A solution to respiratory and other problems of the horse caused by the bit

A physiological critique of the bit method of control led to the conclusion that it was contraindicated, counterproductive, and cruel. The evidence in dicated that the bit constituted a welfare problem, a hazard to the health of horse and rider, and a handicap to performance. it has long been known t hat the bit has many pernicious effects on the horse's mouth but its wide-r anging and baleful influence on the respiratory, musculo-skeletal and nervo us system has been overlooked. All the traditional bitless methods of contr ol have limitations and disadvantages but a new method of bitless control w as found to provide a physiologically acceptable and preferable alternative to the bit. The findings ore summarized as follows: Digestive System - The bit is on invasive method of control, as a body cavity is transgresse d - Bit-induced pain frequently causes loss of enthusiasm and even antipathy for exercise - Aversion to the bit includes well recognized problems such as reluctance to be bridled; head shyness; buccal ulcers; wolf tooth sensitivity; pain du ring dental eruption; mandibular fractures; lacerations of the lip, tongue and gingiva; eding from the mouth; open mouth; constant tongue movement; th e tongue being placed behind or over the bit; and an inclination for the ho rse to nullify the bit's control by gripping ii between its premolar teeth. - As the safety of horse and rider are imperiled when a horse takes the bit between its teeth and bolts, this constitutes a serious flaw in the bit me thod of control. - The bit triggers a slew of 'eating' responses that are diametrically oppo sed to those needed for rapid breathing at exercise. Galloping horses are n eurologically confused by being signaled to 'eat' and 'exercise' simultaneo usly, two mutually exclusive activities. Respiratory System - Bit control depends primarily on atlanto-occipital flexion (poll flexion) . This obstructs the nasopharyngeal airway. Hypoxia results and this leads to premature fatigue and reduced performance. - Jowl angle at exercise reflects the status of the atlanto-occipital joint a nd, therefore, provides a rough measure of nasopharyngeal obstruction - Evasion of the bit by retraction of the tongue causes elevation of the so ft palate and, therefore, nasopharyngeal obstruction ('swallowing the tongu e') - it also causes dorsal displacement of the soft palate ('flipping the pala te') and is considered to be the most common cause of this serious problem. - The bit breaks what should be an airtight seal of the lips at exercise. A ir invades the oropharynx and is yet another cause of dorsal displacement o f the soft palate. - Bit-induced nasopharyngeal obstruction ca uses inspiratory laryngeal stri der ('roaring') at exercise. This source of strider should be considered in the differential diagnosis of recurrent laryngeal neuropathy and other obs tructive diseases of the upper airway - Bit-induced soft palate elevation is the most common cause of epiglottal entrapment - Persistent bit-induced upper airway obstruction, together with other diseases such as recurrent laryngeal neuropathy, may in time be resp onsible for permanent tracheal stenosis ('scabbard trachea'), a problem fou nd to be much more common than previously reported - As a ny obstruction of the upper airway is the cause of asphyxia-induced pulmonary edema ("bleeding"), the bit must take its share of bia me for thi s widespread problem. - if the hypothesis is correct that asphyxia-iduced p ulmonary hemorrhage results in inflammatory Airway Disease (AID), then the bit must be listed as a primary cause of AID. Musculo-skeletal System - As the bit interferes with breathing and as breathing at the gallop is sy nchronized with locomotion, it follows that the bit also interferes with th e stride of the galloping horse - A horse that flexes at the atlanto-occipital joint and 'leans-on-the-bit' loses self-carriage and becomes heavier on the forehand. its stride become s shorter and, therefore, slower a matter of some importance in rating. - Forehand heaviness is incompatible with proper 'collection' and maximum h ind-quarter impulsion - Forehand heaviness places greater stress on the tendons, ligaments, joint s and bones of the forelegs and, alongside premature fatigue caused by hypo xia, is a factor in the cause of sore shins, breakdowns and fatal accidents - - Resistance to the bit causes rigidity of the neck and a loss of that cerv ical freedom so indispensable to optimum performance. It reduces the effici ency of the natural swing of the head and neck pendulum, which, in the wild , is an energy-saving device. - Rigidity of the cervical spine leads to rigidity of the rest of the spine and this, in turn, destroys the natural fluidity of limb movement. The bit can be the cause, therefore, of poor action, a stilted gait, and stumbling . it also explains why the bit is sometimes the cause of a horse being unab le to gallop in a straight line ('veering' or 'lugging'). Nervous System - The bit is:a well-recognized cause of acute pain in the mouth. Pain anywh ere is a notorious source of reduced performance. - The equine headshaking syndrome is compatible with bit-induced trigeminal neuralgia. Removal of the bit is the most rewarding treatment yet discover ed for this recalcitrant problem A new design of bitless bridle, that is neither a hackamore, basal nor side pull, permits full control that is pain-free and physiological. Known as th e acupressure bitless bridle, ii is composed of a simple but subtle system of two loops, one over the poll and one over the nose, it controls in two w ays. First, ii stimulates acupressure points behind the ear and over the po ll. Secondly, it generates a benevolent headlock on the whole of the head. It provides brakes by generating a 'submit' response from the horse that do es not involve marked poll flexion and airway obstruction. it provides stee ring by pushing on one hall of the head in a pain-free manner, rather than pulling focally on the highly sensitive tissues of the mouth. The acupressu re bitless bridle provides a humane, non-invasive and natural approach to h orsemanship and, unlike the other bitless bridles, is applicable to both ea rly and advanced schooling. The bridle has been tested by horsemen in nearl y ail branches of equitation and found to give almost universal satisfactio n. User's comments can be reviewed on the Internet at www.bitlessbridie.com .