{"id":4056,"date":"2025-07-06T10:43:01","date_gmt":"2025-07-06T08:43:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.equibitfit.com\/?p=4056"},"modified":"2025-07-06T10:56:56","modified_gmt":"2025-07-06T08:56:56","slug":"poll-pressure-and-bit-bridle-fitting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.equibitfit.com\/en\/2025\/07\/06\/poll-pressure-and-bit-bridle-fitting\/","title":{"rendered":"Poll Pressure and Bit\/Bridle Fitting"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The headpiece\/browband configuration can cause pressure and horse discomfort if not well-fitted to the horse’s head; even bitless bridles create a degee of poll pressure. (equibitfit.com photo)<\/p>\n

By: Horse Sport staff | July 4, 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n

Belgium-based G\u00e9raldine Vandevenne began her career in equine dentistry after her own horse broke a tooth. She became an equine dentist and soon developed an interest in horse bits. Collaborating with bit and bridle fitters in Europe eventually led her to launch her own company, Equibitfit<\/a>, which she has run for the past 12 years. Equibitfit offers bit and bridle consultations, as well as training courses in Belgium, France, and the Netherlands.<\/p>\n

Excessive poll pressure in horses can cause discomfort, pain, resistance, and behavioral issues such as head-tossing, head-shyness, and difficulty with bridling. At the 2024 International Society for Equitation Science AGM, Vandevenne shared the results of a study<\/a> she conducted measuring pressure on the poll \u2014 an important factor in bit and bridle fitting that influences both horse comfort and performance.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooking at the action of the bit and the bridle on the skull of the horse, we see a lot of pressure on the nose, on the mandibula [lower jawbone], on the foramens [paths for blood vessels and nerves to pass through], on the TMG [Temporomandibular Joint], but also on the poll [see diagram],\u201d said Vandevenne. \u201cIf we have a look inside the mouth with the bit, we see pressure points on the tongue, on the bars, on the lips and on the palate. There are lot of studies about the action of the bit, the position of the bit in the horse\u2019s mouth, noseband tightness, kinds of nosebands and rein tension, but fewer about the influence of the headpiece of the bridle on the biomechanics of the horse.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Vandevenne described her research on ridden horses, which involved measuring pressure under the saddle, under the headpiece of the bridle, and using a rein tension monitoring system. Videos were also taken to observe any signs of pain or discomfort in the horses.<\/p>\n

The study found considerable pressure on the poll area, along with tension in the nuchal ligament (which runs along the top of the neck) and heightened sensitivity around the ears. These results were observed in horses ridden in both shank bits and snaffles \u2014 and, surprisingly, also in bitless bridles.<\/p>\n

Recognizing the growing popularity of bitless bridles, often perceived as a more humane option, Vandevenne noted, \u201cHorse owners have to be aware that bitless bridles can also create pressure on the poll, which is really interesting.\u201d<\/p>\n

The design of the headpiece and browband also significantly affected horse comfort, as some configurations do not fit the horse\u2019s head properly. The researchers identified several factors contributing to high poll pressure readings:<\/p>\n