Last updated: June 20, 2026
In the paddock before a race, if you notice a strip of cloth or rubber through a horse’s mouth and under the lower jaw, you’re looking at a tongue tie. Most people never notice it. Out of seven Thoroughbreds I currently own, only one wears one during races now — a shift that reflects what the research and the horses themselves, have taught me over time.
Why do horses wear tongue ties? A tongue tie is a strap — usually nylon, elastic, or cloth — that secures a racehorse’s tongue to its lower jaw during a race or workout. Trainers use them to prevent the tongue from getting over the bit, to keep the airway open in horses prone to soft palate displacement (DDSP), and occasionally to reduce oral distractions. Their use is legal in most jurisdictions but increasingly scrutinized on welfare grounds.
- Primary reason: Prevents tongue from getting over the bit — a safety and control issue at racing speed
- Medical reason: Manages DDSP (dorsal displacement of the soft palate) — an airway obstruction condition
- Behavioral reason: Reduces excessive bit-chewing in anxious horses — least evidence-supported use
- Legal status: Legal in US, UK, Australia, France, Ireland — banned in Germany since 2018
Table of Contents
What Is a Tongue Tie?
A tongue tie is a soft strap — typically made from nylon webbing, elastic, or cloth — that is looped around a horse’s tongue and secured to its lower jaw or to the rings of the bit. It’s applied before a race or workout and removed immediately after. The goal is to hold the tongue in a fixed, forward position so it can’t move upward or backward during exercise. Tongue ties have been used in racing since at least the early 20th century, originally fashioned from leather or cloth strips before modern nylon and elastic versions became standard.
How a Tongue Tie Is Applied
Application takes less than a minute in practiced hands. A groom or trainer loops the strap around the horse’s tongue, draws it snugly under the lower jaw, and ties or clips it securely in place. The fit should be firm enough to stay put at racing speed but loose enough that a finger can slide underneath — tight enough to function, not so tight that it restricts blood flow or causes immediate pain. The tie is always removed immediately after the race or workout. Most jurisdictions require that application be done by a licensed official or under veterinary supervision, particularly for first-time use.
Tongue ties are one part of a broader set of decisions trainers make about racehorse headgear. Our complete racehorse equipment guide covers all the gear racehorses wear on race day and how trainers choose between them.
Why Do Racehorses Wear Tongue Ties?
Trainers use tongue ties for three distinct reasons. Understanding which reason applies to a specific horse matters — because the evidence for effectiveness varies significantly depending on which problem is being addressed.
Preventing the Tongue from Getting Over the Bit
Some horses learn to maneuver their tongue over the bit during a race or workout. Once the tongue is over the bit, the rider loses significant rein contact — steering becomes unreliable and the horse can effectively ignore the jockey’s signals. In a race at 40 mph in a field of horses, that’s a safety problem, not just a performance one.
This is the most straightforward use case for a tongue tie, and the one where trainers have the clearest behavioral evidence that it works. If a horse consistently gets its tongue over the bit in works and the tongue tie stops it, the logic is direct. One of my fillies does exactly this — we’ve tried several bit configurations, and the tongue tie is the only thing that reliably keeps her tongue in place during hard works.
Miles’s Take — What to Watch For: You can usually tell when a horse has been getting its tongue over the bit — the jockey will report losing contact on one rein, or you’ll see the horse tilting its head and running greenly even with an experienced rider. That’s your signal to look at the tongue, not the bit selection.
Maintaining a Clear Airway — DDSP
The more medically complex reason for tongue ties involves a condition called dorsal displacement of the soft palate, or DDSP. During intense exercise, the soft palate — a flap of tissue at the back of the throat — can shift upward and obstruct the airway. Horses with DDSP make a distinctive gurgling or choking sound mid-race and often stop suddenly as their airway becomes compromised.
The theory behind using a tongue tie for DDSP is that keeping the tongue pulled forward also pulls the structures at the base of the tongue, which may help anchor the soft palate in its correct position below the airway. This is the most medically claimed benefit of tongue ties — and also the most contested by researchers, as the science section covers below. Bleeding from the lungs is a separate but related respiratory concern worth understanding — see our article on why racehorses bleed from the lungs.
