Bitless?

[Bluesy]

Hello,

I have a horse who when ridden shakes her head up and down , I have tried holding my reins really loose at the end of the buckle and using an anatomical bridle with bit, she also tends to run away from the bridle when tacking up so I think there has got to be some reason she does this .

She has had vet treatment for ulcers and suspensories .

Im just worried that we won’t be able to do any dressage in a bitless

Should I try a bitless bride , if so what type? Or try a different bit, if that then what type ? Thank you

 

[SEL]

It's worth a vet check of the mouth too. I have a pony who is ridden bitless because her soft palate is too floppy. She also has a pollen allergy which can lead to head shaking around now

 

[AmyMay]

You need to establish whether she had a problem with her mouth, and possibly get a bitting expert out.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

It could be a mouth problem a bridle fit problem or that the bit is not right, it could also be seasonal head shaking or simply that the bridle is sitting on the facial nerve.

One of mine has nerve damage so anything you put on his head causes him to rub his nose and head on things, but it can also cause head shaking.

I would get a vet or a good dentist to completely check the mouth to rule that out might be worth letting the vet see what the horse does when tacked up.

If everything checks out it would be worth getting a bit fit person out as they will also advise you on what type of bridle you need.

You could try a bridle without a noseband and browband quite often the browband is too tight so pulls the head piece forward pinching the ears, and often a noseband will sit along the facial nerve both can cause head shaking.

 

[cauda equina]

I thought one of mine had a fussy mouth; it turns out he has a fussy face, and is fine with a bit but no noseband or browband