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[RC] Bitlmore - Tie-ups - Don't Be Discouraged - Stagg_NewmanNancy Sluys wrote: .... My horse Indigo Blue was one of 2 horses that tied up on the first loop of the Biltmore ride this weekend at about 5-7 miles out. I am pretty stumped as to why this happened and I was hoping for some insight from some others experienced with this syndrome. ... Nancy, Cannot give you any simple answer. Maggie Price who had to manage a mare, Annie, that had a real tendency to tie-up, particularly in spring, used to say that tie-ups occurred when about a half dozen factors aligned up wrong. My horse Ramegwa Drubin has tied-up a few of times including at the Race of Champions in 1991. Factors that seem to increase the probability of tie-up: 1) Overexcitement. This was definitely a factor in my tie-ups. I believe controlled starts in a large group can contribute to this. So I try to get isolated from a large group as soon as possible. 2) Any change in diet. Spring grass in particular seems to have chemicals in it (I am told similar to what a mare produces when in heat) that can bring on tie-up if horses are not used to it. 3) Too rich a diet (e.g. change to alfalfa, more grain than normal. 3) Mares being in heat. Unlikely in your horse of course. 4) Dehydration which is frequently caused by travel. 5) Being confined more than normal (classic Monday morning tie-up syndrone. 6) Change in weather, particularly high humidity which causes heat build-up. 7) Faster pace than normal frequently due to early morning excitement. I try to really control the early pace to an easy working trot. 8) Change in footing. Soft grass or mud can cause the horse to work harder and in different ways than they are used. My horse was working at a putting high pulse rate through those grassy fields at Biltmore even though I was way back in the pack and asking him to take it easy. 9) Climibing up steepish hills. Did your tie-up occur after the grassy stretch including the steep winding grassy hill we did about 6 or so miles out? 10) Horses with heavy muscles seem more prone to tie-up so again one has to watch heat build-up. No easy solution to problem except to try to control as many factors as possible. Now in terms of not getting discourged: that horse of Maggie's Annie that had a tendency to tie-up finished 4th in the '91 and '93 North American and 3rd in the '92 Worlds (when Maggie was 60+ !!!) And that horse of mine that tie-up in the '91 Race of Champions went on to complete 33 100s including 7 wins 100s in the next year, '92 and was just inducted into the AERC Hall of Fame. Rest, patience, careful management and persistence worked for us. All horse are different of course. Best of luck solving your problem and share with us what you learn. Stagg Newman
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