A bitless bridle does not limit or prevent dynamic laryngeal collapse.

Summary

# A Bitless Bridle Does Not Limit or Prevent Dynamic Laryngeal Collapse Although bits are frequently blamed for upper airway obstruction in horses, this 2021 Norwegian study represents the first controlled investigation into whether bitless bridles might offer respiratory protection. Researchers used endoscopic examination during high-speed treadmill exercise to compare laryngeal function in susceptible horses wearing either a conventional bitted bridle or a bitless bridle, with particular attention to the relationship between poll flexion and dynamic laryngeal collapse (DLC). The findings demonstrated that bitless bridles provided no protective effect against DLC, with affected horses showing similar degrees of laryngeal dysfunction regardless of bridle type—a result that challenges the widespread assumption that removing the bit eliminates poll-flexion-induced airway obstruction. For equine professionals managing racehorses or performance animals prone to DLC, this indicates that switching to bitless equipment alone is unlikely to resolve respiratory compromise, and alternative interventions (such as modified training techniques, surgical options, or equipment adjustments that reduce excessive poll flexion) warrant greater consideration.

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Key Findings

• •Bitless bridles do not prevent or limit dynamic laryngeal collapse in susceptible horses
• •Clinical signs of DLC are induced by poll flexion during riding/driving, independent of bit presence
• •Bits have been incorrectly incriminated as a primary cause of upper respiratory tract obstruction

Conditions Studied

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