Second Wind?

[ZarasMum]

I keep my horses on a large yard where the majority of the others own OTTBs. Today one of their owners explained to me about a thoroughbred's 'second wind'. She said that you could be galloping along and the all of a sudden you would feel the horse take a huge intake of breath and their lungs would get even bigger, and then they would speed up with renewed enthusiasm - and that was their second wind. She said only thoroughbreds do this, no other breeds.

Is this true? I nearly asked whether my shire x TB would also do this as she also (obviously) has TB blood although this person isn't aware of that - as far as she is concerned she's just a 'heavy' (but couldn't be @rsed to carry on the conversation to be honest)

 

[fjordhorsefan]

I don't know the answer, but I am intrigued! Upping!

 

[Foxhunter49]

Not true!

Although TB;s have a greater lung capacity than most horses it takes more then one gulp for them to get their second wind.

 

[ZarasMum]

Not true!

Although TB;s have a greater lung capacity than most horses it takes more then one gulp for them to get their second wind.

Ahh, thanks FH49 - so how does 'second wind' work?

 

[Sparkles]

I've only ever used that phrase out hunting myself...but with the same-ish meaning behind it. Usually after you've stayed for second horses, on the the first horse still - where it may have felt a bit lagging just before second horses, it then takes the bit again and has a sudden energy rush again.

 

[domane]

I've never heard of this.... would have thought it might have been mentioned in the programme about the dissected racehorse earlier in the week though....

 

[mulledwhine]

I guess it is like marathon runners, they hit ' the wall' once they break through they get their second wind

 

[HihoGinger]

I guess it is like marathon runners, they hit ' the wall' once they break through they get their second wind

That's how I understand it it too.

 

[Clippy]

I've heard the saying out hunting but was under the impression it was when you give a tired horse a rest so it has the chance to find its second wind and continue with vigour

 

[nikCscott]

I watched a Team Frederick's programme where Lucinda described this (i'd never heard of it before) - they used it for gaging fitness on the gallops and monitoring at what point the horse to it's 'second wind' compared to last time.

My boy does it over a couple of breaths and he's a WB so not exclusive to TB's