Bands are used by the racing industry to tie down the tongues of horses. They are spruiked as being for the horses’ benefit to assist in breathing. There is no clear evidence to support claims that breathing is improved yet 72% of thoroughbred trainers and 85% of standardbred (harness racing) trainers use them.
We do however know that those having their tongues tied show significantly more frequent stress behaviours such as gaping, ears back and head tossing with many sustaining injuries such as lacerations, swelling, bruising, head shyness, difficulty swallowing, anxiety, ‘blue tongue’ and permanent tissue damage. Of course, this is not surprising. Their tongues are tied! Read more here.
Trainers who claim they use tongue ties due to horses tongues pushing over the bit and causing possible airway obstruction are ignoring the human-caused reasons the horse does so in the first place such as too much unrelenting and meaningless pressure maintained on the tongue via the bit.
Let’s face it, tongue ties (like most other instruments used in horse racing) are used to instill fear, dominance and control over a horse as a means of forcing them into subjugation and pushing them beyond their limits. Any evidence of improved respiratory function would still make their use unnecessary if they weren’t being pushed so hard. Tongue ties are not for the benefit of the horse. Like horse racing itself, they exist to benefit the human at the expense of the horses mental and physical wellbeing.
The below images feature Lanciato at the Newcastle track in 2018 and in 2019. His visible distress is undeniable, requiring him to be escorted to the gates.
Lanciato 2018 
Lanciato 2018 
Lanciato 2018
Lanciato 2019 
Lanciato 2019 
Lanciato 2019 
Please stop this practice!!!
How could they do that to those beautiful horses?? That is so mean!!
This needs to be banned. The pics are true and horrendous.
THE HORSE IS TERRIFIED.
LET’S TIE YOUR TONGUES DOWN.
YOU WOULD FEEL SUFFOCATED….AND WITH BEING
PUMPED FULL OF LASIC AND OTHER DRUGS….WHIPPED……BEATEN. AT SOME POINTS..STARVED. THIS HORSE AND OTHERS ARE LITTERLY BEING DRIVEN CRAZY FOR YOUR AMUSEMENT…THEN SENT OFF TO SLAUGHTER. THIS I KNOW FOR A FACT.
That is extremely cruel. The poor horses have to suffer for what? ….our ‘enjoyment’? Makes me so sad and angry at the same time
This is heart wrenching.
Omg, when will we stop torturing horses?? Between the bits, spurs, whips, crops, chains, chemicals to burn, drugs and electrocutions to dull and mask, we are the most cruel of species.
ABUSIVE , UNACCEPTABLE behavior.
by handlers/trainers/owners!
This is ANIMALl ABUSE!
Agree. Are there specific laws targeting this issue…..? Enforce them.
This is horrorible. Poor horses suffer greatly, but it is still not enough as many are sent to slaughter to end up on a dinner plate …..Canada is a big exporter of horses to Japan and S. Korea for slaughter…… Horses are transported to Canada and Mexico from U.S. for slaughter…… This is only the “tip of the iceberg” of what a horses life is by those humans who believe they are disposible.
Awful!
THE HORSE IS TERRIFIED.
LET’S TIE YOUR TONGUES DOWN.
YOU WOULD FEEL SUFFOCATED….AND WITH BEING
PUMPED FULL OF LASIC AND OTHER DRUGS….WHIPPED……BEATEN. AT SOME POINT..STARVED. THIS HORSE AND OTHERS ARE LITTERLY BEING DRIVEN CRAZY FOR YOUR AMUSEMENT…THEN SENT OFF TO SLAUGHTER. THIS I KNOW FOR A FACT.
all human entertainments that use animals would do well to stop. Those of us who truly respect and love the beautify and the vulnerability of animals , our lives are affected a great deal by this. the Hunting, the greyhound racing, the horses racing, the shooting , all organised, run, made money from, sadistic satisfaction gained, by people who do not deserve their lives at all.
I have used tongue ties, mine was a long strip of cloth soaked in water. I will never apologize for using them. What the horse in the photo has holding his tongue down is horrible. It looks like it would dig into his tongue and cut his lips. We always had the tongue tie and blinkers off before the horse got to the winners circle.