Reducing Oral Distractions and Improving Focus
Some horses are excessive bit-chewers or tongue-players — constantly moving their mouth, rolling the bit, or working their tongue in ways that occupy their attention during a race. Trainers sometimes use a tongue tie to limit this activity and help anxious or fresh horses settle and focus.
This is the least evidence-supported reason for tongue tie use, and the one where the welfare cost-benefit calculation is most questionable. The horse is experiencing some form of oral anxiety or habit, and the response is physical restriction rather than addressing the underlying cause. Trainers often reach for a tie in this situation not because the evidence points to it, but because it’s what’s in the tack room and it’s what they’ve always done. Alternatives — particularly bit changes and behavioral training — often produce better long-term results.
What the Science Actually Says
The scientific evidence on tongue tie effectiveness is more limited — and more skeptical — than their widespread use might suggest.
Science sources: McGreevy et al. (2017), Equine Veterinary Journal — stress responses and effectiveness; Animals (NIH/PMC) — upper airway dimensions during exercise.
Regulatory sources: British Horseracing Authority; RSPCA Australia. Barn observations from Thoroughbred racing in Louisiana.
A significant 2017 study from the University of Sydney, published in the Equine Veterinary Journal, found that tongue ties might reduce airway obstruction in a small subset of horses with confirmed pre-existing conditions. However, the same study documented clear stress responses in many horses during application and wear — increased mouth gaping, head tossing, and repeated attempts to dislodge the tie. Lead researcher Professor Paul McGreevy concluded there is still no definitive proof that tongue ties improve performance for most horses.
A separate study published in the journal Animals found that tongue ties do not consistently widen the upper airways in racehorses — which directly challenges the primary claimed mechanism for their use in DDSP management. The assumption that holding the tongue forward automatically improves airflow lacks robust scientific backing across the broader horse population.
What this means practically: tongue ties may genuinely help horses with confirmed DDSP in specific anatomical circumstances, but using them as a routine precaution on horses without a documented airway issue has no strong scientific justification. The evidence supports targeted use, not blanket application.
Miles’s Take — What I See at the Track: The research hasn’t changed what I see at the track — tongue ties are still used on plenty of horses that don’t have a confirmed airway issue. Some trainers use them out of habit, some because they’ve always worked that way, and some because they genuinely believe in the behavioral benefits. The science is asking us to be more selective. I think that’s the right direction.
Welfare Concerns and the Critics’ Case
The welfare debate around tongue ties has intensified as evidence has grown that they cause measurable stress in many horses without consistent performance benefit. The central concern is straightforward: if the evidence for benefit is weak and the evidence for stress is documented, the calculation shifts.
Documented welfare concerns:
- Stress responses — Studies record increased mouth gaping, head tossing, elevated heart rate, and higher salivary cortisol in horses wearing tongue ties. These are measurable physiological markers, not just behavioral observations.
- Potential for oral injury — An incorrectly fitted or overly tight tie can cause bruising, lacerations, or long-term sensitivity in the tongue and surrounding tissue — injuries that may not be visible during paddock inspection.
- Restricted natural movement — Confining the tongue limits a horse’s ability to swallow normally during exercise and interferes with other subtle oral functions.
- Hanging tongue syndrome — Repeated or overly tight tongue tying has been linked to nerve damage that can cause the tongue to hang permanently outside the mouth. This is more common than many in the industry acknowledge.
Organizations including RSPCA Australia have called for stronger regulation or outright bans, citing both the behavioral distress evidence and the lack of consistent performance benefit. Some jurisdictions have responded — Victoria, Australia now requires mandatory veterinary inspection of tongue ties before races, and Germany banned them entirely in 2018. These regulatory moves reflect a shift in how the industry is weighing the evidence. This connects to broader patterns of behavioral stress in racehorses that trainers and regulators are increasingly taking seriously.
From the barn: I had a gelding that became visibly agitated every time we tried a tongue tie — head shaking, ears pinned, clearly communicating that he hated it. We switched to a different bit configuration and the behavior we were trying to fix resolved without the tie. That horse taught me more about the limits of tongue ties than any study. Some horses tolerate them fine. Others tell you clearly they don’t. You have to pay attention to which one you’re dealing with.
