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Study Indicates Bitless Bridles Not Necessarily Better Than Snaffles When It Comes To Equine Welfare

Some riders believe that riding a horse without a bit is kinder than traditional bitted options, but new research suggests this may not be the case. Results of a new study show bitless bridles can cause as much pain and pressure on the horse's face as a traditional noseband might, according to The Horse.

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.

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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.

Don’t Be Pushy: How To Redirect Your Horse’s Head-Butting Habit

A horse that headbutts is often simply trying to connect with a human, but the action can also signal the horse's desire for control of a situation. Though headbutting can be harmless, horses are large and strong and headbutting can endanger human safety if carried too far.

Instead of pushing the horse away and saying “no,” a handler can offer the horse other behaviors that aren't dangerous to humans, suggests a recent report from The Horse. Dr. Andrew McLean of the Australian Equine Behaviour Center says a horse testing his limits with his handler is acquiring his “sense of agency.” Basically, he's trying to see what he can get away with.

If a horse is head-butting to show his bond with his handler, offering the horse a gentler option such as rubbing on an arm or shoulder is helpful. This allows the horse the social interaction he craves while keeping his handler safe.

A horse that is head-butting to control his environment is able to move the handler around — voluntarily or not. Pressure was applied, the human moved and the horse removed the pressure. An alternative is to offer the horse a vocal command, like “back” to move the horse instead. This response must be conditioned in advance, McLean says. A horse that performs a learned response retains the sense of control he gained when headbutting.

Learn more at The Horse.

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Research Update: The Effect Of A Half Pad On Pressure Distribution

Half pads are used in many English riding disciplines to correct saddle fit, help distribute rider weight and absorb impact. Most half pads are constructed using wool, gel, or foam, and can be of varying thicknesses. The objective of a recent study, conducted in the United Kingdom, was to determine how half pad type affected the distribution of pressure under a well-fitting saddle.

Twelve high-level dressage horses tacked with properly fitting dressage saddles were ridden in a seated trot and canter on both the left and right rein. Horses were ridden with four half pad treatments, which included a control (only a cotton saddle cloth was placed under the saddle), gel half pad (viscoelastic gel pad not shaped to the horse's back), wool half pad (1-inch thick, natural wool pad shaped to the horse's back with a mesh spine channel connecting the two wool side panels), and foam half pad (1 inch thick, foam pad shaped to the horse's back with a mesh spine connecting the two foam side panels). All half pads were placed on top of a cotton saddle cloth and were “tented” into the saddle gullet to provide wither clearance.

At the trot and canter, pressure under the front of the saddle was greatest when using gel half pads, but remained similar between the wool and foam half pads compared to the control. Pressure was reduced in the back half of the saddle when fitted with a wool half pad at the trot, and when fitted with either a wool or foam half pad at the canter compared to the control. Researchers observed that the gel half pads tended to shift and flatten over the withers during riding compared to the wool and foam half pads, which remained “tented” into the saddle gullet. They hypothesized that the change in position may have led to the increased pressure at the front of the saddle. The researchers concluded that wool and foam half pads could help reduce pressure towards the back of well-fitting saddles at the canter, however, riders should consult with a professional saddle fitter to discuss if different half pads are suitable on an individual horse and rider basis.

Read more at the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science.

The post Research Update: The Effect Of A Half Pad On Pressure Distribution appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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New Study May Hold Hope For Headshakers

Horses are notoriously sensitive creatures, with their face, legs and flanks especially receptive to touch, heat and pressure.

A new study has been completed that measures equine facial sensitivity to touch, pressure and heat; it's hoped that results could help idiopathic headshakers. Horses that suffer from headshaking are believed to be have a hypersensitivity of the trigeminal nerve, reports The Horse.

Dr. Kata O. Veres-Nyéki and her research team measured the facial sensitivity and nerve functions of horses using handheld devices. These testing methods allow the researchers to detect differences in tolerance and also to determine if pain relief measures are successful.

The scientists used 34 Warmblood horses in their study, ranging in age from 1 to 23 years old. They tested how sensitive the horses were to touch using a thin, flexible stick called a von Frey filament. Thermodes, which are medical heating devices, were pressed gently against the horse's face and warmed from 86 degrees F to 141 degrees F to determine how sensitive they were to heat. Pressure sensitivity was tested using a handheld algometer, which gradually increased the pressure placed on a silicone tip.

All three tests were stopped when a horse reacted in any way to the contact; this included twitching, blinking reactively or moving the head away. Age did affect horse's tolerance level to all three tactics, with horses becoming more tolerant as they aged. It's suspected that this is due to cumulative damage to the nervous system.

The scientists pinpointed that tactile sensitivity is best tested on the nostril; pressure sensitivity is best measured on each side of the jaw; and heat sensitivity best measures on the forehead over the eye. Veres-Nyéki notes that facial sensitivity testing of individual horses may help diagnose nerve sensory abnormalities.

The study team noted that clipping horses may limit their sensitivity. Additionally, they suggest that riders and trainers consider using gentler equipment on the heads of younger horses as their sensitivity thresholds are lower than aged horses.