Racehorse Lugging out!

[FancyHorse]

I will be posting this same topic on a couple different forums, but I need the most advice I can get.

I have a 3yo TB Gelding that has ran 5 times. Every race he lugs out severly. He has no soundness issue (currently or prior) and we deemed it as a bad habit. We have tried a Spicer Bit and a Springsteen Spoon bit with a bull extended cup outside blinker. We were able to get him to work on the rail with the Springsteen, but in the race he still blew the turn.

We are thinking of trying a Janes bit (SP???), but would also love other suggestions!

[karenkarenn]

I would check this horse out to see if he is in pain.
My partner had a Grand Reward Filly that did the same thing, horribly and habitually, couldnt rate her. Ultimatly, she was hurt in the left foreleg. It was a reaction to pain.
Or
Have you concidered retraining him. Just slowing down a bit and retraining.
Karen

[rgdgmr]

have you had his teeth floated?

[photofinish]

Where is he in the pack at the point where he lugs out? Is he possibly a horse who gets creeped out by so much company? If so, try galloping with LOTS of company and or adding earplugs. Or, is it possibly where he is getting pulled up everyday at the end of his a.m. gallops?

Still sounds like a soundness issue , however subtle. Ever have him checked out by a GOOD equine chiropractor, if the vet says his limbs are 100% ? Does he lug out when working a distance (3 or 4f doesn't count) ? What size track are you running on (some bigger horses slingshot out of the turns on bullrings)?

If all else fails, there's always a cage bit, but hate to see that used on such a young horse.

[wangkw]

The horse's centrifugal force is too strong...Get a srtonger rider to handle him.

[mlwinter]

I would check teeth. Possibly caps, wolf teeth, no bit set, especially with a three yr old. We had one who had the same issue until he was done shedding caps, then never another problem. Young horses need floated often, some more than others. A power float works the best, so I would look for someone with one of those first. Floating can be costly, but how much does each race cost with no return.

[wilf]

Something is very wrong! Check him out from head to toe or keep training him until he bows on the inside foreleg ,that is assuming his skeleton is not completely out of whack from an earlier trauma.

[ratherrapid]

does he lug out in the mornings? how severe is the race lug out--what do the jocks say--you can sort of tell when you're up there whether the lug out is injury related or tooth related--does he change leads on cue? Preston Burch used to use a full blinker over one eye. I think Whirlaway raced that way on occasion, although to me that's an unnecessary too drastic a solution.

some horses are just difficult with their habits and require a high degree of rider skill and morning training. I'd sure avoid giving up and think I'd quit playing with the bits. a race horses needs to be comfortable with its bit. Spicers e.g. add anxiety to some horses because they are uncomfortable in the mouth. bit changes rarely work. figure out the cause even if it's just habit would be my step one. if its habit, then figure out how to break it--might change the training so you can breeze more often--breezing short around the turn every 3 days (when you work up to that safely) would be my solution. company when I can get it.

[FancyHorse]

Have only had this horse for about 3 months now and only ran him once. He has only ran 5 times (twice as a 2yo) and lugged out from his very first race on a mile track. We did his teeth, which were pretty bad. Also, had vet overlook him and he checked out a-ok.

I gallop him and he does do the head tucked to my left knee while bowing outward. I can gallop him on the rail and he does change leads for me. (Never knew a horse who could have his head tucked to my knee and beable to switch to his left lead without stumbling, althetic much!). We thought we had the issue solved with the Springsteen bit, for we worked him 1/2 mile on a 5/8 mile track and he took the turn like a pro! Come race time, we ran him at Fairplex (which btw is NOT a good track for a horse with his issue, but . . . ) and he blew the turn in the same bit. Different riders maybe????

I also came across an idea of a Burr with the Springsteen bit. However, I will have a different vet over look him and also check into that cage bit.

[karenkarenn]

Fancy-
My Gelding ( Nockies Reality) does the same thing when I ride him now. He used to do that head tucking under the knee when he raced. But he bowed his left front leg though.
Would you concider checking to see if that bit isnt pinching him, could he be more sensitive? Could he be getting away from a pain from the Jockey that you dont know about, maybe hes moving to quick and it scares him. Has he been at a mile or more track?
Karen

[wangkw]

My friend when I asked him said would one-sided blinkers help ?

[FancyHorse]

He does go in an extended cup blinker on the outside and a french cup on the inside. We will be removing the inside cup all together. We have also tried working him in a simple ring bit and he went straight to the outside rail with no control at all. He isn't sensitive at all to any bit and no cuts or sores in his mouth! Errr tricky horse!

[Entry Blank]

Try galloping the horse in a set of draw reins with a rubber bit , maybe the first few days give him one ace pill so he relaxes. Dont worry about galloping it near the rail just have the rider try and keep him straight in the middle of the track. For workouts I would look into a Houghton Bit , it is similar to an Australian ring bit except the Houghton bit has more leverage , maybe before the workout have the exercise rider gallop him a few time in it so the horse knows what it is.
Sounds like to me this horse has been able to get away with bolting one too many times and despite what some people think horses dont always bolt or lug in because they have a physical problem sometimes they are just being jerks.

[wilf]

Full-scoop blinkers do not get to the heart of the matter.Northern Dancer raced with an inside blinker and eventually bowed . A trainer asked me about putting screws into a burr to increase the effect ,I told her that the horse must have a problem and that she was nuts. She ran the horse anyway and it broke down taking four jockeys with it to the ground. If you want to try an easier route then I would jog and lope the horse the wrong way late in the morning and see what the reaction is.

[ratherrapid]

some people think horses dont always bolt or lug in because they have a physical problem sometimes they are just being jerks.[/quote]

yup, but my opinion would be that enough has been posted that this horse probably does have a physical problem. just guessing.

I come to that conclusion because he tucks his neck at the gallop and the overall behavior. The most likely scenario is the neck tucking results from the horse trying to get away from mouth pain or bit pain. dental exams, even comprehensive ones, sometimes fail to uncover this stuff.

my opinion is that Wilf is on the right track. 1. I'd quit playing with the bits which is failing to work, and the horse is obviously uncomfortable. 2. i'd quit assuming that because the horse lacks control with a normal jointed shaffle that it always will. there is simply a failure to respond to basic riding aids. if you are going to race the horse, this is the problem that has to be solved.

slight difference from Wilf for me. get rid of the blinkers, use a normal comfortable bit and highly skilled rider and send the horse out there to trot. back off the training just a bit. get him to respond to normal aids while cantering/slow galloping. do a lot of just going around the turn, i.e. come around the turn, stop, go back and do it again. thereafter, i like my frequent short breezing idea.

give us some progress reports!!!