January 2008 • VOLUME 29 • © HORSES For LIFE™ Magazine

All the experiments were carried out together with specialists and experts of Forensic Medical Examination Office in St. Petersburg, veterinarians and journalists. The experiments were formally recorded and videotaped.

The anatomical model of the tongue was made from ballistin.

The material closest fits to the structure and density of living tissues in everything except flexibility since in forensic medical examination the ballistin is used to register the hit or pressure.

This is a personal report on the considerations of bit pressure and pain to the horse based on the experiments carried out by the Forensic Medical Examination Office in St. Petersburg, while you may disagree on the amount of pain that might be felt by the horse, we should all be aware of the astounding amount of pressure measured in this experiment from the pressure of the bit.

This kind of pressure results in injuries not just to the muscle and tissue of tongue and lips but can be seen in bone of the jaw itself.

Next to injured jaw bone is the jaw bone with diastema of the horse who never knew the bits.

The next photo shows why the bit is placed right here.

Here in margo interalveolaris, in diastema the most sensitive part of trigeminal nerve is located (I pick it up by scissors in photo). There is no submucosal layer on the margo interalveolaris and the bit affects the nerve directly. The nerve is supersensitive.

The bit beats and presses right on this place.

In the course of recorded experiments it was found out that the jerk effort by the bit causes the press force of 300 kg per square centimeter. “An ordinary” typical effort by so-called “good hands”, is about

SUBSCRIBE to HORSES For LIFE™ Online Magazine for full access to the exclusive and educational monthly articles in every Issue. Register and then USE the "Subscribe"button in the left hand menu. Your subscription includes access to A FULL 2 PAST YEARS OF ISSUES! Over 300 Articles!!! For the Instructor, For the Rider, For the Horse. Horses For LIFE - For You! OR Enjoy the free articles in every issue available for Registered Members! Registration is FREE! Look for the asterisk * that denotes Free Articles!