soft palate cauterisation - bridles / bits after surgery

[SEL]

Microcob currently in hospital recovering from hobday and soft palate cauterisation. Surgeon is hopeful this will help her breathing.

He's recommended she has a bridle with a drop noseband so she isn't sucking air in through her mouth while being ridden. She needs a new bridle anyway, but before I go shopping I was wondering what others have put on their horses post surgery. How did your horse cope with a bit? Were they better bitted or bitless?

 

[teddypops]

My Welsh cob has to have this done every 18-24 months. (Not the hobday). I have kept her in her normal snaffle bridle and cavesson nose band. She is fine in that and my vet never mentioned making any changes. She has a few days off after the surgery, then we get going again.

 

[SEL]

My Welsh cob has to have this done every 18-24 months. (Not the hobday). I have kept her in her normal snaffle bridle and cavesson nose band. She is fine in that and my vet never mentioned making any changes. She has a few days off after the surgery, then we get going again.

thanks - so yours is OK with the snaffle? I suppose I was wondering after they've had the work done whether bits helped or hindered.

 

[ihatework]

I think you are overthinking this ...

Wind surgery is done with barely a blink in the racing industry, if going bitless was going to make the horse go better they would probably give it a go

 

[teddypops]

thanks - so yours is OK with the snaffle? I suppose I was wondering after they've had the work done whether bits helped or hindered.

Absolutely fine

 

[Carrottom]

I don't think it is allowed.

ETA sorry, not sure what happened to the quote there, I was trying to say that I don't think bitless is allowed in racing.
We were advised to use a grakle with the bit fairly high in the horses mouth.

 

[ihatework]

ETA sorry, not sure what happened to the quote there, I was trying to say that I don't think bitless is allowed in racing.
We were advised to use a grakle with the bit fairly high in the horses mouth.

It’s not allowed no.
But if bitting made a significant impact on reducing performance you’d probably be seeing some pressure applied

 

[SEL]

ETA sorry, not sure what happened to the quote there, I was trying to say that I don't think bitless is allowed in racing.
We were advised to use a grakle with the bit fairly high in the horses mouth.

Thanks. I think I've got an old grakle somewhere.

Per the vet (who usually operates on racehorses) it would be interesting to see if she does better bitless. She was a lot less noisy pre op in a headcollar with reins so I'll have a play.

Would bitless ever be discussed with the racing community? Would they even try and see if a horse is more comfortable without a bit of it isn't legal to race that way?

 

[poiuytrewq]

I think you are overthinking this ...

Wind surgery is done with barely a blink in the racing industry, if going bitless was going to make the horse go better they would probably give it a go

This, nothing changes. A few are picky with hay for a day or two. The last didn’t even blink! They certainly don’t get different tack.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Thanks. I think I've got an old grakle somewhere.

Per the vet (who usually operates on racehorses) it would be interesting to see if she does better bitless. She was a lot less noisy pre op in a headcollar with reins so I'll have a play.

Would bitless ever be discussed with the racing community? Would they even try and see if a horse is more comfortable without a bit of it isn't legal to race that way?

We had one a few years back who was ridden daily in a hackamore. He used to get a sore mouth. So yes, if necessary some would consider it.