Breathing

Ramona · Postby **Ramona** » Sat May 12, 2012 8:50 pm

I have heard that a horse holds his/her breath during the beginning portion of a race. Is this true and at what point do they take another breath?

Laurierace · Postby **Laurierace** » Sun May 13, 2012 5:40 am

Usually around the half mile point. That is also where horses that displace tend to displace.

Ramona · Postby **Ramona** » Sun May 13, 2012 9:08 am

What do you mean by "displace?"

madelyn · Postby **madelyn** » Sun May 13, 2012 9:11 am

Displace their palate.

Jessi P · Postby **Jessi P** » Sun May 13, 2012 9:34 am

These are some good articles on palate flipping.

http://evrp.lsu.edu/healthtips/DDSP.htm

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index ... 121315.htm

Ramona · Postby **Ramona** » Sun May 13, 2012 9:51 am

Thanks everyone!

Diane · Postby **Diane** » Sun May 13, 2012 9:58 am

Is that one reason why getting them to relax is important? Their breathing will become regular? If they start holding it once they get in the gate....10-15 secs? then add ?46-50 secs? I can imagine the end result would be a horse that runs out of gas by the end of the race. So they've not only had a small build up of CO2 by holding their breath but have exerted themselves while not taking in any O2. Not to digress but I wonder if that's how it was decided who got a milkshake pre-race? The nervous or inexperienced horse that was known to hold it's breath?
It reminds of schooling cross country. Anxiety, excitement, staying focused in the start box when someone from your team says "breathe" and you realize you have been holding your breath.

griff · Postby **griff** » Sun May 13, 2012 1:34 pm

Most horses will not flip if they are raced with a bitless bridle.. The problem is most tracks will not allow bitless bridles. I had a very good friend that used to buy flippers and run them with a bridle that looked like it had a bit and probable won more money at the window that with their purses. Know flippers usually have very good odds.

Horses evolved running with their mouths closed... When you put a bit in their mouth it breaks the seal and some horses suck a lot of air through their mouth instead of their nose.

i.e., I don't think its about how calm a horse is in the gate but if he sucks air or not. Of course it never huts when you horse is calm in the gate.

griff

Ramona · Postby **Ramona** » Sun May 13, 2012 2:54 pm

What is the most logical solution to this problem? Anyone have a horse that did this?

Crystal · Postby **Crystal** » Sun May 13, 2012 3:28 pm

tie-back surgery..

griff · Postby **griff** » Sun May 13, 2012 7:43 pm

There are three surgeries.

one is to trime the palate so the scar tissue will stiffen the palate. This cost around $300 and the down time is three ays

A second surgery is to use laser beams to scar the palate, again to stiffen the palate and that cost around $800,

a third is a tie forward surgery which cost around $1800.

my Vet said they all have around a 60% to 70% chance of success and my experience with the tie forward is the the tie threads eventually pulll through what they are attached to.

Rapid Redux had # 1 done by Valley Equine at Charles town and it seems to have worked as I believe he went on to win 22 or 23 races in a row after that surgery

Like I said all three seem to have an equal chance for success and you can still do # 3 iif you first try #1 or #2.

griff

xfactor fan · Postby **xfactor fan** » Mon May 14, 2012 4:58 pm

I read somewhere that Seattle Slew used to hyperventilate in the gate. Building up oxygen in his bloodstream. Don't know it that's true or not.

griff · Postby **griff** » Mon May 14, 2012 7:23 pm

Smart Horse

griff