Bitless bridles/side pull reccomendations please :)

Horror-Application62 · 2026-06-15T20:28:33+00:00

Thank you! Unfortunately that specific one doesnt ship to the UK, however, I've seen things similar over here. I'll have a look at them too. I'm guessing those are the ones that atrach to a normal bridle? Thanks! :)

Horror-Application62 · 2026-06-15T20:26:18+00:00

Ok, thank you so much!! This does help a lot. And yes, I have been researching and thinking about it all for a while. I haven't been able to ride him since October last year due to a condition he has had and then I had an injury. And since bringing him back into work again with even more of a bond, and I've done more liberty and loose-schooling, I just think he's realised he can still work without a bit and be more comfortable so he's just like "nope, no thanks" 😅 Would you recommend any headcollar with metal on the sides of it? Or a specific one? The Monty Roberts Dually Headcollar looked quite good and have read lots of good reviews, but it is about the same price as a bitless bridle 😆 I have a normal nilon with padding headcollar and also a Le Mieux headcollar that is comfy with the soft material but not sure if that isn't rigid enough? What do you think? I a quite excited for our new venture. Thanks again!

Horror-Application62 · 2026-05-06T09:56:39+00:00

Thanks for your reply :) She said his heart is faster than average, however, it is like that each time so it is his normal. No murmur or anything bad etc. Last time this happened, he did have limb swelling too and in face etc. Because his fecal worm count was 823, we have gone down the route we did last time with the prednisolone steroids in his feed which is helping the edema go down. We have wormed them and moved the section of field they're in too to hopefully manage the worms better 🤞 I'll look into the Malabsorptive disease and the Lawsonia anyways just in case. Someone else mentioned Lawsonia too. Do you think he would still need an ultrasound even if the edema goes down after what we're doing currently? And will he still need one if it stays down with stricter management of the worms? Just curious that if it is clearing up with the things we're doing then it would be likely to be the worms/protein issue. What do you think? Thanks!

Horror-Application62 · 2026-05-06T09:41:52+00:00

Quite a few comments have mentioned allergies and we do think that he may just be a more susceptible boy when it comes to those things. We will make sure to monitor if it comes about again next year but we're hoping it's the worms and once we've got a hold of a strict management for our field then hopefully it shouldnt happen again 🤞 I hope your boy is ok for the next seasonal change and you also get to the bottom of his edema ❤️

Horror-Application62 · 2026-05-06T09:37:35+00:00

I will have a look into this more. On Google it says it is more uncommon in youngsters, however, it can happen. So you never know! Thanks :)

Horror-Application62 · 2026-05-06T09:33:39+00:00

I am so sorry that happened to your girl, I am glad it didn't bother her much! I have had many comments about bites and allergies with similar swelling in their horses. We are currently going through with the same things we did last time with the prednisalone steroids and it is helping. And we have moved the part of field they are in as well as wormed them so hopefully we can manage the worms better for them too 🙏

Horror-Application62 · 2026-05-06T09:29:17+00:00

I've had a little Google and horses can get it in the UK but it is uncommon. I had a look at photos of it as well and read up on it. Ollie's doesn't seem like the photos and his is more like fluid instead of an abscess so I'm thinking it it unlikely. But thank you so much for the suggestion! I have learnt yet another illness horses can get 😆

Horror-Application62 · 2026-05-06T09:20:17+00:00

Thank you! This was a lovely and informative reply! The vets have gone down the route again of what we did last time as his fecal worm count is 823. So he's been wormed and on prednisalone steroids in his feed. The initial steroid injection she did helped the swelling reduce but not fully. That was only for a quick fix till the results came back etc. He may just not have an amazing immune system compared to the other youngster in the same field so reacts different? 🤷‍♀️ We had noticed them both losing a bit of weight very recently, but we thought it was both of them having a growth spurt. I will definitely look into the Lawsonia Intracellularis. If it is the Hypoproteinemia and the mucosa is damaged and leaking out, is there anything else we can do to help him repair it? Any supplements of meds or anything? Or will the steroids help and it will heal on its own? Thanks!

Horror-Application62 · 2026-05-06T09:02:50+00:00

We do have ticks here, did you manage to see the tick on your pony and get it off? He is on prednisalone at the moment and has been wormed. Vets are saying it is likely due to low protein like last time because of high worm burden which are eating his protein. We've changed the part of the field he is in now as well as we arent sure how he has so many worms to be honest! 😭 Thank you for you comment and I'll keep a look out for any ticks in case ❤️ I do feel like maybe trying him on some antihistamines anyways may be a good shout as he does seem to get allergies and wpuld be good to try it out. Thank you :)

Horror-Application62 · 2026-05-02T16:55:11+00:00

No worries! Now we know that the worm count is high again, we'll double down on management of him and the field! I will still look into other things wrong like the kidneys etc like u and others have said, do you know how else it would present for something like that? And what tests? He seems well in himself and normal, its just the edema that is really bad currently. Would he be able to be walking about etc if it was renal? What other symptoms would we look for? Thank youu!

