Gear Changes

Trainers can use a variety of accessories that may help a horse perform better on race day. These accessories are referred to as ‘gear.’ You may hear a trainer refer to a range of gear changes your horse may use heading towards their next race start.

Below is a list of gear that can be used on raceday:

Blinkers – look a bit like goggles that take away a horse's peripheral vision. Horses also have 360° vision so restricting their view can help their concentration in a race.

Winkers – are very similar to blinkers but have less impact on the horse's vision

Pacifiers – are kind of like horse sunglasses. They dull down the brightness which can be a calming influence and helps horses with over stimulation.

Ear Muffs – reduce outside noise that can make them a little nervous. Things like crowd noise, music and loudspeakers can spook some horses. Some will run the whole race in the earmuffs or some will use them just to get past the noisy areas and take them off at the barriers.

Tongue Tie – is a strap that prevents a horse from moving its tongue over the ‘bit’ (see below) in its mouth. This helps the horse to breathe in the run with no obstruction from the tongue.

Bit - is a device that controls a horse's mouth and helps the rider communicate with the horse. The bit is placed in the horse's mouth between the incisors and molars, where there are no teeth, and it helps the rider guide the horse's speed and movements.

Nose Roll – is a big woollen strip that goes over the bridge of a horse's nose. Naturally this lowers the horses head which helps to increase their stride length

Nose Band – is added to make sure the horse doesn't open its mouth too wide in the run which in turn helps it breathe through its nose. It also helps stabilize the horse and gives the rider more control steering.

Nasal Strip – works the same way it does for humans. It’s a strip placed across the nose which opens the airways to help breathing.

Barrier Blanket – are used for horses that can get a bit stressed and claustrophobic in the gates. Having the blanket on keeps them more relaxed so their bodies aren’t touching the gates

Concussion Plates – are a heavier type of horseshoe that reduces the jar in horse's legs when horse hits the ground. Think of them as shock absorbers for a horse.

Bar Plates – are a type of horseshoe that covers the whole hoof, instead of just the bottom. This is for protecting the horse's heel and is usually used on horses that don’t have the best feet.