Would my horse always tell me if her tack doesn’t fit correctly?

[MissL78]

Hello all,

I have used the same bridle on my mare for years. She seems completely happy with it and has never rejected me putting it on or shaken her her with it on etc. The only behaviour issue she has is some bucking.

One of my instructors recently mentioned that the bridle wasn’t fitting great and might be pinching her. My other instructor disagrees and says the bridle fits fine.

So I am unsure what to do? Should I change her bridle even tho she seems happy with it and one instructor believes it fits fine? Could the bucking be related to the bridle fit?

 

[Hormonal Filly]

When was her saddle last checked?

As long as the bridle isn’t pinching or tight, it shouldn’t be causing her to buck. Is the bit in the correct place, not too high or low? Does she prefer no flash/noseband?

 

[maya2008]

In what way does it not fit? Cheekpieces too short? Browband too small? Do you have a loose ring bit that pinches? Is the bit the right size?

 

[MissL78]

When was her saddle last checked?

As long as the bridle isn’t pinching or tight, it shouldn’t be causing her to buck. Is the bit in the correct place, not too high or low? Does she prefer no flash/noseband?

Her saddle has been checked and fits correctly. She mainly only bucks in the spring, my instructor believes it is related to the grass. Although she will occasionally throw in a buck at other points of the year. I have never considered it could be a bridle issue

 

[MissL78]

In what way does it not fit? Cheekpieces too short? Browband too small? Do you have a loose ring bit that pinches? Is the bit the right size?

One of my instructors believes the headpiece is too far forward and is creating pressure around the poll and ears. She recommended a new bridle or some sort of poll cover to alter the fit but the other instructor disagrees and feels the fit is perfect and should not be changed

 

[ycbm]

Would my horse always tell me if her tack doesn’t fit correctly?

No, a lot of horses are very stoic and don't tell anyone that they are finding a bridle or even a saddle uncomfortable.

 

[sassandbells]

How often is she bucking? Is it consistent when asking for a specific thing? Is it multiple times in one lesson? Is it just the odd buck every now and again?

I would be surprised if the bridle itself is causing her to buck, I normally find bridle issues present in different ways.. when did she last have her teeth done? I know a pony who used buck whenever his teeth were getting particularly sharp, but they used a rather tight flash so it made sense..

 

[Leandy]

No she won't always tell you if she is used to it! What is the problem that your instructor thinks is being caused by an incorrectly fitting head piece? It is unlikely to be the bucking unless that is actually caused by not going forward properly because her head is uncomfortable. What do you think, does it fit or not?

 

[MissL78]

How often is she bucking? Is it consistent when asking for a specific thing? Is it multiple times in one lesson? Is it just the odd buck every now and again?

I would be surprised if the bridle itself is causing her to buck, I normally find bridle issues present in different ways.. when did she last have her teeth done? I know a pony who used buck whenever his teeth were getting particularly sharp, but they used a rather tight flash so it made sense..

Every few weeks or so. It’s usually when transferring into canter and only happens in the school, not on hacks

Her teeth are regularly checked and no issues there

 

[MissL78]

No she won't always tell you if she is used to it! What is the problem that your instructor thinks is being caused by an incorrectly fitting head piece? It is unlikely to be the bucking unless that is actually caused by not going forward properly because her head is uncomfortable. What do you think, does it fit or not?

She thinks it’s creating pressure and could be pinching, but she doesn’t believe it’s causing any behaviour issues, just that it might be uncomfortable without the my horse making us aware of that

The fit seems fine to me but I don’t trust my own judgment!

 

[rara007]

It’s pretty affordable to get a poll cover/pad and give it a go- see if there’s a difference?

 

[Bernster]

I’d google some articles on bridle fit and do a check, and/or get your ins to have a look too. But some horses don’t tell you, or it’s subtle, so it’s always good to check periodically on tack fit so you can see if the buckles and straps are ok, leather etc and it still fits well. Saddle should be checked regularly too, 6/12 months or if horse changes shape.

 

[MissL78]

It’s pretty affordable to get a poll cover/pad and give it a go- see if there’s a difference?

Yes this is true, I just don’t want to alter the fit for the worse if it’s fitting correctly. Since I’m not sure my horse would give signs she’s uncomfortable either way

 

[rara007]

Get one and ask the instructor who thinks it needs it to fit it. Then if happy check with the other instructor they don’t mind the fit.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Post some pictures of the fit ?

 

[scruffyponies]

No, a lot of horses are very stoic and don't tell anyone that they are finding a bridle or even a saddle uncomfortable.

THIS.
I have seen a pony stand quietly whilst his saddle was girthed up with the stirrup UNDER the saddle pad.
Even if they do 'tell you' it's more common that they don't quite go forward properly. Many riders simply don't notice.

