Tongue-tie (tack)

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A tongue-tie is a piece of equipment used by racehorse trainers to prevent the horse from getting his tongue over the bit, which would make the animal very difficult or impossible to control. It is usually a strip of cloth, passed through the mouth and tied below the chin.

Research has shown that the tongue-tie does not restrict the animal's breathing[1]. However, research has also shown that the tongue-tie does not provide a respiratory benefit in healthy animals (as some trainers believe it prevents the horse's tongue from coming up, and therefore allows for free air intake) [2]. Other studies have shown that it does help prevent dorsal displacement of the soft palate, but success rate is low[3].