overcheck used in the United States, Canada, Australia, European countries, and most of the world. It is made of metal with a chain that goes under the chin of a horse in front of the bit. There is a metal noseband, the bottom black one, that rests on the horse’s nose right where the nasal bone begins. The second metal band floats above the noseband, while the corner of the two bands connects to the overcheck straps.
If a horse tries to lower his head, the chain is pushed into the chin forcing the head upwards. There isn’t as much of a scissoring effect due to the overcheck straps being in the back pulling more directly on the chin chain. It acts more like a stronger version of the curb chain overcheck.
Bar Bit Overcheck:
The bar bit overcheck is very similar to the Frank O’Mara overcheck. The main difference is the Frank O’Mara uses either a chain or leather strap under the chin, while the Bar Bit Overcheck is a metal rod shaped at an uncomfortable angle. This bar goes under the chin, putting pressure on either side of a horse’s mouth. The middle circles have a strap looped through them where the noseband is placed. The top bar is where the overcheck straps connect to.
When the horse tries to lower his head the metal chin bar will push up while the noseband pushes down creating a scissoring effect on the horse. This pain forces the horse to keep his head up.
Headpoles (Boring Pole):
Head poles are one of the most common pieces of equipment used in harness racing around the glob. It is a metal rod that fastens to the bridle on one end (if you noticed harness racing horses always have 2 metal rings on either side of their bridles), and to the girth or breast collar on the other end.
The headpole is often wrapped in plastic or metal burrs, which are little spikes to stab into the horse’s neck. These burrs make a horse turn their head away from the pain, but injuries from the burrs rubbing against the neck isn’t uncommon.
The headpoles are used to prevent a horse from turning their head, thus keeping them moving in a straight line. Horses usually have one pole, depending on which side they tend to turn their heads towards, but many will sport two head poles. If the horse is turning his head to the left the pole will be placed on the left side, and vice versa.
For horses who turn their heads more, a headpole that connects to the girth is used. For horses who aren’t as bad about turning their head, a shorter head pole that connects to the breast collar (the straps on the horse’s neck/shoulder area) is used. Sometimes the headpole is connected to the reins, making the reins act more like rein burrs to control the horse.
Burrs used on headpoles can be a leather or rubber strip wrapped around the pole, or a large, cylinder shape. Large metal spikes or smaller plastic spikes might be implemented.
Curb Chains:
Curb chains, or chin straps, are very common and are used in dressage, cross country eventing, show jumping, rodeos, and more. They aren’t really used in racing, as many countries ban their use during a race.
The curb chain attaches to the cheek piece of a bit, often a pelham, weymouth, barrel racing, or other long shanked type of bit. For a list of bits that use curb chains please see the Bit Encyclopedia page. But, sometimes a curb strap might be attached to a O-ring or other shank free bit.
When the reins pull down on the shank, the long, lower part of a bit cheek, it causes the bit to push down onto the horse’s mouth. As the bars and tongue are pushed down on by the bit, the curb chain, usually attached about the bit mouth piece, will push upwards into the horse’s chin. This created a scissoring effect on the horse’s jaw, causing extreme pain.
Think of it as this: A metal rod is place in the front part of your mouth, just behind your bottom incisors. Someone pushes down on this rod on either side, forcing your jaw open. At the same time, someone has a chain under your jaw beneath your molars. They are holding the chain on either side while pushing up. Your jaw feels like it will rip in half from the pain.
That is the effect of the curb chain.
The purpose is to make it hurt so much that the horse does not disobey the bit.
Tongue Ties:
Tongue ties are one of the more talked about torture devices used on race horses. Tongue ties come in three types: rubber bands, cloth, and leather. Most are rubber bands or cloth, as the leather ones aren’t allowed in every country, such as the United States. But European countries are fine with leather straps.
The tongue tie is tied around the tongue, then tied around the lower jaw of the horse in front of the bit. This is to keep the horse from being able to get their tongue over the bit. Bits cause pain to the tongue by pressing down on them and pinching them, so horses try to relieve this pain by moving their tongues over the bit. Equestrians do not want their victims to be able to escape pain, as that makes it harder for them to control their slaves. So, instead of spending more time training a horse and ditching cruel equipment, they force a horse to endure the pain.
