OZmium Sports Betting and Horse Racing Forums - The importance of gear changes. What, You don't check them?

A bit of a basic rundown.

Feet.
SHOCK SHOD SHOES/CONCUSSION PLATES
Be wary of these horses on firm ground. .
GLUE ON SHOES
Cold day in hell before a horse wins in these. Big foot problems with very thin hooves.
BAR PLATES or EGG BAR/HEART BAR PLATES
Bruised or damaged feet.

Eyes.
BLINKERS FIRST TIME
Horses can improve dramatically with blinkers first time. Problem is they useually over-race.
BLINKERS OFF
It didn't work
BLINKERS ON AGAIN
Their having another go at it due to desperation.
ONE-EYED BLINKER
Stops a horse from hanging left or right depending on which eye the blinker is on.
WINK ers [trouble with type recognition]
They are bits of sheep skin used to block the sight behind the eye like a blinker but allow a bit more vision.
VISOR
A serious 'blinker'.
PACIFIERS ON
For the over-racing brigade. They can settles better. Also good for horses with sensitive eyes to little bits and pieces of turf flying about. No good when it's too wet and useually banned for slow or heavy track condt. as they can block up with mud.

Mouth.
LUGGING BIT
for hanging horses.
NORTON BIT
A harsh bit to stop horses from pulling.
RING BIT
To control horses that can lock their jaw and take control.
CHEEKERS
Used to lift the bit in the mouth and give the jockey more control.
TONGUE TIE
Often used after unexplained failure. could be the horse is getting its tongue over the bit and cutting off the air ways, choking down. Some horses don't like their tongues tied down, so other methods are used, such as tongue control bits.
TONGUE CONTROL BIT
Not as nasty as a tongue tie, but for the same problem.

Head
NOSEROLL or SHADOW-ROLL
For head high horses. Keeps their heads lower.
NOSEBAND
Keeps a horse’s mouth shut and gives the jockey more control and stops over-racing or getting its head up. common on horses with breathing problems who often put their head up.
CROSS-OVER NOSE BAND
For horses that pull..

Rear end
Tail Chain – applied to male horses only to eliminate a gelding or stallion from drawing in air through their anus.

GELDED
Useually improves colts who's mind wasn't on the job but stuffs their future sex life..

BARRIER BLANKET
Helps load bad or troublesome horses into the barrier. The barrier blanket remains on the horse until it jumps from the barrier stalls. Notorious for creating a slower away horse.

LEG WRAPS
Leg bandages. Never did stop damage to, or support leg tendons but often used to hide problems or used all the time by some trainers so no one can work out their horses leg conditions.
LEG WRAPS REAR
Usually for heel dragger's mostly.

Basically any and all of this stuff can put serious questions marks on a horse's winning chances and your interpritation of how things will go. I don't like any of it as it's all a bit of a gamble. Controlling bits for this and that can make a horse slow down due to anticipation or dislike of them, loose concentration etc. All controlling gear affects a horses chances to various degrees.

A horse in proper racing shoes, normal bit and gear has been a charm to train, goes straight and where the jockey wants it too, is easy to ride and it's mind is on the job. Be very wary of apprentices on horses with gear changes. Better off with very experienced jocks and preferably one that knows the horse.