What is the effect of bits and bridles on the horses cranial bones, temporal-mandibular joint (TMJ) and how does this affect the equine atheletes body?
There could easily be a book written in response to this question as this is the core of what is addressed specifically by craniosacral work. To better understand, try this before reading below: take a few steps and notice your natural stride. Now clench your jaw tightly and take a few steps. What do you notice in your stride length? Your breath, neck and shoulders? Your balance on your feet? The rest of the tension in your cranium, such as eyes and back of head? Now read on.
Whatever patterning is established in the cranium is played out in the rest of the body; a restriction in the TMJ or in any one of the 17 bones in the cranium create a compensation of movement, a misalignment or restriction elsewhere in the body. Craniosacral work is so powerful in its ability to shift holding patterns; it not only addresses the bones and tissues of the cranium, but it returns to full balance and movement all of the bones and tissues in the entire body.
There is movement of the bones of the cranium; physically it is about half the thickness of a piece of paper; energetically this movement is huge; when optimal movement is returned, a great sense of well-being is returned throughout. Furthermore the bones each interact directly with another, and some bones as many as 7 others, so impingement on one bone disrupts movement of others creating a ripple effect. When optimal movement is returned and all bones and soft tissue are in balance, a rapid return to healing, to softness and fluidity can occur.
The mere fact that we place bits in the horses mouth creates an impingement on the temporal bones, the mandibular bones, in the joint, and to the dense muscles of the TMJ mechanism. It can put pressure on the bones of the upper jaw and the delecate bones above the soft palate and restrict air flow with tension on the tonge. To add to this, if there is a restriction of bone movement with bridles that are even slightly too tight around the nose, this can cause muscle tension in the jaw as it tries to open against it. Pain can occur as a result of the cranial nerves that lie close to the surface and under the noseband. There may be retriction in the air flow and pressure on the occipital bones at the poll as well. Resistance in the cranium creates a pattern of resistance in the body and vice versa.
Even if your equine athlete is not exhibiting pain in the TMJ, there is likely some compression in the cranial bones and soft tissue given that he is ridden and has a bit and bridle, even with the most sensitive of riders. In all of the horses I have seen in a craniosacral session, it is immediately apparent if a horse has never been bitted and that sense of fluidity of movement and energetic softness can be returned to the bitted horse.