Impact of tack: Vet explains how bridles affect horse movement
For over 30 years, vet Tove Due has worked with horse treatment, specialising in acupuncture, osteopathy, and alternative therapies. She has travelled the world to learn from some of the most skilled practitioners and is currently fully booked across Denmark.
Tove herself rides and owns several Icelandic horses.
Equitec visited Tove to discuss how bridles, browbands, and nosebands can affect a horse's movement and well-being.
A horse's head is full of nerves
According to Tove, the head is one of the most sensitive areas on a horse:
"A horse has many nerves in its head, and if the bridle is too tight, it can cause stiffness throughout the entire body."
When tack presses on specific points, it can affect the connective tissue and create tension throughout the topline – from poll to hindquarters.
Watch the video here, where Tove demonstrates the effect:
https://youtu.be/XuxBQS6jyKc
Browband's importance for movement
Tove explains that a correctly placed browband allows the horse to move freely:
When the browband is loose and correctly shaped, the horse can work relaxed throughout its body. If it's too tight, however, the mobility in the topline can be significantly restricted.
Curved or V-shaped browbands provide more freedom because they can yield and do not press directly on sensitive areas.
👉 (Here you can find anatomical browbands)
Why use a browband at all?
The function of the browband is to stabilise the bridle.
However, Tove emphasises that stability should never be confused with tightness. Many riders, according to her, use bridles that are too small – especially for Icelandic horses – which can lead to tension and stiffness in the body.
Nosebands can cause problems
Tove also often sees challenges with nosebands:
Tight nosebands can restrict the horse's jaw joint and affect the rest of the body. Both English and Hanoverian nosebands can cause problems if fastened too tightly.
In this area, the Nervus mentalis nerve is located, which can easily be irritated by incorrect adjustment.
👉 (Here you can find anatomical nosebands)
Important nerve points in the horse's head
Tove recommends particular attention to areas where nerve pathways emerge – including the Infraorbitalis and Mentalis nerves.
Neither nosebands nor throatlatch straps should lie directly on these areas.
Furthermore, ensure that the cheek pieces and throatlatch do not rest on the cheekbone, and that the poll piece does not press on the poll, where connective tissue chains can affect both movement and mental tension.
👉 (Here you can find anatomical poll pieces)
Tove's clear message to riders
Tove is unequivocal:
Too tight bridles can have far greater consequences for a horse's freedom of movement than many riders imagine.
Correct fit, flexible materials, and anatomical design are crucial for a horse's comfort and performance.
