AmyMay
Situation normal
Can anyone tell me about bridle lameness please?
Bridle Lameness
- Thread starter AmyMay
- Start date
hollyzippo
Well-Known Member
I think its a huge excuse for people not wanting to seek advise/get the vet for a horse which is lame! (Probably started big debate now- sorry!!) I think SOME horses, can go bridlelame- they wont relax onto the bit and nod as they are trying to evade the hand. Instructor at my old yard used to tell everyone their horses were bridle lame- in fact all turned out to be lame from one thing or another.
I think the key is to trot up and see what they are like with no rider. Then with just tack- sometimes the saddle can be tight and make them nod. If it is JUST when ridden- may be bridle lame but I think there are very few cases!
I think the key is to trot up and see what they are like with no rider. Then with just tack- sometimes the saddle can be tight and make them nod. If it is JUST when ridden- may be bridle lame but I think there are very few cases!
burtie
Well-Known Member
Bridle lameness can mean many things but normally relates to a horse that is a bit stiff or slightly uncomfortable in the mouth, head, neck or back, resulting in the horse backing of the bridle and clearly not quite right with uneven steps but very unclear on which leg. Also some horses can look bridle lame on hard ground looking like they are tiptoeing rather than going forward into the bridle.
Thats my understanding anyway!
Thats my understanding anyway!
Maesfen
Extremely Old Nag!
We also had one years ago that was as sound as a pound after it had recovered from a very bad bruised sole and it decided it liked the life of idleness. After that, put a bridle on, just that, nothing else and it would hobble out of the box; she had really got life sussed out and ended up becoming a broodmare that produced no end of winners!
PapaFrita
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I think its a huge excuse for people not wanting to seek advise/get the vet for a horse which is lame! (Probably started big debate now- sorry!!)
[/ QUOTE ]
LOL!! You might've done!
I think bridle lameness does exist, though, as you say, probably not as widely as people (would like to) think. Here, were I see SJers ride in draw reins virtually every second until they go in the ring, you see lots of horses that are tight in the neck, on the forehand and stomping their feet down in an irregular rhythm.
I hasten to add that not everyone uses drawreins incorrectly, but so many dooooo love to see neddy's head tucked into his chin
I think its a huge excuse for people not wanting to seek advise/get the vet for a horse which is lame! (Probably started big debate now- sorry!!)
[/ QUOTE ]
LOL!! You might've done!
I think bridle lameness does exist, though, as you say, probably not as widely as people (would like to) think. Here, were I see SJers ride in draw reins virtually every second until they go in the ring, you see lots of horses that are tight in the neck, on the forehand and stomping their feet down in an irregular rhythm.
I hasten to add that not everyone uses drawreins incorrectly, but so many dooooo love to see neddy's head tucked into his chin
Madam_max
Well-Known Member
I think, and I may be wrong that it stems from bad riding, i.e bad hands. The horse then becomes worried by the contact and drops behind the aids, causing it to skip in trot. My opinion though
hollyzippo
Well-Known Member
I agree- few are actually lame- just evading contact me thinks!!
FMM
Well-Known Member
I have only had one with "bridle lameness". Got the vet out and he said he thought the horse looked bridle lame. 3 months later the horse was diagnosed with degenerative joint problems, and 3 months after that was hardly able to walk properly and we sadly had him PTS.
I have always been a bit suspicious since then when people bandy "bridle lameness" as something the horse chooses to do when it doesn't want to be ridden. I am sure there ARE a few horses in the world who are clever enough to put things on, but 9/10 I reckon there is some other problem, be it rider, back, joint, whatever - to be quite blunt, most horses simply are not that clever.
I have always been a bit suspicious since then when people bandy "bridle lameness" as something the horse chooses to do when it doesn't want to be ridden. I am sure there ARE a few horses in the world who are clever enough to put things on, but 9/10 I reckon there is some other problem, be it rider, back, joint, whatever - to be quite blunt, most horses simply are not that clever.
Doublethyme
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I think its a huge excuse for people not wanting to seek advise/get the vet for a horse which is lame! (Probably started big debate now- sorry!!) I think SOME horses, can go bridlelame- they wont relax onto the bit and nod as they are trying to evade the hand. Instructor at my old yard used to tell everyone their horses were bridle lame- in fact all turned out to be lame from one thing or another.
