Bitless Bridle Approved In Europe

Published: November 15, 2011 12:43 pm EST

In what developers call a "landmark advance in racehorse welfare", harness racing bodies in Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway approved the 'Harness Horse Bitless Bridle with bit bypass straps' for racing use

in late October. If proof of success is needed, look no further.

On today's Trot Radio, Norm Borg revisits the concept of a bitless bridle with inventor Dr. Robert Cook, professor of surgery emeritus at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in Grafton, Mass. Cook informed Trot Radio that the approval of his bitless bridle came after two years of collaboration between himself and a harness horse trainer in Sweden, Kerstin Kemlén.

Fritiof Piraten, a three-year-old Andover Hall colt, raced with the bitless bridle at Sweden's Bollnas Racetrack on September 11, 2011. Normally this horse is what's referred to as a "hard puller" and frequently bleeds from the mouth. Because of a couple of false starts in a race three weeks prior, the horse had incurred a lacerated tongue that prevented further training in a standard bridle. At this stage, trainer Susanne Richter was introduced to the Harness Horse Bitless Bridle by Kemlén. After trailing the field, the horse produced an astonishing burst of speed in the last 400 meters. He finished a narrow second in the race and brought home 50,000 SEK or about $7,700.

With six starts using this new bitless bridle, Fritiof Piraten has banked 135000 SEK in prize money or $20,000 and raced five of those six starts in the major Swedish trotting league while recording new personal bests for races 2140 meters and 2640 metres.

Will we see this bridle in use in North America? Cook doesn't see why trainers in Ontario couldn't start using it today.

"I spent half a hour looking over the standardbred rules of racing for the Ontario Racing Commission. Interestingly, I can't see anything in the rules of racing about equipment that is approved or unapproved."

To listen to the full interview with Dr. Cook and Borg, click the play button below.

Episode 237 – Dr. Robert Cook

Audio Format: MP3 audio

Host: Norm Borg


Please note that the opinions expressed in the featured interview are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect Rideau Carleton Raceway and/or Standardbred Canada.

Tags
Have something to say about this? Log in or create an account to post a comment.