reason for horse to lug in or out

Question
hello sir. why do horses feel like lugging in or out during the race? last week, at our local racetrack, a jockey reported that a horse was lugging in badly, so he couldn't ride to complete advantage. during vet examination, it was revealed that the horse lost right fore shoe. our racetracks are right handed sir.

Answer
A horse may lug in or out for many reasons. Losing a shoe is one of many. Some horses just like to run against the rail or against other horses. Some want to leave the track if they are hurting, therefore they will lug out. A variety of lameness problems are a major cause of lugging. It's up to the trainer to find out if the problems are physical or mental.

Christopher Crocker

http://CrockerRacingStable.com