16 Hands Equine

🕸️ Exploring Fascia and Bitless Riding 👅

This diagram shows the spiral fascial line — a continuous myofascial sling that spirals through the horse’s body, linking the tongue and poll, cervical fascia, trunk stabilisers, thoracolumbar fascia, abdominal sling and hindlimb structures into one interconnected chain. The whole body is connected through various chains such as this.

Functionally, the spiral line plays an important role in:

• rotational stability of the spine
• coordination of diagonal movement patterns
• transferring force between forehand and hindquarters
• lateral bending
• postural balance and compensatory movement

The hyoid apparatus itself acts as a key anatomical bridge between the tongue, poll, neck and forelimb musculature; an extensive and intricate anatomical connection (Hart et al., 2021).

Studies using fluoroscopy have shown that rein tension changes tongue posture, increases tongue retraction and alters intra-oral movement patterns (Manfredi et al., 2010). This really raises questions as to the influence we have on the body when we place a bit into the mouth; we influence more than the lips and tongue.

The concept of this spiral fascia line in particular shows how parts of the body do not work in isolation. In this particular case, if the tongue and hyoid are mechanically and neurologically connected to the neck and body… what happens to the rest of the fascial system when tension, guarding or restriction occurs in the mouth?

…compensation through the cervical fascia, thoracic sling, ribcage or even the hindquarters?

…poor posture, asymmetry, bracing patterns or impeded movement quality?

Having anatomy at the forefront of our minds, rather than it being a “thinking outside the box” thought process means that we can continually assess how we influence our horses… through our equipment, training and whole life!

I have thought to give more attention and space for bitless riding with my own horse to see how he responds mentally and physically; an anatomical and therefore, welfare-based decision.

Image inspired by Equus Soma.