What are the chains around a horse’s pasterns? Are they painful to the horse?
A – Those chains are known as “action devices” and encourage horses to lift their feet higher. Action devices are common training tools for most breeds. In the Walking Horse industry, action devices are not allowed to weigh more than 6 ounces – comparable to the weight of a wristwatch or bracelet. Research conducted at Auburn University’s School of Veterinary Medicine determined that 6 ounce chains used as action devices on Tennessee Walking Horses do not cause any detectable pain or tissue damage to the horses.
