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The psychology behind starting gate jitters
ONSIDERING the pressure that athletes put on themselves – plus pressure from their fans – it shouldn’t be a stretch to consider that Thoroughbreds also suffer starting gate jitters that manifest in various ways. From swaying, weaving, and flexing and extending distal limbs to sizing up the competition, many horses in the starting gate behave like the competitors lining up for the ever-popular men’s 100m race in the Olympic Games. Take a look at the video coverage of this year’s Travers…while eventual winner Arrogate and Laoban both appeared cool as cucumbers, Governor Malibu was antsy, rocking from side to side, and many spectators
Pre-competition rituals can be witnessed in even the most seasoned competitor in almost every sport. From slapping their sticks and fussing with seemingly every single piece of equipment protecting their bodies before the puck drops, hockey goalies take the term “pre-game jitters” to a whole new level. Not to be bested, baseball players have their share of eccentricities while approaching and entering the batter’s box, and don’t even get me started on pro ping pong! WORDS: Stacey Oke DVM, MSc PHOtOS: HORSePHOtOS
witnessed overt head shaking by Forever d’Oro when the gate opened. What do these pre-race behaviors signify? Do they represent a welfare issue like stereotypies? In this article, both pre-race behavior and stereotypies are described with contributions from Sid Gustafson, DVM, a practicing veterinarian and novelist
from Montana. Gustafson, author of Equine Behavior: The Nature of Horses, also teaches equine behavior at Equine Guelph, University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada
Pre-race behaviors – stress or signs of success?
In the late 1990s, Geoffrey Hutson,
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