I got all excited, and then they burst my bubble…with good reason.
In Need of an Anatomical Bridle
I have a friend with a horse who has a bone spur on his poll. The radiograph is disturbing; however, he can be ridden comfortably in the right tack.
She enlisted my help, and I jumped at the opportunity to create something for him. I began to draw and came up with what seemed like the perfect solution to this anatomical quandary. The design looked a lot like the Antares bridle but utilized less surface area so as to keep the pressure as localized yet well-distributed as possible.
Jumping at the Opportunity for a New Bridle
I was over the moon for this idea. I called my manufacturer and sent over the drawings. This would be possible. My heart leaped at the thought of creating something for all horses everywhere that could enhance their comfort while being ridden. I was so excited.
I had an order in the pipeline, so I got in there and changed all my bridles to a modified version of this new poll-relief design, whereby the padding would offer the poll and spine a channel of relief and more surface area for a more well-balanced crownpiece.
That Feeling You Get
I dreamt about it. I fantasized about how great this was going to be, and yet something nagged at me. I could not tell what this feeling was, but there in my gut it resided, and I knew something was wrong.
The same friend who needed the crown piece shared with me that the USEF had outlawed these poll-relief bridles for showing. I was perplexed. The design, in my mind, was absolute poetry. How could something that made the horse more comfortable, something more anatomical, be bad?
When I took the time to read the document, it made total sense. The weight of the entire bridle rests on the crown. When you divide up the padding or change how the crown sits, you induce uneven, increased pressure on both sides of the neck behind the poll. This may not be hugely impactful if you ride in a plain snaffle, but imagine how it might harm a horse if you ride in a double, or with training aids like side reins, draw reins, or a martingale. My big anatomical bridle bubble had burst.
I consulted one of my great friends who fits tack for a living. She didn’t even have a conversation with me. She just sent over the document for me to read. I understood. There was no getting around this. The poll-relief bridles, as they stand, are not in the horse’s best interest. You can read the USEF’s document here.
The Experimental Poll-Relief Bridle
Now, as for my friend in need, of course, we are moving forward with the experimental bridle for him. He is a special case, and we cannot overlook his bone spur that interferes with the crown of a normal bridle.
We need to offer him some relief.
The slightly uneven pressure will be a small price to pay for him. And bear in mind this is an experiment. We do not know if he will be rideable even with the modified bridle, but we are going to try for him.
Why Classical Bridles Outshine Some Modern Poll-Relief Bridle Trends
All of this is to say that trendy tack that is marketed well as anatomical, relieving of pressure, or ergonomic might not actually be so when it gets right down to the brass tack 😉
So, history wins when it comes to this particular argument. Classical is better than “modern” in this specific case.
If you want one of these new designs, I do advise against it. Let’s have a conversation about it. When you think about it for a brief moment, I feel like you, too, will come to the same conclusion that these bridles are not in the horse’s best interest.
In celebration of equines everywhere,
Lacey Knight
P.S. I did go back and undo the poll-relief crowns in my upcoming order. So the Rare Earth Elements Collection will feature normal, cutback, padded ergonomic crowns.
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