Tongue ties cause horse’s to lose blood and sensation to their tongue frequently. White and purple tongues are normal. Look through images of horses with their tongues sticking out in the Gallery folder of this website, or simply Google images of racehorses, and you will notice none of the tongue are pink. They are all deprived of blood due to tight tongue ties. They can’t make the tongue ties too loose otherwise horses could slip their tongues out.
Horseracing trainers will claim tongue ties are to prevent horses from choking on their tongues, but if horses could do that then we would see wild horses and the 60% of horses kept as pets and not being raced having this issue. None of them do. This cruelty is solely used to prevent the tongue from getting over the bit.
Even the companies who sell tongue ties say in the descriptions that tongue ties are to prevent the tongues from getting over the bit.
In standardbred racing it is normal to tie the tongue to the cheekpiece of the bit, such as the bottom shank of a half cheek snaffle, to force the tongue to stay out of the mouth. They do this to “clear up the airway” so horses can “breathe better.”
Horses have very long tongues, as you can see in the images below, and so quite a bit of the tongue will be cut off from blood circulation. Horses have their tongues tied so much and for so long it can lead to serious deformation and damage to the tongues. Some examples are below.
And just like with bits, tongue ties prevent a horse from being able to swallow. So horse wearing them cannot drink, eat, or swallow saliva, causing excessive drooling. This drool often leaks from the horse’s mouth, but can also be accidentally choked on.
https://horsesandpeople.com.au/what-is-a-tongue-tie/
Tongue Clips (Gaits):
Tongue clips are used in place of tongue ties. They are not very common, as many equestrian sports do not allow them. They are mostly seen in Australian, New Zealand, and Tasmania racing, but some other countries may implement them.
The tongue gait is held in the mouth by a single strap that goes behind the ears, or is connected to a bit lifter. The tongue gait sits above the bit and makes it difficult for the horse to get their tongue over the bit, working similarly to a bit with a tongue compressor or “spoon.”
It is a better option than a tongue tie, but removing the bit period is the only way to truly prevent horses from getting their tongue over the bit. They only do this to try and relieve the pain that the bit causes their tongue.
Serretas de Muserola (Breque de Professora, Professora, Freio Professora):
A truly horrific torture device (like bits) are the Serretas de Muserolas, which translates to “muzzle saw.” They were invented in Spain, but are also used in Latin American countries, such as Brazil, where they are called “professoras.” These are metal nosebands with many sharp spikes along two edges, hence like a “saw.” In Spain they are used in many activities, such as bullfighting, horse shows, parades, etc. In Latin American countries they are mostly used in coleaderos (steer tailing), which is part of Latino rodeos where two people on horseback chase down a terrified steer (usually an adolescent), grab his tail, and yank so hard the steer falls down. This results in steers often breaking their legs, spines snapping, or their tails being completely degloved (all flesh stripped off).
The serretas are placed on the nose of a horse, usually at the beginning of the nasal bone in Spain, while in Latin American countries it’s placed over the nasal bone. A second set of reins is attached to the serretas, so that the serreta can be pulled on separately from the bit.
In Latin American countries, the bit and professora are often connected, so pulling the reins for the bit will always pull down on the professora. Professoras differ from serretas in also that they usually have long shanks attached to the bits. Or the professora has long shanks attached directly to it and is used without a bit. These are the actual bitless bridles that “do more harm than bits” that the equestrians keep claiming exist.
In Spain, serretas may also be wrapped in leather on the bottom, lessening the pain of the metal spikes. Injuries from these devices is normal. Horses wearing them have cut up muzzles, with flesh removed and scraped off. Looking at the selected images below you will notice blue on some of these horses. That’s anti bacterial medicine being used to prevent infection from open wounds caused by the serretas or professoras.
Despite how cruel and obviously painful these devices are, not a single country has outlawed them. I spent less than $40 buying four of them from a Spanish store and shipped them to the US. While they are thankfully not used in the US, Australia, or many other countries, the fact they are not outlawed makes it easier for them to be bought, spread, and their popularity grows.
