Mountain Air Trails and Stable

08/09/2025

08/09/2025

08/09/2025

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Halters (called headcollars in some lands) and bridle nosebands are meant to sit halfway between the eyes and the upper point of the nostril. Period. Not only does this look balanced and attractive on any size, or type of head, but it is also the kindest adjustment.

Having them hang low on the nose is not the gentler option.

I see this so often, particularly in certain realms of the horse world. The noseband of the device we are using to control, or guide, the horse is not more empathetic if it is falling to the soft tissues just above the muzzle. It is merely pressing on the most sensitive areas of the horse’s head, the most vulnerable to breakage… and it is in fact using the length of your horse’s head to advantage, to increase the power of your tool.

For this reason, lungeing cavessons are usually best fit a hand's width above the top of the nostril; somewhat less with small ponies... but this lower setting is NOT the way we want to adjust the equipment by which we tie, or cross-tie, or haul our horses.

The 'rule' is simple. Halfway between the eye and the top of the nostril, no matter the discipline, or the type of headgear. Whether of flat leather, nylon, rope or fancy show halters, we want this same adjustment!

Strangely, gear fit can be tricky to really see in living colour and we’ll often need to photograph a horse wearing his gear before we can make an objective decision about adjustment. I guess it’s true that the camera does not lie.

If I’m losing ‘feel’ or control with a noseband, the first thing I can do is drop the device slightly, to sit somewhat lower on the horse’s nose. This is true, whether we’re talking rope halters, lungeing cavessons, or bosals. This is with a firmer fit, however. Sloppy fit loses all the signal and feel of any device.

As an observation, the horses who are unmannerly on the ground are usually wearing sloppily-fitted halters.

If the noseband is actually halfway between the eyes and nostrils, it will also sit comfortably below the prominent cheek bones on either side of the horse’s head. The old Manual of Horsemanship said “two fingers’ spacing between the noseband and the bony protuberances” and I can see no earthly reason to change this and yet…

Go forth and see. Really see. Have a look at how you adjust your own halters and start noticing this grey zone of fit, everywhere around you.

Shown here, the unusual combo of a Shetland pony in a western show halter. The fit of which must be snug, without being tight, or restrictive… to allow for minute control on the lead rein and to enhance the shape and length of the pony’s head...

Still half-way between Shortcake's eyes and nostrils, still with two fingers' space below her cheekbones. No matter the size of our horses, the same general rules of fit still apply.

Ruby was shy here, meeting all these lovely, kind, glamorous rodeo queens, or as she later said, Real Cowboy Princesses. For this granny, it will remain a precious memory.

08/09/2025

To ride a horse ethically is to converse with the horse in a language of balance and trust. 📚 Visit our bookshop: www.elaineheneybooks.com 🐴 Documentary: www.listeningtothehorse.com

08/09/2025

Thank-you for following us these last few years! It has been wonderful! However, we recently sold the ranch and have closed Mountain Air Trails and Stable. We wish you all a fabulous life with your horses…a life filled with new discoveries and closer connections. Horses bring magic into our lives and deserve the best from us!! We hope you give them your best!!

08/08/2025

08/08/2025

Learn 5 game-changing strategies to become more prepared, confident, and capable to help your horse

08/08/2025

🐎 I’ve said it many times — HORSES DO GET HEADACHES!!

And I’ll keep saying it, because too many still ignore the signs.

It is NOT normal if your horse hates to have ONE or BOTH ears touched 🚩
Let’s talk about WHY ⬇️

The general term head shyness refers to a horse that moves its head away when touched in certain areas — especially the ears, poll, face, or upper neck.

Yes, rough handling can create this behaviour. But I’m talking about the horses that give a clear pain response — and we MUST pay attention to the 🚩 red flags 🚩

Let’s break it down with some anatomy — including cranial nerves — and real-life examples:

🔺 If you have to take your bridle apart to get it on — this is NOT normal.
🚩 It’s a pain response! Likely involving the poll, the occipital bone, or surrounding soft tissues like the nuchal ligament and suboccipital muscles.

🔺 Soreness around C1 and the upper neck? 🚩
The atlas (C1) supports the skull and sits in close proximity to the brainstem — where cranial nerves originate. If there’s tension, compression, or trauma in this area, horses can experience headaches, vision changes, coordination issues, and hypersensitivity.

🔺 Ear shyness – Behind the ears lies a complex neural and muscular region. Structures here include:

CN VII (Facial Nerve) – controls facial expression; dysfunction can lead to twitching or hypersensitivity.

CN V (Trigeminal Nerve) – especially its mandibular and ophthalmic branches, which are often involved in facial pain and head-shyness.

CN VIII (Vestibulocochlear Nerve) – important for balance; tension near the inner ear can affect proprioception and make head movement uncomfortable.

🔺 Horse is poor to catch?
Many are not trying to be 'difficult’ — they’re avoiding the discomfort of the halter going on, which may stimulate the trigeminal nerve or cause tension in the TMJ area. 🚩

🔺 Can be brushed on one side but not the other? 🚩
Could be unilateral cranial nerve irritation, often stemming from fascial pulls, past trauma, or misalignment.

🔺 Foaming at the mouth under bit pressure? 🚩
This isn’t always “submission.” Bit pressure can impact:

the mandibular branch of CN V (trigeminal nerve)

the hypoglossal nerve (CN XII) — which controls tongue movement

the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) — associated with the throat and swallowing
All of these nerves can be compromised by poor dental balance, bitting, or cranial dysfunction.

Summary

Refusal to touch the ears, poll, or head is NOT just “bad behaviour.”
It’s communication.

Horses with myofascial pain, C1 restrictions, cranial nerve irritation, or TMJ dysfunction will naturally protect themselves — pulling away, raising the head, tensing the jaw, or shutting down altogether.

💡 Signs of stress you may see when touching the head area:

Elevated heart rate or subtle sweating

Holding the head unnaturally high

Tight nostrils or pinched expression

Squinting or avoiding eye contact

Rushing to the back of the stable when a rug is taken from the door almost in a panic

Don’t ignore these changes. Don’t write them off as “just being difficult.”
Think about pull-back injuries, rope accidents, or even long-standing bridle or bit pressure. These can have lasting effects on the cranial nerves, cervical vertebrae, fascia, and overall comfort.

Not to forget the cranial sacral connections, got a a horse with SI joint issues ? Could be related all the way to the skull!

🧠 Pain is real.
🐴 Headaches are real.
🎯 And your horse is telling you — are you listening?

Reposting because it’s THAT important.
Let’s do better for them.