 

[Lady Jane]

if you post a pic we can comment, you know we love to give opionions! In recent years there has been research and science on bridle fit and I suspect that none of our bridles 20 years ago fitted properly.

 

[Surbie]

In a previous home my horse was ridden for years in a browband that was 2 inches too small, because he is wider than a standard XFull. I know this because I inherited the bridle and changed it. It can't have been comfortable but he didn't protest.

There's lots of good info on the internet now about bridle fit and how to check it.

 

[Fieldlife]

Generally if you make something more comfortable you will see a difference even if don’t see a problem originally.

e.g. change saddle / bridle / bit for better and will move /stretch / accept bit better.

You can get bridle fitters who bring comfort bridles to fit to your horse that you can try.

 

[Widgeon]

Every few weeks or so. It’s usually when transferring into canter and only happens in the school, not on hacks

Her teeth are regularly checked and no issues there

I'd be guessing hocks.....I'd be really surprised if a bridle is causing this kind of specific behaviour. Given what she's doing, could you get her hocks checked?

(But to answer the question, speaking from experience, the answer is no, and it is amazing what some horses will put up with without *seeming* bothered at all. I think that's why most of us are so paranoid, particularly those of us with very stoic horses!)

 

[KittenInTheTree]

You say the bucking is worse in spring, and that it occurs every few weeks. Could it be connected to her seasons?

 

[MissL78]

I'd be guessing hocks.....I'd be really surprised if a bridle is causing this kind of specific behaviour. Given what she's doing, could you get her hocks checked?

(But to answer the question, speaking from experience, the answer is no, and it is amazing what some horses will put up with without *seeming* bothered at all. I think that's why most of us are so paranoid, particularly those of us with very stoic horses!)

She’s had a vetting recently so I don’t think it’s hocks unless he could of missed it

 

[MissL78]

You say the bucking is worse in spring, and that it occurs every few weeks. Could it be connected to her seasons?

I never thought it could be related to seasons but that makes a lot of sense.

I suppose it could cause pain just like it does in us. I’ll speak to the vet about this because that seems quite likely…

 

[rowan666]

I genuinely believe the horse will always tell you but its down to you to be willing to listen. Having said that, some are far more honest and make themselves heard while others are more subtle in signs

 

[Widgeon]

She’s had a vetting recently so I don’t think it’s hocks unless he could of missed it

That's good I'd missed that it was worse in spring, Kitten's idea about seasons sounds very plausible.

 

[sbloom]

We miss the vast majority of discomfort/pain issues in our horses, witness how many people say "that's just the way he/she's always been" - we need to raise the bar as to what we notice, and this applies to nearly all of us, I look back in at some of the stuff I clearly missed when I had horses. Having a bridle/saddle fitter out to try something else, perhaps with your trainer there (I appreciate that as a saddle fitter) is always worth a try.

 

[Starzaan]

No. I have two horses at opposite ends of the spectrum. One would carry on regardless, no matter how sore he was. The other will bury you if his numnah is wrinkled.

I get a LOT of rehabs in who have long term problems caused by ill fitting tack, it's a serious problem. There are so many problems being caused by things that we don't seem to consider on a daily basis, such as ill fitting bridles, eating out of haynets etc.

 

[sbloom]

No. I have two horses at opposite ends of the spectrum. One would carry on regardless, no matter how sore he was. The other will bury you if his numnah is wrinkled.

I get a LOT of rehabs in who have long term problems caused by ill fitting tack, it's a serious problem. There are so many problems being caused by things that we don't seem to consider on a daily basis, such as ill fitting bridles, eating out of haynets etc.

I think what's hard to grasp is the effect of the masking that horses do - the little tip of the head, the slightly uneven push from behind etc, from discomfort, that over the weeks, months, even years, that leads to serious asymmetry and, ultimately, lameness.

 

[ihatework]

Most horses are quite stoic by nature and will put up with quite a lot.

That said it’s unlikely the bridle is causing the bucking, far more likely to be a different cause.

If a horse has significant bridling issues this is normally manifested through contact/head tilt/neck or poll tension.

I wouldn’t be rushing out to buy a new bridle as I wonder if your instructor who is highlighting it is a bit of a marketing sucker - but if they have one you could borrow to try that couldn’t hurt

 

[Starzaan]

I think what's hard to grasp is the effect of the masking that horses do - the little tip of the head, the slightly uneven push from behind etc, from discomfort, that over the weeks, months, even years, that leads to serious asymmetry and, ultimately, lameness.

Exactly this. I had one rehab come in who had gone suddenly catastrophically lame. Turned out his rider was incredibly one sided, and over seven years, the damage had just become too much, and one day he simply couldn't go on.