Tongue ties in racing: what they do for a horse's breathing

How is a tongue tie fitted to a racehorse?

A tongue tie is a strip of soft cloth, elastic or rubber looped around the tongue and tied under the lower jaw, fitted in the paddock or before saddling so the tongue stays forward during the race.

It has to be firm enough to hold the tongue in place at full gallop but not so tight that it cuts off circulation, so it is only left on for a short time around the race. Some trainers use a tongue tie in every run once a horse has shown it helps, while others use it only for certain tracks or distances.

Tongue ties are declared with the runner and printed on British racecards, so a change is visible before the race. A horse's runs with and without one can then be compared in its form.

What breathing problem does a tongue tie address?

A tongue tie is aimed mainly at dorsal displacement of the soft palate, where the soft palate slips up above the epiglottis during hard exercise and partly blocks the airway.

Horses breathe only through the nose, and at racing speed they need a completely open airway. If the soft palate displaces, the airway narrows suddenly, the horse makes a gurgling noise and it can stop almost as if it has hit a wall. Pulling the tongue forward is thought to help keep the larynx and soft palate in position.

The problem usually shows in the closing stages of a race, when the horse is working hardest. A horse that travels well and then stops quickly, especially over longer trips, is a common candidate.

Does t1 on a racecard mean first-time tongue tie?

On a British or Irish racecard t1 means the horse is racing in a tongue tie for the first time, and a plain t means it has worn one in a race before.

The t often appears with other letters, so a horse in a hood and a tongue tie shows both h and t. The 1 always attaches to the item that is new, so a first-time tongue tie worn with familiar cheekpieces is marked on the t only.

A first-time tongue tie is a clear signal that the trainer suspects a breathing problem, which is useful context when a horse's last few runs have ended with it stopping quickly.

Do tongue ties make more difference over longer distances?

Breathing problems such as a displaced palate show most when a horse is under sustained pressure, so a tongue tie is often expected to matter most in longer and more testing races.

A sprinter is under pressure for about a minute, while a staying chaser is at full effort for much longer, with repeated efforts at each fence. A horse with a marginal airway problem may get away with it over five furlongs and be found out over three miles on soft ground.

The table below shows first-time headgear in jumps racing over ten seasons and the latest season, including first-time tongue ties The live page adds the Flat and today's runners.

Is a tongue tie often followed by wind surgery?

A tongue tie is usually the first, least invasive step for a breathing problem, and horses that still struggle may go on to have wind surgery, which British trainers must declare.

Trainers generally escalate: a tongue tie first, then a more specific procedure such as soft palate cautery or a tie-forward if the problem persists, and a tie-back for a paralysed larynx. A horse that has had a first-time tongue tie and then a declared wind operation has a long-standing breathing issue.

The wind surgery guide explains the procedures and how the first run after an operation is flagged on British racecards. Together with the headgear history, it gives a clear picture of how long a horse has had breathing issues.

Is a tongue tie cruel?

Tongue ties have been questioned on welfare grounds because they restrict the tongue, and their use is covered by the Rules of Racing, which require them to be declared in Britain.

Supporters argue that a correctly fitted tie, used for a short time, prevents a breathing problem that could otherwise cause distress at racing speed. Critics point to the pressure on the tongue and argue for other solutions. The debate continues, and rules on use can change, so the regulator's current guidance is the reference point.

For form readers, the practical point is that the tongue tie is declared and visible on the racecard, so a horse's runs with and without one can be compared in its form. That comparison is more useful than the general debate when judging an individual horse.

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