I think the key is to trot up and see what they are like with no rider. Then with just tack- sometimes the saddle can be tight and make them nod. If it is JUST when ridden- may be bridle lame but I think there are very few cases
[/ QUOTE ]
Absolutely spot on! I loathe the term bridle lameness, its bandied around so much nowadays and like Holly, every case I have witnessed has turned out to be physical pain related for the horse.
I think its a huge excuse for people not wanting to seek advise/get the vet for a horse which is lame! (Probably started big debate now- sorry!!) I think SOME horses, can go bridlelame- they wont relax onto the bit and nod as they are trying to evade the hand. Instructor at my old yard used to tell everyone their horses were bridle lame- in fact all turned out to be lame from one thing or another.
I think the key is to trot up and see what they are like with no rider. Then with just tack- sometimes the saddle can be tight and make them nod. If it is JUST when ridden- may be bridle lame but I think there are very few cases
[/ QUOTE ]
Absolutely spot on! I loathe the term bridle lameness, its bandied around so much nowadays and like Holly, every case I have witnessed has turned out to be physical pain related for the horse.
JLav
Well-Known Member
Would also agree with those who have been suspicious of the term 'bridle lameness'.
Every case i've ever been involved with has always resulted in the diagnosis of a physical problem in the end.
Every case i've ever been involved with has always resulted in the diagnosis of a physical problem in the end.
henryhorn
Well-Known Member
I would disagree HJ, we have a mare who is without doubt bridle lame!
She ended up having numerous X rays, physios, new saddles, different bridles and it was only when we discovered she had a miniscule crack right up the front of her foot we realised what was wrong with her, and why she was so rarely lame with no obvious cause.
As a result of that pain, she developed a diffreent way of going to compensate which is commonly called bridle lame..
She now has the crack grown out completely from top to bottom but unless carefully ridden reverts to her old "skipping" movement which took the weight off that foot as it pinched as it left the ground, the opposite of normal lameness.
She goes sound when the rider works carefully on keeping her straight.
The hope is that as time goes on she forgets her developed method and sticks with the normal one. It's just a shame it took thousands of pounds, three farriers and three vets to discover the cae of the original lameness, by which time the bridle lameness had developed as a method of avoiding any pain. There is no doubt she is sound now and it's a habit, but as we all know, they are hard to break..
She ended up having numerous X rays, physios, new saddles, different bridles and it was only when we discovered she had a miniscule crack right up the front of her foot we realised what was wrong with her, and why she was so rarely lame with no obvious cause.
As a result of that pain, she developed a diffreent way of going to compensate which is commonly called bridle lame..
She now has the crack grown out completely from top to bottom but unless carefully ridden reverts to her old "skipping" movement which took the weight off that foot as it pinched as it left the ground, the opposite of normal lameness.
She goes sound when the rider works carefully on keeping her straight.
The hope is that as time goes on she forgets her developed method and sticks with the normal one. It's just a shame it took thousands of pounds, three farriers and three vets to discover the cae of the original lameness, by which time the bridle lameness had developed as a method of avoiding any pain. There is no doubt she is sound now and it's a habit, but as we all know, they are hard to break..
hollyzippo
Well-Known Member
Fingers crossed for you that she comes right- but that does support the theory that the horse was lame due to a physical discomfort. The fact that she is now bridlelame is a habit resulting from an actual lameness.
You clearly did the right thing exploring all paths so you know nothing has been missed and that you are not causing any problems now by riding her through it!
In my opinion 'bridlelame' horses should, as yours was, be looked at my a vet and if necessary, other professionals to rule out such problems.
You clearly did the right thing exploring all paths so you know nothing has been missed and that you are not causing any problems now by riding her through it!
In my opinion 'bridlelame' horses should, as yours was, be looked at my a vet and if necessary, other professionals to rule out such problems.
Baggybreeches
Well-Known Member
Somebody Iknow of has a horse that is 'bridle lame' ( a term akin to seperation anxiety if you ask me!) it is caused by her rigid seatt and hands, so the horse evades the contact, put a different rider on and in about 10minutes he is fine!
Bridle Lame is a term used to describe stiffness I think, most clinical causes of lameness are just lame!
Bridle Lame is a term used to describe stiffness I think, most clinical causes of lameness are just lame!
hollyzippo
Well-Known Member
Sounds like a lot of the cases I have seen too!