How Tongue Tie Use Varies Around the World
Tongue tie use isn’t consistent globally — regulatory approaches range from routine acceptance to outright prohibition, and the split largely tracks how aggressively each jurisdiction has engaged with the welfare research.
| Jurisdiction | Status | Notable Detail |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Legal, widely used | Common in both Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing; often used preventively without confirmed diagnosis |
| Australia | Legal, under scrutiny | 72% of trainers used one on at least one horse (2009–2013 data); tongue ties appear in 20%+ of race starts; Victoria requires pre-race vet inspection |
| United Kingdom | Legal, increasing debate | Common in flat racing; welfare organizations pushing for tighter regulation |
| Germany | Banned (2018) | First major racing jurisdiction to ban use entirely on welfare grounds — applies to all racing under German racing authority rules |
| France / Ireland | Legal | No outright ban; use is declared as equipment change on official program |
The Australian numbers are particularly striking — data from all Thoroughbred races between 2009 and 2013 show that 72% of trainers used a tongue tie on at least one horse over the five-year period, with tongue ties appearing in over 20% of all race starts. Those adoption levels drove much of the welfare research and regulatory response, and explain why Australia leads the world in mandatory pre-race veterinary inspection requirements for tongue tie use.
How Trainers Decide Whether to Use a Tongue Tie
A thoughtful trainer’s decision process for tongue ties is more rigorous than simply reaching for one because other horses in the barn wear them. The evaluation should identify the specific problem first — is the horse getting its tongue over the bit, making a breathing noise mid-race, or excessively chewing the bit? The answer determines whether a tongue tie is the right tool at all.
A working decision checklist:
- Identify the specific problem first — tongue over the bit, airway noise, or behavioral chewing. The cause determines the tool.
- Scope before assuming DDSP — a veterinary endoscopy during exercise will confirm or rule out the airway issue. Don’t add a tongue tie for a breathing problem you haven’t diagnosed.
- Try it in works before race day — a horse that responds badly to the tie in morning gallops is telling you something. Don’t race a horse in equipment it hasn’t accepted in training.
- Check the fit carefully — the tie should be snug enough to stay in place but loose enough to slide a finger underneath. Fit matters as much as the decision to use one.
- Monitor and reassess — if a horse has been wearing a tongue tie for several seasons, periodically evaluate whether it’s still necessary. Some horses outgrow the problem that originally required it.
Miles’s Take — What I Watch in the Paddock: When I add a tongue tie before a race, I always watch the horse’s reaction as I fit it. A horse that accepts it quietly and goes on with its day is fine. A horse that immediately starts working against it, shaking its head or opening its mouth repeatedly — that’s a conversation we need to have before we get to the gate. I’ve scratched horses from a race rather than run them in equipment they were clearly rejecting at that moment.
Alternatives to Tongue Ties in Horse Racing
For each of the three problems tongue ties address, there are alternative approaches that avoid the welfare concerns — and sometimes produce better results. The right alternative depends on which problem you’re actually trying to solve.
For Tongue-Over-Bit Issues
Modified bit designs — including bits with rollers, keys, or elevated ports — physically occupy more space in the mouth and make it harder for the tongue to maneuver over the mouthpiece. A figure eight noseband prevents the horse from opening its mouth wide enough to get the tongue over the bit without restricting the tongue itself. In my barn, the figure eight noseband has become the first thing we try before reaching for a tongue tie.
Miles’s Take — Figure Eight First: The figure eight noseband has replaced the tongue tie in my barn for most situations where we used to reach for a tie automatically. It’s less invasive, horses accept it more readily, and it addresses the same mechanical problem — the tongue can’t get over the bit if the mouth can’t open wide enough for that to happen. Worth trying before going to a tie.
For Airway and DDSP Issues
For horses with confirmed DDSP, surgical options exist that directly address the anatomical problem rather than managing it with equipment. Tie-forward surgery repositions the larynx to prevent the soft palate from displacing upward. Tie-back surgery (laryngoplasty) is used for a related condition — roaring — where the laryngeal cartilage on one side is paralyzed. These are significant procedures with recovery periods, but for horses with confirmed structural issues they offer a permanent solution rather than race-by-race management.