Twitch:
A twitch is a rope or chain tied around the upper lip of a horse. It may also be a metal clamp. The twitch is used to control a horse, whether for medical necessity, or to force them to be raped (used on mares to keep them still so a stallion can mount them against their will), or force them to get into a starting gate for a race. Not all countries allow them to be used on racehorses, but some, such as Japan, allow their use to lead horse to and from the starting gates.
The twitch, just like with the stud chain, is claimed by equestrians to release endomorphins and therefore “relaxes” the horse. The reality is the horse is in so much pain that they dare not fight against the twitch to prevent more pain.
While a twitch might be useful to medicate a sick horse, it has absolutely no reason to be used for any other purpose. And there’s alternatives to using it to restrain a horse for medical care, so it’s existence is simply more evidence of the lack of consideration and empathy equestrians have towards their slaves.
Earplugs:
Earplugs (Pull out Earplugs):
Earplugs are used to deafen a horse so they cannot hear what’s around them. They are used to prevent horses from spooking at racetracks, dressage events, and more. Earplugs are often made of foam or cork.
Many earplugs simply are pushed into the ears and are left there, but some are attached to string so they can be pulled out mid race. This is normally done in standardbred racing. The earplugs are inserted and a string attaches the earplug to the bridle. Another length of string goes down the back of the horse to the driver, wrapped around their foot or tied nearby their foot.
When the horse approaches the finish line, or the final turn, the driver will jerk their foot up, pulling the string. This pops out the earplugs which startles the horse to a suddenly influx of loud sounds. The screaming of the drivers, clapping from onlookers, shouting, clopping hooves, rattling sulkies, cars, etc. spooks the horse. The belief is the startling of these horses from sudden loud sounds will make them run faster at the end of the race. But the horse’s are already being beaten by whips so some simple loud noise isn’t going to magically make them run any faster.
Hoods (Ear Muffs) (Called Bonnets in Dressage and Showjumping):
Ear muffs or hoods are placed over the ears, like noise cancelling headphones for a human. They may be left on the horse for the entire time they are being forced to work, such as an eventing or dressage show, or they might be removed near the end of a race like pop out earplugs. The idea is the sudden rush of sound will startle a horse and get them to run faster.
The pop off ear muffs, like the pull out ear plugs, are attached to a string that attaches to the bridle on one end while the end end runs down the length of the horse’s back and ties to the foot of the driver. The driver will jerk their foot up, yanking the string which will then cause the ear muff to be pulled off the ears.
The ear muffs might be part of an entire hood with blinders. These are used in thoroughbred racing more often. Sometimes they might have unique designs to them. They are not pulled off, and usually are simply used to move horses to and from the racetrack.
For dressage, showjumping, and eventing they are called “bonnets” and remain on the horses for the entire event.
Bonnets and ear muffs, while thick enough themselves to block out noise, often have built in ear plugs to block out all noise. Cotton is also usually stuffed into the horse’s ears under the ear muffs, hidden away.
Cotton:
Cotton is very commonly used with ear muffs. It is simply a large wad of cotton stuffed into a horse’s ears. Sometimes, it is used by itself during a race and a horse’s ears are taped to ensure it stays. This isn’t as common outside of European racetracks. But taping ears filled with cotton is also done in the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Jawbreakers:
Jawbreakers are metal bars with a ring on either end, and are bent in a half circle in the middle or to one side. These devices are used solely in harness racing around the globe. The circular part is placed under the chin of a horse while the straight bars go through the circular cheekpieces of the bit, such as a half cheek snaffle bit. The reins attach to the rings of the jawbreaker, not of the bit.
When the reins are pulled the jawbreaker will push into the chin of a horse, while also pulling down on the bit, effectively causing the jaw and tongue to be crushed between two pieces of metal.
The jawbreaker with the indentation more to one side will cause more pressure to the side with the longer bar. These are used on horses who tend to turn to one side more than the other. This is called lugging. Lugging is a behavior where a horse puts more pressure on one side of the bit than the other, causing them to drift or try to drift.
Jawbreakers are not very common and can be difficult to spot. The examples I have here are the easiest ones to spot for untrained eyes that I have found. The easiest way to identify if a horse is wearing one is seeing if the reins are attached to long, metal bares that pass through the ring of the bit. Otherwise, you might not be able to spot them.
