10/16/2021
Facial Nerves and the importance of proper bridle fitting. (a reshare from 5 years ago)
Written by Caroline Larrouilh, ProudHorse Connections
Checking a horse's bridle fit is as important as checking his or her bit fit and saddle and girth fit. It is something diligent riders and especially horse pros should be quite fanatical about as it acutely affects a horse's health.
The best trainers I have met are always adjusting nosebands, flashes, browbands and making sure the buckles do not push into delicate facial structures or the poll strap does not push against the horse's ears (and of course checking bit fit).
A quick look at what cranial nerves DO reveals how important their well being is and why properly fitted tack is paramount.
There are twelve pairs of cranial nerves. They have a role in:
🔹Balance
🔹Heart rate (sensory and motor control of viscera including heart, lungs, and bowel)
🔹Hearing
🔹Smell
🔹Vision
🔹Eye movement
🔹Neck muscles that move the head
🔹Sensation from the face
🔹Motor to the muscles for biting, chewing
🔹Facial expression
🔹Taste from the anterior 2/3rds of the tonque
🔹Taste from the posterior 1/3rd of the tonque
🔹Tearing (lacrimal gland)
🔹Salivation from the parotid gland as well as not from the parotid gland (different nerves)
🔹Sensation and some motor to the pharynx
🔹Swallowing (motor to the muscles of the soft palate, pharynx and larynx)
🔹Vocalization (motor to the muscles of the soft palate, pharynx and larynx)
🔹gastrointestinal peristalsis
🔹Tongue movement
Every part of a bridle has a role to play in stabilizing it and ensuring it does not put undue pressure on any part of the horse's head’s joints and nerves. It is paramount that it is fitted properly.
There is not one bridle model or brand that fits all horses in our experience so with all bridles it is important to pay attention to fit and check the following:
✔️ Is it pressing on a joint like a too tight browband pushing on the TMJ.
✔️ Is the crownpiece pressing or rubbing on soft tissues like the base of the ears.
✔️ is the noseband too low and resting on cartilage or placed too high and touching the horse's cheekbones neither which are good.
✔️ is the throatlatch strap too tight, pulling the bridle down on the poll and "strangling" the horse? This strap should remain loose regardless of neck and head position.
✔️ is the bit too high or too low.
✔️ are some of your buckles rubbing or pocking into the horse soft tissues on laying on bone.
✔️ Is your noseband and flash (if you use one) correctly adjusted? make sure there is two fingers stacked between your noseband and nasal bone. If you aren’t sure, invest in an ISE gauge (http://equitationscience.com/store/taper-gauge)
✔️ Are all the bridle parts that touch the horse's skin smooth, supple and clean.
Following this simple, common sense age old advice can help any horse be comfortable in tack.
Source: HorseAdvice.com and The Merck Veterinary Manual.
3/12/2013 - Tellington TTOUCH Cavalli Italia founder and VETERINARIAN Massimo Da Re Follows up with More Insights on CRANIAL Nerves, the Brain and Limbic System
The head of all vertebrates is one of the most important parts for the life of the individual: It is home to the brain that has the delicate task to process the information that comes from the body and from the outside world and return to the various parts of the body with essential indications for life.
The brain encodes what the sense organs perceive and organize the existence of the individual. The brain also reads the feelings of the heart which is the true center of life.
In the head are located vital organs: hearing, smell, sight, taste, touch. ( and breath)
Think for a moment about your horse, observe how important its highly mobile ears, his large nostrils, his very expressive eyes are for its essence.
Finally the mouth. The horse lives with his mouth: eats, vocalizes, works, relates to the outside world. It contains more than 4 billion nerve endings and is closely associated with a portion of the brain called Limbic System, responsible for the control of emotions and learning: think about this before acting with your hands on your horse's mouth. There are no horses "deaf" or "hard" in the mouth, pain receptors can not be deleted nor go out: horses fight oral pain in different forms: some rear, others pull on the reins, while others seem to be resigned and have a heavy mouth.
Study well this beautiful and useful image and use the equipment on your horse with awareness and respect : avoid too tight nose-bands, make sure briddle and bit fit well.
Be careful with the halter, especially if it is made in rope or fabric that are too thin: they can lead to excessive pressure on the nerves of the face; always remove the halter when the horse is free, in stall or outside in the field. Be gentle with your hands, both when you lead the horse and when you ride.
The subject is vast and deserves full days of discussions!
Thank you Massimo! and Tellington TTouch Cavalli Italia.
𝗘𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗡𝗘 𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗖𝗘𝗦
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/inhandlessonswithmanolo
FOR EQUINE WELLNESS PROS
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/improvedhorseperformance
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/equinewellnesscourse2013
Image adapted from the original work in Barone's textbook by Professor of Equine Anatomy, William Perez. On loan from Dr Perez for the purpose of this post.
©ProudHorseConnections .2013
