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Tracy Bye with the University Centre Bishop Burton in Yorkshire, and student Nina Robinson used five university-owned horses in a study using three types of bridles: a bridle with a snaffle bit and regular noseband, a cross-under bitless bridle, and a sidepull bitless bridle. The nosebands on the bitless bridles were fitted to manufacturer instructions and the bridle with the snaffle was tightened to the “two finger” rule.

Each bridle was fitted with pressure sensors under the crown piece and the noseband. The horses were worked for 30 minutes per day, three days in a row with the same rider, with each type of bridle.

The scientists found that the average amount of pressure on the nose was 65 percent higher with a sidepull bitless bridle than a snaffle-bit bridle. The cross-under bitless bridle had pressure that was 11 percent higher than a snaffle bridle. Compared to the snaffle, peak pressure on the nasal bones were 147 percent higher with the sidepull and 109 percent higher with the cross-under bridle compared with the snaffle.

Though peak pressures were high, they were not sustained, so it's unclear if they would cause damage. The team found that each noseband created pressure as high as that recommended for a tourniquet in human medicine. The scientists also noted that horses ridden in a cross-under bridle tended to hold their heads higher with their necks extended, which could contribute to back pain and poor performance.

The team concluded that the different styles merely transfer the pressure to other areas of the face. The ideal welfare solution may be teaching riders to use their hands differently rather than switch to any one particular type of equipment.

Read more at The Horse.

The post Study Indicates Bitless Bridles Not Necessarily Better Than Snaffles When It Comes To Equine Welfare appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Marie Eisersiö and researchers from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala believe that a better understanding of how rein tension affects horses could help riders and handlers improve their abilities, as well as lead to improved equine performance and welfare.

The team found that horses tend to fight a bit more than a halter; the scientists believe that this is because horses have learned to associate the pieces of equipment with different experiences, like trying to pull the reins from a rider's hands to alleviate discomfort.

The scientists used twenty 4- to 15-year old mares and geldings that were used as lesson horses. The team used a tension meter to determine how much pressure had to be applied to get the horse to back up. They also observed the horse's behavior. Each horse was tested eight times in a nylon halter and eight times in a bridle with a snaffle bit.

The team found that horses responded to less tension when they were bridled than when they wore a halter. They also noted that bridled horses tossed their heads and gaped their mouths to try to avoid the bit. This is an indicator that many horses don't receive relief from rein tension when doing what they are asked, report the scientists.

The researchers note that applying learning theory and negative reinforcement correctly should allow for the use of softer equipment.

Read more at The Horse.

The post Haltered Horses More Resistant To Handler Cues Than Bridled Horses appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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