Cruppers:
Cruppers are a rubber or leather circular strap that goes around the base of the tail, just above the horse’s anus. They are used to prevent saddles or harnesses from “shifting.” They really are not useful and simply cause discomfort to the horse’s tail, spine, and anus. They often chaft the sensitive skin, irritate the anus, and simply are not that effective.
Blind Folds:
Blindfolds are used to blind a horse to lead them into starting gates, move them around the track, transport them, or for medical care. If horses wanted to be raced, why must they be blindfolded? Blindfolds are used on all racetracks around the world, primarily in thoroughbred racing to force them into starting gates.
Martingales:
Martingales are leather or nylon straps that attach from the breast collar of a horse to the bridle or reins. There’s several variations of martingales depending on the event they are being used in, but the main purpose of them is to keep the horse from being able to raise their head. This helps with keeping a horse from being able to rear up.
Some martingales wrap a single rope around a horse’s nose, or connect to the noseband of a bridle. For martingales used for eventing, showjumping, and thoroughbred training, they attach to the reins with two metal rings. When the rider pulls the reins the martingale will force the horse’s head down, using a pulley system. This causes more pain and force to be exerted to the horse’s mouth.
They are also used a lot on rodeo horses to prevent them from rearing up when doing barrel racing or chasing scared bovines.
It isn’t uncommon for show jumping and eventing horses to get a leg caught in a martingale while jumping and fall to the ground.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martingale_(tack)
Hobbles:
Hobbles are plastic and rubber devices used on pacers. A pacer is a standardbred that is raced not at a trot, but rather an unnatural gait where the legs move together on one side at a time. Usually, when a four legged animal walks or runs one front leg and the opposite back leg moves at a time. For example, the left front leg will move while the right rear leg following. Then, the right front leg followed by the left rear.
For pacers, the left front and left rear will move at the same time followed by the right front and right rear.
To force this unnatural gait, hobbles are placed onto a horse. When a front leg moves the hobbles will pull against the rear leg. Example, the right front leg moves, so the hobbles on the right front will then pull the right rear leg forward, forcing it to move with the front leg.
Hobbles are often used on all four legs, but sometimes only the front legs might have them.
Hobbles are used in the United States, Canada, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, France, Sweden, and pretty much everywhere there is harness racing.
They can cause chafing of the legs, and horses can also trip over them if they kick a hoof too high and it gets caught, or a horse catches their hoof in the hobbles of another horse beside them. This has caused quite a few crashes during harness races. They might not be causing immense pain to horse, but their use puts horses in danger. Horses do die from injuries caused by crashing during harness races.
Shackles:
Shackles are used to tie a horse down. While most of the time they are used by farriers so they can safety work on a horse’s hooves, or by vets who need to care for a horse without risk of being kicked, they are also used to tie down mares so they can be raped. There are even special shackles that can be bought solely for the purpose of tying down a mare so she can be sexually assaulted by a stallion, or by artificial insemination.
Bit Lifters (Worcester Noseband):
Bit lifters go over a horse’s head and attach to the bit or to the cheekpieces of the bit. They lift the bit up, which helps relieve some pressure off the bars and exerts more of it to the nose. But the primary purpose of them is to keep the bit raised so a horse cannot get their tongue over the bit. Horse will put their tongues over the bit to relieve the pressure and pain caused by the bit pushing down on the tongue.
When the horse gets their tongue over the bit and lessens the pain, the rider can lose control since they depend on harming the horse to control them. Instead of training more and ditching the cruel bit, equestrians find new ways to ensure their slaves suffer.
They are mostly used on thoroughbreds, carriage horses, and sometimes standardbreds. They are used a lot in English and Irish thoroughbred racing, but also used in Australian and New Zealand thoroughbred racing. They are allowed in US thoroughbred racing, but aren’t that popular.
Cheekers:
Cheekers are simply bit guards that also attach to the bridle and are also made of rubber. The cheekpieces of bits, especially O-rings, D-rings, and eggbutts, will painfully push into the cheeks of horses when the bit is pulled. Sometimes, they completely go into a horse’s mouth. You can see examples of this happening on the Bit Encyclopedia page.
