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Equipment for Standardbreds
Original article written by Regina Moore posted 9 years 2 weeks agoI realized that my recent “Overview of Equipment” did not address Standardbred trotters and pacers, which are unique when it comes to equipment.
There are only five possible equipment pieces for Standardbreds, rather than the nine that are available for other breeds. The pieces are blind bridle, boots, head pole, shadow roll, and tongue tie. During an equipment check, the first piece or only piece needed can be any one of these five.
When needing to find the second piece for a two-piece horse, a blind bridle, head pole, and shadow roll can be revealed by galloping (known as “Train Under Harness” for Standardbreds). Boots and a tongue tie can be revealed by a vet check.
Below are the comments that are associated with Standardbreds. I only found one equipment check comment for a blind bridle and for boots.
BLIND BRIDLE
Equipment Check: Blind Bridle – This will keep the horse focused and more involved in the race.
Train Under Harness: Horse is always looking around on the track. A blind bridle would be a good solution.
BOOTS
Equipment Check: Horse’s hind legs overreach and knock against the forelegs. I’d try some boots.
Vet Check: Horse knocks ankles while jogging. Maybe try some boots.
HEAD POLE
Equipment Check: Horse is ducking his head to the left in the stretch. Try a head pole.
Equipment Check: Horse turns his head to the outside on the turns. I suggest using a head pole.
Train Under Harness: By the way, if you want to keep horse jogging straight, why don’t you just use a head pole?
SHADOW ROLL
Equipment Check: Horse runs with his head up high. I’d try a shadow roll.
Equipment Check: Horse is scared of his own shadow! Maybe a shadow roll would work?
Train Under Harness: By the way, have you ever put a shadow roll on horse? That might help with focus on what’s ahead, rather than shadows below.
TONGUE TIE
Equipment Check: Horse is a bit aggressive and always fighting the bit. I’d use a tongue tie.
Equipment Check: Horse has trouble breathing while galloping. Have you tried a tongue tie?
Vet Check: Oh! I remember you asking about horse's teeth because of discomfort with the bit. I checked the teeth, no issues there. A tongue tie might solve your problem with the bit.
Of course, with Standardbreds, if you can’t find the second piece from galloping or vetting, it’s much easier to do a series of workouts, than with the other breeds, because there’s fewer pieces to experiment with. The same is true if you don’t equipment check at all, but just do workouts, using a different piece each week.