For Behavioral and Focus Issues
Consistent groundwork, positive reinforcement training, and reducing pre-race anxiety through routine and familiarity are more effective long-term solutions for horses that use their mouth as an anxiety outlet. Non-invasive equipment like blinkers and shadow rolls can help manage distraction without any oral restriction. Earplugs reduce sensory overload before the gate without adding physical restraint.
Key Takeaways: Tongue Ties in Horse Racing
- Three reasons, very different evidence: Tongue-over-bit prevention has the clearest behavioral evidence; DDSP management is medically contested; behavioral distraction is the least supported and most often driven by trainer habit rather than diagnosis.
- Science and welfare both point the same direction: Peer-reviewed research shows no consistent airway benefit for most horses and documents measurable stress responses — the global regulatory trend toward scrutiny and mandatory vet oversight reflects this finding.
- Nosebands and bit changes first: A figure eight noseband handles most tongue-over-bit cases without oral restriction; surgical options address DDSP structurally; behavioral training handles oral anxiety more sustainably than physical restraint.
FAQs: Racehorse Tongue Ties
Why do horses wear tongue ties in racing?
Trainers use tongue ties for three main reasons: to prevent the tongue from getting over the bit, to help manage soft palate displacement (DDSP) that can obstruct the airway, and occasionally to reduce oral distractions in anxious horses. The evidence for effectiveness varies depending on which problem is being addressed.
Can a horse swallow its tongue?
No — horses cannot physically swallow their tongues. The phrase is often used loosely to describe dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP), where the soft palate shifts upward and partially obstructs the airway during intense exercise. DDSP is a real and diagnosable condition, but it is anatomically distinct from the tongue itself moving into the airway.
Do tongue ties hurt horses?
When correctly fitted, most horses tolerate tongue ties without obvious pain. However, research has documented measurable stress responses — elevated heart rate, increased cortisol, head tossing — in many horses during application and wear. Overly tight or incorrectly fitted ties can cause bruising or lacerations. Repeated use has been linked in some cases to permanent tongue nerve damage.
Are tongue ties legal in horse racing?
Yes, in most jurisdictions including the United States, Australia, the UK, France, and Ireland. Germany banned them in 2018. Victoria, Australia requires mandatory veterinary inspection before races. The global trend is toward greater oversight and tighter regulation.
Why do some racehorses’ tongues hang out?
A permanently hanging tongue can result from nerve damage caused by repeated or overly tight tongue tying. It is sometimes visible when the horse is relaxed at rest and is not necessarily connected to current tongue tie use.
What is DDSP in horses?
Dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) is a condition where the soft palate at the back of the throat displaces upward during intense exercise, partially obstructing the airway. Horses with DDSP make a distinctive gurgling sound mid-race and may stop suddenly. It is diagnosable via veterinary endoscopy during exercise and has both equipment-based and surgical treatment options.
What are the alternatives to tongue ties?
For tongue-over-bit issues: modified bit designs or a figure eight noseband. For confirmed DDSP: tie-forward or tie-back surgery addresses the structural problem directly. For behavioral or focus issues: bit changes, consistent training, and non-invasive equipment like blinkers or shadow rolls are often more effective long-term solutions.
Are tongue ties declared on the official race program?
In the United States, tongue ties are generally not declared on the official program and do not appear in past performances. In France and Ireland they are typically listed as an equipment change. In Australia, rules require disclosure. If you want to know whether a horse is wearing a tongue tie, the paddock is the most reliable place to check — look for the characteristic strip of cloth or rubber securing the lower jaw before the horse is led out for the post parade.
About Miles Henry
Racehorse Owner & Author | 30+ Years in Thoroughbred Racing
Miles Henry (legal name: William Bradley) is a professional horseman based in Folsom, Louisiana. He holds Louisiana Racing License #67012 and has spent over three decades managing Thoroughbreds at premier tracks including Fair Grounds, Delta Downs, and Evangeline Downs.
Expertise & Hands-On Experience: Beyond the track, Miles has decades of experience in specialized equine care, covering everything from hoof health and nutrition to training protocols for Quarter Horses, Friesians, and Paints. Every guide on Horse Racing Sense is rooted in this “boots-on-the-ground” perspective.
30 of their last 90 starts
Equibase Profile.
Connect with Miles: