Ruth Fisher- Bit and Bridle Fitting Consultant

26/04/2025

Joints injections appear to be handed out like smarties nowadays..
They do not come without risk and shouldn't be used as a way to keep horses sound so we can carry on working them for our own needs..

A 2017 study found that racehorses receiving corticosteroid injections were FOUR TIMES more likely to suffer musculoskeletal injuries. These weren’t minor lamenesses, they led to long layups, early retirements, and in some cases, catastrophic breakdowns. That stopped me in my tracks. When we inject a horse to keep them “sound,” are we treating the injury, or are we simply hiding the pain?

Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatories. They offer quick relief, especially for sore joints, but repeated use has a risky side. Over time, corticosteroids can accelerate cartilage breakdown and damage the very structures we’re trying to protect. That’s not just theory, it’s been proven in multiple studies. One 2022 review published in Equine Veterinary Education warned that long-term use of corticosteroids, even in low doses, can lead to irreversible joint degeneration.

And it’s not just steroids. Treatments like IRAP (interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein) and PRP (platelet-rich plasma) are widely used, but the science behind them is still emerging. A recent meta-analysis found highly inconsistent outcomes with some horses showing improvement, and others none at all. These therapies show promise, but they are not miracle fixes. Their long-term benefits and risks remain unclear, especially when used repeatedly without a comprehensive rehab plan.

Even alternatives like Adequan and Polyglycan come with caveats. Adequan (polysulfated glycosaminoglycan) can help reduce inflammation and protect cartilage in the short term, but does not show lasting curative effects without rest or additional therapy. Polyglycan, often marketed as a joint lubricant, has been linked to increased bone proliferation and osteophyte formation. That means while it might make your horse feel better in the short term, it could be quietly encouraging abnormal bone growth that worsens arthritis and limits joint mobility over time.

It seems that most injections don’t fix the problem, they just silence the alarm bell. And when we quiet that bell without solving what caused it, we set the horse up for further breakdown. They keep working through masked pain, compensating, and eventually injuring something else. What seems like a solution quickly becomes a cycle of damage.

So, what does responsible use look like? It starts with intent. Injections should never be used as routine “maintenance” or as a preventative measure in otherwise healthy joints. There is no such thing as a preventative joint injection. Every time you inject a joint, you’re altering its natural chemistry and potentially weakening its future integrity. Instead, injections should be used after thorough diagnostics: imaging, flexions, lameness exams, and only as part of a comprehensive plan. That means rest. That means thoughtful rehab. That means time to retrain healthier movement patterns so the horse can come back stronger and more balanced, not just numbed. Injections can open a door to recovery, but they are not the recovery itself.

Responsible use also means reevaluating the workload. If a horse needs regular injections to keep doing the job, then maybe it’s the job that needs adjusting. I’m not saying injections are evil. They’ve done wonderful things for horses I’ve known and I’m not saying we should all stop injections forever. But if Beauty’s hocks need to be injected three times a year just to keep her jumping the 1.20s, maybe the 1.20s are no longer where she belongs. Maybe it's time to listen to what her body is telling us.

I’m not a vet. I don’t have a medical degree. I’m just someone who enjoys research and writing, and I would still argue that we need more research to ultimately determine what is "safe" for our horses. However, I do think it's important to be aware of what the science currently says, and having hard conversations about if the potential risk is worth the reward.

Your vet is your best friend in this process. Don’t change your horse’s care plan because someone on Facebook shared a study about joint injections being questionable…or because someone else said they’re harmless. Talk to your vet. Ask hard questions. Understand exactly what these drugs do, how long they last, and what they mean for your horse’s future soundness. Your vet knows your horse better than I ever could, and they want to help you make the best choices, not just the most convenient ones.

Studies used:

Johnson, B. J., et al. (2017). "Association between corticosteroid administration and musculoskeletal injury in Thoroughbred racehorses." Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 250(3), 296–302.

Textor, J. A., & Tablin, F. (2012). "Platelet-rich plasma in equine musculoskeletal therapy." Canadian Veterinary Journal, 53(8), 841–849.

Frisbie, D. D., & McIlwraith, C. W. (2014). "Evaluation of autologous conditioned serum and platelet-rich plasma for treatment of musculoskeletal injuries in horses." Equine Veterinary Education, 26(12), 572–578.

McIlwraith, C. W., et al. (2012). "Effects of intra-articular administration of sodium hyaluronate and polysulfated glycosaminoglycan on osteoarthritis in horses." EquiManagement Clinical Research Reports.

Burba, D. J., et al. (2011). "Evaluation of pentosan polysulfate sodium in equine osteoarthritis." Equine Veterinary Journal, 43(5), 549–555.

Garbin, L. C., Lopez, C., & Carmona, J. U. (2021). A Critical Overview of the Use of Platelet-Rich Plasma in Equine Medicine Over the Last Decade. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8, 641818.

Boorman, S., McMaster, M. A., Groover, E., & Caldwell, F. (2022). Review of glucocorticoid therapy in horses: Intra-articular corticosteroids. Equine Veterinary Education, 35(6), 327–336.

Nedergaard, M. W., et al. (2024). Evidence of the clinical effect of commonly used intra-articular treatments of equine osteoarthritis. Equine Veterinary Education.

24/04/2025

Thank you to everyone who attended my talk this evening at Chiilpetals and Museum of the Horse in Tuxford Nottinghamshire. Sorry, we were a little late starting due to minor technical issues!

Was lovely to see so many familiar faces as well as lots of new ones!
Huge thanks to Emma from Chiilpetals for helping organise and Sally at the Museum for the use of their fabulous new lecture room!

23/04/2025

Spaces filling up fast!