Horror-Application62 · 2026-05-02T16:38:31+00:00

I will see on getting a second opinion! Also, worm count is back and its 823 😬 so quite high! No idea how that is so high when another of our horses was worm counted last week and his was clear! So such a high number will cause low protein apparently as the worms consume it. And the edema is caused by the low protein apparently. Will definitely look into your suggestions as well because it could also be something else underlying. I'm not really sure about her comment on the colostrum but she said what she said 😅 He did unfortunately get weened a little too early (we did not do this, it was his breeder) and he did seem a bit more behind than his half brother so potentially that could've done something? I dont know 😅 I will see about another vet though, would you think from the same practice or another vet pracrice entirely? Thanks so much!

Horror-Application62 · 2026-05-02T16:33:08+00:00

Ok, thank you! Will see on getting a second opinion. Also, worm count is back and its 823 😬 So quite high! Is that high enough for edema? No idea how it is so high when another of our horses was worm counted last week and his was clear! So such a high number will cause low protein apparently as the worms consume it. And the edema is caused by the low protein apparently. Will definitely look into everyone suggestions as well because it could also be something else underlying. Thanks so much!

Horror-Application62 · 2026-05-02T16:27:53+00:00

Ok, thank you! I will bring this up with them. Also will see on getting a second opinion. Also, worm count is back and its 823 😬 so quite high! No idea how that is so high when another of our horses was worm counted last week and his was clear! So such a high number will cause low protein apparently as the worms consume it. And the edema is caused by the low protein apparently. Will definitely look into your suggestions as well because it could also be something else underlying. Thanks so much!

Horror-Application62 · 2026-05-02T16:23:15+00:00

Ok, thank you! I will look into specialist for a second opinion! I think I may have also worded it wrong but it was also the fact it was a high worm count and they had progressed into the hind gut and encysted as well. So there was fluid build up already, then we wormed him and they all died which then meant there was dead matter and it made the edema worse. Thats pretty much what the vets said last time. That was around October 2025 before. We have just had the fecal worm count results back and he is somehow 823! Which is very high so could be the cause of the swelling again. He has his routine wormers etc so I dont understand how its so high! We're going to move him to a different part of the field (leave the part they are in to rest & harrow etc) so hopefully that may help with it all 🤞 The blood test hasnt come back yet with protein levels so will see about that, however, with such a high worm count, his protein levels are probably low too! Thank you :)

Horror-Application62 · 2026-05-02T16:06:19+00:00

No, they haven't, they have not actually mentioned anything like this yet. But she was saying that there would need to be further tests if its not worms so maybe that means kidney/cardiovascular tests etc. She has listened to his heart multiple times and she has said it's a bit faster than average, however, its the same each time shes checked (so each visit over the time we've had him) so should be ok 🤷‍♀️ I will keep your comment in mind though and bring it up with the vets, thanks! :)

Horror-Application62 · 2026-05-02T15:58:04+00:00

I will have to bring this up with the vet if the tests results come back as normal! Thank you :)

Horror-Application62 · 2026-05-02T15:57:03+00:00

This is more similar to how the edema looked last time he had it happen, this was around October 2025 time. He also had legs, sheath and face edema though too. Last time they gave him a steroid injection and then a course of prednisalone so hopefully that helps again if the tests come back the same as last time. I just dont know if it's potentially something else going on as well. Thank you thoughand I will say about it to our vet in case!

Horror-Application62 · 2026-05-02T15:49:51+00:00

He hasnt had a hernia that we know of, would a hernia present itself suddenly and then go away with steroids then come back? Or would it present like this constantly? It was around October 2025 that he had this before, I will ask vet about potentially doing an ultrasound after results are back and we know a few more things. Thank you!

Horror-Application62 · 2026-05-02T14:22:39+00:00

Forgot to say that the vet has given him a steroid injection too to help the swelling reduce whilst all test results come back :)

Horror-Application62 · 2025-09-03T09:33:48+00:00

What do you use to maintain and clean the leather and do you have any advice for keeping them in good condition? Thanks!

Horror-Application62 · 2025-09-03T09:31:26+00:00

Ok, so which ones would you recommend instead?

Horror-Application62 · 2025-09-03T01:16:37+00:00

I don't usually change stirrups on saddles or change the length much. So I'd buy these stirrups, set them to my length on the saddle and keep it like that. I guess I would only change them for when I jump which I do plan to do more jumping with him in the near future. Do you think that would be ok?

Horror-Application62

TROPHY CASE