Pennies and Horses

Bajajim · August 28, 2007 7:03AM

I was speaking to a horse trainer at the race track and he told me that it is commonplace in some stables to put pennies in a female horse's water when she is "in season". It supposedly helps calm the horse during this time period. (the dates of pennies used, such as pre 1982 were not relevant). I know this is somewhat off topic but I had never heard of this, didn't understand why this would work, and thought it was interesting.

If only wheaties were used I wouldn't have posted this in fear of a mad rush of forum members to their local stables.

66RB · August 28, 2007 7:08AM

sounds like an 'old wives tale'........
similar to the one where kids would put a penny under their tongue before mommy takes their temperature. Supposedly the copper in the penny would cause an artificially high reading on the thermometer, and the kids get to stay home sick for the day. Not true, unfortunately

tightbudget · August 28, 2007 7:09AM

I live in a place where horses are commonplace and I have never heard of such a thing.

Bajajim · August 28, 2007 7:09AM

I have heard it at two different stables...could be superstition.

ModernCrapNut · August 28, 2007 7:12AM

I've spent a lot of time around horses, and had a couple of friends who were trainers. I've never heard of this.

66RB · August 28, 2007 7:15AM

Bajajim, I would lean more towards superstition

StrikeOutXXX · August 28, 2007 8:26AM

I called a friend for this one - I'm not much of a horse person:

Copper supplements while a horse is in heat is common practice if you're planning on breeding her, but usually through vitamins or special feed - he's never heard of pennies in horse's water. It aids in the foal's skeletal development (Sort of like pregnant women often have iron supplements). I wouldn't think copper in the cents would break down/transmit to the water anyhow would it?

The only other story he even related to copper and horses was with copper bits to help stimulate salivation - but that didn't seem to match this story

ricko · August 28, 2007 8:45AM

I have raised and bred horses... been associated with many breeders and horse owners. I have never heard of this. Cheers, RickO

flydoc · August 28, 2007 10:53AM

I would worry about the animal ingesting the coin and getting zinc toxicity. This can cause an acute hemolytic anemia in animals.

cladking · August 28, 2007 11:14AM

<< <i> I wouldn't think copper in the cents would break down/transmit to the water anyhow would it?

>>

No. Not in therapeutic quantities.

Pennies and Horses

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