Harness Racing gear and equipment can be somewhat overwhelming to the uninitiated person - where do all those straps go?!

But every piece of equipment has a specific role in keeping the horse straight, tractable and in its correct gait, at high speed, in tightly packed fields.

Hopples are the loops seen around the legs of pacers, whilst not restrictive they encourage the horse to maintain the lateral stride that characterises the pace. Trotters can wear half hopples around their front legs to assist them in a similar way.

A variety of blinkers, hoods and other head gear are used to vary a horse’s field of vision during a race. Most often they are used to keep the horse concentrating and listening to their driver’s cues but depending on the individual horse’s personality these can also be used to help the horse feel calm or for a more relaxed horse they can be used to excite them. Some horses perform better when they can see their competitors, others when they cannot, good trainers will experiment and learn what works best for each individual.

Tongue ties are a somewhat misunderstood piece of equipment; they are used for a very short period of time (the last thing put on the horse pre-race and the first thing removed) and keep the horse from placing its tongue over the bit. A horse with its tongue over the bit effectively loses steering and at 50+km/h in a group of 10-12 horses attached to sulkies this can be very dangerous. Regular dental care and correct bit choice can minimise the need for a tongue tie, but some horses still require one to participate safely. HRA has strict regulations governing the use of not only tongue ties but all items of gear.

Harness Racing Australia maintains a Gear and Equipment List that works alongside the Australian Harness Racing Rules.

As new gear hits the market, HRA keeps the list up to date with approved and banned items, assessing each piece to ensure it’s safe, functional and won’t harm the horse. Expert veterinary advice is used when making these decisions.

Trainers unsure about any gear or combination must check with their controlling body before using it. All gear must be registered, and any changes reported before a horse’s next start.

Every item used must be approved, in good condition and able to handle race conditions. Under the AHRR, no gear or equipment may be used in a way that causes a horse to suffer.