Casuistic evaluation of Tongue Tie use in Standardbred and Thoroughbred racehorses in Germany – a questionnaire study

Barton, Ann Kristin; Lindenberg, I; Klaus, Daniela; Blohm, Klaas-Ole; Gehlen, Heidrun

doi:10.21836/pem20190503

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Participants were acquired from a casuistic questionnaire study focusing on tongue tie use in Germany, 10 where trainers and owners had the opportunity to apply for participation in the current study. As many horses as possible were included during the study period, where a second dynamic respiratory endoscope was provided by the manufacturer for a month, so that horses could be examined in pairs to simulate the racing situation.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tongue ties do not widen the upper airways in racehorses

Barton

Troppenz

Klaus

et al. 2022

Equine Veterinary Journal

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Background: There is contradictory evidence on the potential benefits of tongue ties on upper airway function and their efficacy in inhibiting intermittent dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) in racehorses.Objectives: To test the hypothesis that tongue ties increase the pharyngeal diameter and decrease the occurrence of dynamic airway obstruction in racehorses.Study design: Prospective, crossover blinded clinical study.Methods: Data of 22 Thoroughbred and 8 Standardbred racehorses examined using overground endoscopy under full-intensity exercise on training racetracks with and without fixation of the tongue by use of tongue ties were analysed. Equivalent exercise intensity was ensured by measuring heart rate (bpm), speed (GPS) and venous lactate. Pharyngeal diameter was expressed as pharyngeal-epiglottis (PE) ratios and laryngeal abduction accordingly as laryngeal-median-ratios. Data were analysed using multivariable repeated-measurements ANOVA. Results:The PE ratio increased significantly from 1.11 ± 0.19 to 1.28 ± 0.30 in all horses between rest and full-intensity exercise (p < 0.01). Multi-variable analysis revealed that this effect decreased significantly by the application of tongue ties (1.15 ± 0.27, p < 0.01). Tongue ties did not influence maximum laryngeal width (p = 0.09) and area (p = 0.2) significantly. DDSP was found in 4 of 30 examinations with tongue tie and in 1 of 30 examinations without tongue tie.Main limitations: The study population was not randomly chosen and was heterogeneous. Few horses had a respiratory noise and the prevalence of upper respiratory tract disorders was too low for statistical comparison of the rate of DDSP with and without tongue ties.Conclusions: A positive effect of tongue ties on pharyngeal or laryngeal diameters was not found in this study. Therefore, the results of this study do not support the use of tongue ties to enhance upper airway function.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The use of tongue ties in Thoroughbred racing in Germany was banned in June 2018. 9 However, tongue ties are still allowed in Standardbred racing in Germany and many other countries permit tongue ties for Standardbred and Thoroughbred racehorses despite ongoing discussion on animal welfare issues.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tongue ties do not widen the upper airways in racehorses

Barton

Troppenz

Klaus

et al. 2022

Equine Veterinary Journal

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Evaluation of the effect of tongue ties on stress parameters, behaviour and heart-rate variability in racehorses

Barton¹,

Lindenberg²,

Einspanier³

et al. 2022

Anim. welf.

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Fixation of the tongue to the mandible using so-called tongue ties (TTs) is common practice in Standardbred (SB) and Thoroughbred (TB) racing, but little is known about their impact on animal welfare. In this study, the influence of TTs on heart-rate variability (HRV), stress parameters in plasma (cortisol, glucose, lactate) and behaviour was evaluated in 30 SBs and 29 TBs (n = 59) presenting with exercise insufficiency. Overall, 36/59 horses (24 SBs, 12 TBs) were familiar with TTs. Blood was taken at rest, after TT application and after racing in all horses, additionally samples were taken without TT in SBs another day. HRV was calculated over 3 min before, during and after racing. Additionally, SBs’ behaviour during TT application and racing was documented in real time. TT application did not increase cortisol levels significantly, while highly significant increases in cortisol levels were found after racing. Lactate levels were not influenced by TT application, but also significantly increased after racing. No significant differences were found for glucose. Seventeen out of 30 SBs showed mild (n = 8), moderate (n = 8) and severe (n = 1) reactions during TT application, none during or after race training. At rest, 23/30 SBs had a low/high frequency (LF/HF) ratio < 1.5 (1.05 [± 0.61], n = 30, dominating parasympathetic activity). After TT application, the LF/HF ratio increased to 1.4 (± 0.45) (increased sympathetic activity). In TBs, sympathetic activity dominated at rest. No differences in LF, HF and LF/HF were found after TT application or comparing HRV after racing with/without TT. The stress response (blood parameters and HRV) was not influenced by horses’ naivety to TTs, however an increased stress response was observed in SB mares. Overall, obvious adverse behaviour, but only slight evidence of an increased systemic stress response, was found in this study. These results might provide objective evidence for future decisions from equine sports organisations concerning further regulations on TTs.

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Casuistic evaluation of Tongue Tie use in Standardbred and Thoroughbred racehorses in Germany – a questionnaire study

Cited by 2 publications

References 6 publications

Tongue ties do not widen the upper airways in racehorses

Tongue ties do not widen the upper airways in racehorses

Evaluation of the effect of tongue ties on stress parameters, behaviour and heart-rate variability in racehorses

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