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Home / Equine Research Bank / Aust Vet J / Tongue-tie use in Thoroughbred racehorses in Australia.
Australian veterinary journal2021; 99(8); 344-350; doi: 10.1111/avj.13079

Tongue-tie use in Thoroughbred racehorses in Australia.

Abstract: Tongue-ties (TTs) are used to aid control and aim to conservatively treat upper airway disorders in racehorses. However, welfare concerns have led to their use being banned in other equestrian disciplines. In the United Kingdom, TTs have been reported to be used in approximately 5% of starts. The frequency of their use elsewhere is unknown. The objectives of this retrospective single cohort study were to estimate the frequency of TT use within the Australian Thoroughbred (TB) racing industry, and to describe usage patterns. Data of all Australian TB horse races from 2010 to 2013 calendar years were collected by accessing the Racing Information Services Australia database. Frequency of TT use was calculated, and usage patterns were explored at the start, horse and trainer levels. Between 2010 and 2013, there were a total of 728,678 starts from 62,377 horses prepared by 4927 trainers and that raced on 1453 race dates across 402 venues. Tongue-ties were used in 21.4% of starts; however, frequency varied according to location, race, trainer and horse. At the horse level, 32.2% wore a TT at least once and 7.6% wore it at every race on record. At the trainer level, 71.3% used TTs in at least one of their horses but only 1.4% used them systematically. The present study concludes that TT use in Australian TB racehorses, during the period 2010-2013, was common and considerably higher than previously reported in the United Kingdom. Most Australian trainers use the device and appear to adapt its usage according to individual horse and race factors.
© 2021 Australian Veterinary Association.
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Publication Date: 2021-05-30 PubMed ID: 34056705DOI: 10.1111/avj.13079Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research investigated the use of tongue-ties in Thoroughbred racehorses in Australia, finding that their use was common in the racing industry of the country from 2010 to 2013, despite concerns related to animal welfare.

Introduction

  • Tongue-ties (TTs) are devices used on racehorses for managing control and treating upper airway disorders. Despite their effectiveness, TTs have been banned in various equestrian disciplines due to welfare concerns.
  • In the UK, it has been reported that TTs are used in 5% of starts; however, there was little existing data on the usage of TTs in Australian Thoroughbred (TB) racing.
  • The aim of this study was to ascertain the frequency and pattern of usage of TTs within the Australian Thoroughbred racing sector.

Method

  • The researchers conducted a retrospective single cohort study using data retrieved from the Racing Information Services Australia database, which contained information on all Australian TB horse races from the calendar years 2010 to 2013.
  • They calculated the frequency of TT use and explored usage patterns at the starting gate, horse, and trainer levels.

Results

  • The data covered 728,678 starts by 62,377 horses, trained by 4927 trainers and competed across 402 venues on 1453 race dates.
  • It was found that TTs were used in 21.4% of starts although the frequency varied according to the location, race, trainer, and horse.
  • At the horse level, 32.2% wore a TT at least once, and 7.6% wore them at every race recorded.
  • At the trainer level, 71.3% used TTs on at least one of their horses, but only 1.4% used them systematically on all their horses.

Conclusion

  • The study concluded that the use of TTs in Australian TB racing, during the period 2010-2013, was significantly higher than what has been previously reported in the UK.
  • The results indicated that most Australian trainers make use of the device and seem to adapt its usage according to individual horse needs and race factors.

Cite This Article

APA
Noschka E, Porter D, Franklin SH, Caraguel C. (2021). Tongue-tie use in Thoroughbred racehorses in Australia. Aust Vet J, 99(8), 344-350. https://doi.org/10.1111/avj.13079

Publication

Australian veterinary journal
ISSN: 1751-0813
NlmUniqueID: 0370616
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 99
Issue: 8
Pages: 344-350

Researcher Affiliations

Noschka, E
  • Equine Health and Performance Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus, Mudla Wirra Road, Adelaide, South Australia, 5371, Australia.
Porter, Dbw
  • Equine Health and Performance Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus, Mudla Wirra Road, Adelaide, South Australia, 5371, Australia.
Franklin, S H
  • Equine Health and Performance Centre, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus, Mudla Wirra Road, Adelaide, South Australia, 5371, Australia.
Caraguel, Cgb
  • Department of Pathobiology, Infectious Disease and Public Health, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus, Mudla Wirra Road, Adelaide, South Australia, 5371, Australia.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Australia / epidemiology
  • Cohort Studies
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horses
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tongue
  • United Kingdom

Grant Funding

  • University of Adelaide

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