NEWS
How can you improve the connection between the horse and the rider?
There are those sessions where everything seems to flow. The rider’s hands communicate with lightness, the horse naturally seeks contact, and the cues seem almost self-evident.
And then there are sessions where establishing contact becomes more difficult. The horse resists the hand, becomes erratic in its behavior, fusses with its mouth, lacks concentration, or simply seems uncomfortable.
The first instinct is often to look for what the rider could improve: their position, the stability of their hands, the precision of their aids, and so on.
That’s obviously important. But the quality of the contact between the horse and the rider doesn’t depend solely on the rider’s technique. It depends on the connection between the two, the horse’s balance, the horse’s understanding of the aids, and, above all, the horse’s comfort.
At PROTEC, this concept is central: striving for more precise communication while respecting each horse’s unique sensitivity.
Good contact doesn’t mean “holding on” longer
Contact does not rely on constant tension between the rider’s hands and the horse’s mouth. Rather, it involves creating a supple, steady, and precise connection between the two.
To achieve this, there must be a delicate balance rather than a power struggle. Many factors can disrupt this connection and cause discomfort. These include: discomfort, particular sensitivity, the shape of the horse’s mouth, or pressure felt in certain sensitive areas.
That is when observation becomes particularly important.
What if, instead of asking for more, we started by asking ourselves the right questions?
Are you having trouble finding a bit that’s truly suited to your horse? Does your horse regularly suffer from injuries at the corners of its mouth or show particular sensitivity in the mouth? Does it tend to push its tongue over the bit? Does it lack relaxation or stability in contact, or does it seem to constantly try to pull away from the rein?
These behaviors may have various causes, but it is also important to consider the horse’s oral comfort.
When contact becomes difficult, let’s also take a look at the horse’s mouth
Not all horses have the same oral anatomy.
The width of the mouth and lower jaw, the thickness of the tongue, and the space available for the bit can vary significantly from one horse to another. A veterinary study conducted on 554 horses and ponies highlighted this morphological diversity. The researchers also found that it was common for the bit used not to be perfectly suited to the dimensions of the horse’s mouth.
Source: Anttila, M., Raekallio, M., & Valros, A., “Oral Dimensions Related to Bit Size in Adult Horses and Ponies,” Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2022.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.879048/full
A horse that has difficulty maintaining contact is therefore not necessarily a horse that refuses to work. It may also be expressing discomfort, sensitivity, or unease.
This is something to pay special attention to in horses with sensitive mouths, young horses who are just getting used to working with a bit, or those that have previously experienced oral discomfort.
When difficulties persist, it may therefore be worthwhile to examine the horse’s mouth and teeth, as well as the fit of its bit and any areas of sensitivity.
Because more action doesn’t always mean more communication.
PROTEC was developed specifically to address these issues. Today, several top-level international riders use PROTEC in their training, including Grégory Wathelet.
“Over time, using PROTEC has shown me that it is very helpful for horses and very beneficial to them. It really helps horses in a variety of situations.” — Grégory Wathelet
Oral comfort is part of the horse-rider bond
The bit remains an important communication tool in many disciplines. But it acts on a particularly sensitive area.
Research on the horse’s mouth shows that lesions can develop, in particular, at the corners of the mouth, on the tongue, and on the bars, where the bit may exert pressure.
This obviously does not mean that the bit should be considered problematic in itself. It mainly serves as a reminder of one essential point: its use must always be accompanied by particular attention to the horse’s oral comfort.
It was precisely this observation that led to the creation of PROTEC: to protect the jawbones while preserving the bit chosen by the rider and its function.
PROTEC: Protecting sensitive areas without replacing the bit
PROTEC is a gum protector designed for horses working with a bit .
It is positioned underneath the mandibular bars. Its protective pads made of biocompatible silicone help protect this sensitive area and help reduce certain pressures and sensitivity.
The goal is not to eliminate or mask the bit’s action. On the contrary, PROTEC was designed to integrate with existing equipment without altering the bit’s mechanics or restricting the tongue’s natural mobility. This distinction is important.
PROTEC was created, first and foremost, as a result of careful consideration of the horse’s mouth. Designed by an equine dentist, its primary goal is to protect sensitive areas of the mouth and improve the horse’s oral comfort when working with a bit.
PROTEC is neither a new bit nor a solution intended to compensate for poor riding technique. It is not designed to alter the rider’s hand or technique. By improving the horse’s comfort, PROTEC can, in turn, create conditions that are more conducive to a more relaxed interaction between the horse and its rider.
It can be particularly helpful when a horse has a sensitive mouth or struggles with contact. However, the choice ultimately depends on each individual horse.
Improving your connection with your horse rarely requires just one change: PROTEC is not a magic solution.
Difficulty establishing contact can have various causes, one of which may be discomfort that the rider does not feel himself.
A horse that is more responsive in its mouth can more easily relax while working. The rider can then seek a more subtle connection, rather than entering a cycle where every instance of resistance leads to a stronger hand aid.
This is also the core philosophy of PROTEC: respect, comfort, and communication. The goal is not to impose more restrictions, but to create better conditions that allow the horse and rider to work together.
A relationship is built over time, through connection and trust. There is no one-size-fits-all setting that will instantly give you the perfect connection.
Every horse has its own build, history, sensitivity, and way of responding to the bit. Every rider also has their own balance and touch. That is why it is so important to observe each horse and adapt your approach accordingly.
PROTEC is not a substitute for training or the rider’s technique. On the other hand, by helping to keep the horse’s mouth comfortable, the gum guard can create conditions that are more conducive to precise communication and a more relaxed connection.
That, after all, is what really matters.