Sparklet
Well-Known Member
True bridle lameness is caused by the horse that does not accept the contact. It shows up in several ways nodding every stride as the horse snatches the rein, or by the horse taking a short stride as it tries to move into a strong contact. When the reins are dropped the horse takes even steps and no longer looks lame.
I think it is an abuse term though and used by those with genuinely stiff or slightly lame horses when they dont understand the phrase.
I think it is an abuse term though and used by those with genuinely stiff or slightly lame horses when they dont understand the phrase.
Madam_max
Well-Known Member
Yep, that's what I meant too.
Gentle_Warrior
Well-Known Member
horse at yard used to go saddle lame, had saddle checked, did not fit, changed and fine
although he has done evry so often since, purely because he wants another day off !
although he has done evry so often since, purely because he wants another day off !
Nailed
Well-Known Member
It is widly thought that bridle lameness comes from having a poor contact and connection between horse and rider. Usually caused by a horse not going forwards or by a rider jolting their hands about.
Loux
Loux
jnet
Well-Known Member
I have to agree with hollyjz, every horse I have ever heard described as bridle lame, did end up being diagnosed with real lameness, most of them ringbone or navicular.
SilGathien
Well-Known Member
My horse has recently developed what my instructor has diagnosed as bridle lameness after I was pulled up at an event as the judge believed the horse was lame.
We went to see the vet at the event, but we also had him examined by our vet. He is lame on a hard surface on tight surface, but the vet explained that he wouldn't expect many bigger horses to be sound in doing so. He was sound on a soft surface.
This "bridle lameness" occurs for him on the right rein only when ridden. He is stiffer on this side too.
Articles I have read do put it down to the rider, and I can see this, but from my perspective, I do not think I have changed my way of riding. My hands can sometimes not be very good, but this is not all the time.
His saddle and back are down to be examined next, and from reading this thread, I think that from the point when we discovered it that we have left it far too long, and I have just mentioned to my mum that I really think he needs to be checked over - I hope it's nothing serious.
Googling "bridle lameness" will come up with various articles, and this one was really quite interesting and helpful: http://www.todayshorse.com/Articles/TheBridleLameHorse.htm
We went to see the vet at the event, but we also had him examined by our vet. He is lame on a hard surface on tight surface, but the vet explained that he wouldn't expect many bigger horses to be sound in doing so. He was sound on a soft surface.
This "bridle lameness" occurs for him on the right rein only when ridden. He is stiffer on this side too.
Articles I have read do put it down to the rider, and I can see this, but from my perspective, I do not think I have changed my way of riding. My hands can sometimes not be very good, but this is not all the time.
His saddle and back are down to be examined next, and from reading this thread, I think that from the point when we discovered it that we have left it far too long, and I have just mentioned to my mum that I really think he needs to be checked over - I hope it's nothing serious.
Googling "bridle lameness" will come up with various articles, and this one was really quite interesting and helpful: http://www.todayshorse.com/Articles/TheBridleLameHorse.htm
jordenknight
Member
RIGHT!, this post has just helped me so much lol Harry has exactly these symptoms. I've had him now about 9 weeks and initially i thought id bought a dud.
When you try and make him work he nods as though he's lame on his left fore......give him the reins and he's sound!!!!!
When he first did it i jumped off and had him trot up the road......NOT AT ALL LAME!!! i've been puzzled for ages as to what it was.
Put a harbridge on and he looks lame, take it off and he fine!
When you try and make him work he nods as though he's lame on his left fore......give him the reins and he's sound!!!!!
When he first did it i jumped off and had him trot up the road......NOT AT ALL LAME!!! i've been puzzled for ages as to what it was.
Put a harbridge on and he looks lame, take it off and he fine!
debbielinder
Well-Known Member
a friend of mine has a horse that the vet said had a bridle lameness. she had been off work due to a bruised foot and after a few weeks she came back into work fine but a little full of her self my friend lost confidence and started to sticking to riding in the school, which was a big come down from a once varied workload. and i think the mare just got bored and started going lame 20 mins into schooling session and thed put her away and then trot her up the next day and she'd be fine. she was sent to the vets where she stayed for 3 days and they did all sorts of tests but couldnt find anything wrong so she came home and have learnt to work her through it once she knows shes not going in she stops hopping and it 100% sound also hacking out has helped her mental state