American Saddlebred racking fetlock chains weight

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Kelsey&Merlin

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Feb 16, 2008
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I am starting to start my three and a half year old on racking in the next couple weeks. She is trotting really strong and getting to where she is no longer amused at the trot. She is five gaited and in the next few weeks, were starting her on racking.
My question is I use fetlock chains with all my horses that I have started racking. But I am a little confused about the weight of the chain and shoe in the back end. I typically used a plain shoe with two sets of chains in the back. Does anyone have any expirence with this and could offer advice. I used a 4 ounce chain with my four year old mare and she did fine. Any comments.
 
Don't know anything much about racks & chains but found this on wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee_Walking_Horse

Rack - type of gait.

Action Devices

There are two common action devices that are permitted on the show grounds, and are used for training and show to enhance the horse's gait.

Chains: bracelet-like chains are attached around the front pasterns of the horse, and may be no more than 6 ounces in weight. They are intended to be used with a lubricant to allow them to slide easily along the pastern.

Users of chains do not believe they cause the horse pain, stating that it creates a similar feeling as a loose bracelet would around the wrist of a person. However, some trainers and veterinarians believe that above a certain weight, they may be harmful. The well-known "Auburn Study," conducted from September 1978 to December of 1982 at Auburn University, examined the "Thermography in diagnosis of inflammatory processes in horses in response to various chemical and physical factors." Using thermography, the researchers found that chains "altered thermal patterns as early as day 2 of exercise with chains. These altered thermal patterns persisted as long as chains were used," with normal thermal patterns seen after 20 days recovery. A stallion in the study also developed lesions from his 8 ounce chains, after wearing them in nine 15-minute exercise periods (scattered from September 22 to October 3). The Auburn study also showed that 2,4, and 6 ounce chains produced no adverse effects in the horses being studied. A 6 ounce chain is the legal weight of chain allowed in NHSC horse shows.

She is trotting really strong and getting to where she is no longer amused at the trot.
What does this mean?

This is all for showing?
 
There is a great deal of controversy over the use of chains,

When we train our gaited horses the most we might use is an over reach boot in case they are unbalanced and step on themselves.

http://www.walkinonranch.com/1000Words.html

These are some photos of what chains and soring can do in the TWH world.
 
Actually you don't need weight. You just need something to get them to pay attention to their back feet. A dog collar will work. So will growing the toe out some. It's also usually easier to begin going downhill. Not all ASB have the conformation to do it though.
 
Misty Morning Stables said:
Actually you don't need weight. You just need something to get them to pay attention to their back feet. A dog collar will work. So will growing the toe out some. It's also usually easier to begin going downhill. Not all ASB have the conformation to do it though.
Click to expand...
Hi Misty Morning - the thread you just replied to was from 2009 and I think the original poster is no longer on the forum... ;)
 
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