fashion or function?

[46zilzal]

More and more often I see horses having a cover over their flanks which remains in the gate after the start. NOT THAT many animals are, all of a sudden, that squeamish about having the gate touch them are they?

[skate]

i see about one per year

[Perilous]

I think it is a "trend" for some trainers, that tend to use them.:rolleyes:

They are a PITA to put on, you have to take the horse to the gate earlier and so on, and I think sometimes they might get the horse more upset then they actually help...