Zusammenfassung: Die Fixierung der Zunge am Unterkiefer mittels sogenannter Zungenbänder (Tongue Ties, TTs) bei Trab-und Galopprennpferden wurde in Deutschland durch die deutschen Rennsportverbände bisher nicht dokumentiert und es ist wenig bekannt zum Tierschutzaspekt ihres Einsatzes. Das Ziel dieser Studie war es, kasuistische Daten zur Nutzung von TTs im Training und bei Rennen in Deutschland zu sammeln. Dazu wurden Daten von 499 Galopprennpferden gesammelt, indem Fragebögen an 153 beim Direktorium für Vollblutzucht und Rennen (DVR) registrierte Trainer versandt wurden. Außerdem wurden Daten von 9 Trainern über 82 Trabrennpferde erhoben. Von diesen insgesamt 581 Pferden nahmen 133 auch an internationalen Rennen teil. Insgesamt wurden 17,2 % der Pferde mit TTs trainiert und 19,3 % mit TT gestartet. Jüngere 3-und 4-jährige Traber wurden dabei häufiger mit TTs trainiert als Galopprennpferde, während mehr ältere Galopper als Traber TTs im Training und beim Rennen trugen (5 Jahre und älter). Die häufigsten positiven Effekte, die von den Trainern berichtet wurden, waren die Verhinderung der Verlagerung der Zunge über das Gebiss (37/41) und die Reduktion eines Atemgeräusches (24/41). Die Mehrheit berichtete außerdem von einer Leistungsverbesserung im Training (63 %) und beim Rennen (76 %). Die Mehrheit (22/41) der Trainer hatten bislang keine negativen Auswirkungen des Einsatzes von TTs bemerkt, während die anderen in bis zu 10 % der Einsätze (14/41) oder sogar mehr (5/41) von negativen Auswirkungen berichteten. Die häufigsten Nebenwirkungen waren eine Verfärbung der Zunge unter Fixation (n = 16), gefolgt von Blutungen (n = 4) und Paralysen (n = 1) der Zunge, wobei Mehrfachnennungen möglich waren. Insgesamt erscheint der Einsatz von TTs trotz des häufigen Gebrauchs und der positiven Effekte, die von Trab-und Galopprenntrainern berichtet wurden, aus Tierschutzgründen mehr als fraglich. Der Einsatz des TT ist mittlerweile, seit Juni 2018, im Galopprennsport in Deutschland vom DVR verboten, im Trabrennsport aber weiterhin erlaubt.
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.
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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