To prevent this, bit guards or cheekers are implemented. They simply create a barrier stopping the cheekpiece from sliding into the mouth, or stabbing too harshly into the horse’s cheeks. While they are not abusive, simply removing the painful bit would make these devices unnecessary in the first place. But equestrians, as always, must choose pain over compassion.
Tail Chains and Butt Plugs:
Sadly, you read that title correctly. Yes, in horseracing for both thoroughbred and harness racing, even for showjumping and eventing, they will use butt plugs. If you do not know what a butt plug is, stay innocent. Do NOT look it up.
A butt plug is a type of sex toy for humans, but in the equestrian world, when they aren’t using them on themselves, equestrians will insert these equine sexual assault items into the anuses of their victims, usually to the stallions. The reason is because when horses, in their panic to run so fast to escape the whip beating them, will sometimes suck in air in their anus. This is called “wind sucking.” This can cause irritation to the bowels, an upset tummy.
Sometimes chains are tied to the base of a horse’s tail so they can bounce against the sensitive anus, making a horse clench it closed.
There’s several types of equine butt plugs to choose from! They can be difficult to spot on a horse given how the hair of the tail cover the anus, and the fact the cameras tend not to remain on the butts of a horse…. But for harness horses who regularly have their tails tied up it can be easier to spot a glimpse of these disrespectful objects jammed up inside the horse’s personal area.
Breathing Aids:
Running takes a lot of oxygen to keep the body moving, and this goes for any living animal. Getting more air into the lungs helps keeps the blood oxygenated and thus performing better.
You may have seen football players in the NFL wearing breathing strips on their noses, to widen their nasal cavity and thus allow more air to enter. Similar devices are used on horses called Flair Strips. These attach to the outside skin over the nasal bone and help widen the nasal cavity for more efficient air flow.
While a sticky plastic covered in some felt isn’t painful, the racing industry still has to find ways to use more painful devices. Such as the Breathe EZ nasal clips that is a piece of plastic inserted inside of the horse’s nostrils, and held in place by a plastic clip. There is also hand made devices using a hook and zip tie to pull out sensitive inner nasal flesh to widen the nasal cavity.
The nasal cavity is immensely sensitive, so plastic, hooks, etc being placed inside can be painful, uncomfortable, and cause scratches. It is better to stick to the flair strips, or just leave horses alone!
https://www.protectohorse.com/instbez.htm
https://protectohorse.com/ez.html
https://flairstrips.com/
Gum Protecto:
As explained in the Bit Encyclopedia, bits cause significant pain and damage to the bars (gums) of a horse. Resulting in cuts, bruising, and even damage to the bone. While humane alternatives such as bitless bridles or no bridle at all exists, equestrians refuse to give up on their torture devices.
To alleviate some of the pain caused by bits, a new device called a “gum protecto” has been recently invented. This plastic piece is inserted into the mouth of a horse and hugs to the bottom jaw. It covers the lower bars, the section where the bit sits, and prevents the bit from being able to stab and cut into the gums. The pressure from the bit remains, and pain can still be felt, but it is now more spread out over the bars.
This is a very new invention so is slowly beginning to appear in some equestrian sports such as eventing and show jumping. It has not made it to racing yet.
Video Scope:
A video scape is a device used to check on the air way of a horse. A cable with a camera on the end is forced down the nostril of a horse and into the airway towards the lungs. The camera sends a live feed to a monitor where a veterinarian can see what is happening with the horse’s breathing while racing.
While this is done for medical purposes, the use of it in racing is simply to ensure a horse can be exploited as much as possible despite medical complications.
Anti Bite Armor:
Anti bite armor is simply large pieces of leather or a thick fabric that is slung over the shoulder or body of an outrider horse. During racing, the horses used for racing might spook and throw off a jockey, or be too worked up to walk back to the stables after being beaten to run so fast. An outrider will catch them and lead them back to the stables.
The spooked or worked up horse might bite at the outrider horse. This is so common that outrider horses regularly wear this protective gear to prevent them being bitten and hurt by the other horses.
Other Gear:
There are so many other devices and parts of gear that I’ll be here forever naming them all. The main devices used for control and pain is the real focus of this paper. For the names of other parts of harnesses, hobbles, etc please see these diagrams:
https://theconversation.com/dressing-up-for-melbourne-cup-day-from-a-racehorse-point-of-view-104771