We’re looking forward to welcoming Ruth Fisher- Bit and Bridle Fitting Consultant to our base for a bit and bridle fitting clinic in a couple of weeks time 🗓️
Ruth will be running private appointments throughout the day, starting from 9am. Each session will include an initial non-ridden assessment in a covered hardstanding area or stable, followed by a ridden assessment in one of our lovely quiet 20x40 arenas. For more information on what you can expect from an appointment with Ruth, visit her page or pop her a message.
Spaces will be limited, so book quickly to avoid disappointment!
Bookings can be made directly with Ruth via her page, or on 07377165446 📞

Event link below: ⬇️
https://facebook.com/events/s/ruth-fisher-bit-and-bridle-fit/1026955946063832/

22/04/2025

Unless someone tightens the cheekpieces because they are going baggy.. 🤦‍♀️
Yes, hanging cheeks really do reduce poll pressure!

21/04/2025

When people say " you'll remember, you've been before" ... 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ Nope!

No idea 🤷‍♀️

20/04/2025

Article attached this time!

Argh, although I'm glad we're coming out of the right side of winter..
We're now into the season of flies and green green grass..
I see so many horses who are affected in different ways.
Great article below

20/04/2025

Argh, although I'm glad we're coming out of the right side of winter..
We're now into the season of flies and green green grass..
I see so many horses who are affected in different ways.
Great article below

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Y1o4odEPX/

19/04/2025

All of the horses that I've come into contact with in my life have led me on this path and guided my journey over the last 40 years.
Eve is the one who made sure I was going to turn up and pay attention through! You ignored her at your peril!

I miss her every single day and always will. 21 years of her lessons will never be enough.

Our horses are our greatest teachers,
You may not like or understand the lessons they try to give you, but I can assure you, they're there 🧡

16/04/2025

Setting young horses up for success and working alongside other professionals who have the same ethos 🥰

15/04/2025

I get enquiries from all over the country. Sadly, I just can't cover the area and get to people..

This year, I am trying to do more clinic dates so people can travel in to me.

One of the areas I am frequently asked to go to is Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire, probably as people see I'm often at Sharon Hunts in MK18.
I actually live in North Notts, literally on the South Yorkshire border!

Sharon was very persuasive and is absolutely fabulous at organising all of my days, so I don't mind the 5 hour round trip.. 😀

We have our next clinic on Bank holiday Monday 5th May so get in touch with Sharon to book in. [email protected]

At the end of May, I am at Lower Farm Lavendon MK46 4JG see details below for booking in.

Hope to see some of you at either one of these!

If you are interested in organising a clinic day, have an arena and enough parking,please let me know 😊

2 to 2.5 hours from DN22 max though!

14/04/2025

After my accident last year, my horses have had 6 months off.
They have been back in work for a couple of months on and off with the weather and generally my lack of time..

Yesterday, I put my work head on and changed Gerrys bit...
My poor horses always get left till last!

We have had Gerry for 3 years. He had loss of use for Navicular from the age of 5, and we were given him when he was 6.

He has been a very long slow process to rehab his feet, body, and mind.

Although one of the kindest horses you will ever meet with people and his emotional support Spaniel, Harry, he has found it very hard not to act the big tough guy with the other horses. There were times we thought he couldn't stay as they live together 24/7 and his tolerance for them for so low, they would actively avoid him and were often scared when he was around.

Over time, his confidence in himself has slowly started to improve. The safer he feels in his own body, the calmer he is with them.

He's not an easy horse to bit fit.
This horse "felt" like at times I couldn't stop, when only walking. He was so heavy into his front end, had no understanding that the bit was there to help him (they're called rein 'aids' for a reason 😉)

His balance was so downhill, the first time I got on and stepped away from the mounting block, I can only describe the feeling as what happens when you go over the top of the roller coaster and start to decend! Gravity and momentum, with about 750kg falling, was not a nice feeling!

He never "ran" off. This could all happen at walk, but it felt bloody awful. His footfals were heavy and loud, slamming into the ground every step.Stopping sometimes needed to be assisted by a fence in the way. He's a panicker, holds his breath, and just goes very Irish (shuts his eyes, holds his breath and ploughs on through).

To the outsider watching, he would just look like a forward, big horse. To sit on, he felt awful. Tense and worried.
He's very good at sucking it up and just getting on..

His behaviour with the other horses told a different story, though. He felt he had to be big, aggressive, and in charge at all times.

To bit fit, he's also not easy.. for a big horse, he doesn't have much space to place the bit. Typical of many big male horses, his canines are very close to the corner of his lip, and the big bulge on his tongue is very low. He's also quite wide in his palate.Citing a bit within that space is not easy, but fortunately, there are options.

The other part of him that makes it difficult is that his worry comes out in his mouth. He 'plays' with the bit. Flipping it up and down and gets very busy in his mouth when he's not sure. He would have been a candidate for a stronger bit and a noseband to shut his mouth for sure..

I've had him in a couple of different things over the time. I always fit to anatomy but also to what the horse needs help with for their stage of training. This may be short-term, and then their needs change as the training progresses.
Gerry has very much been one of those.

Yesterday I felt we were at a place where I could go to our next stage. (He was probably there a few weeks ago, but you know, builders houses..🤦‍♀️)

He was soft, light, balanced, and calm.. no emotional support Spaniel needed. (I kid you not, Harry comes into the arena when Gerry is struggling) Yesterday, he laid in the shade outside and never offered to even look up.. I whistled him twice as I couldn't see him, and anyone who knows my velcro Spaniel, knows he's never far away anyway..
He used to be permanently in the arena and has refused to leave the middle, which is unheard of.

I had tried this bit a while ago as anatomy wise it works, but he wasn't ready to go to it, and he worried.

Yesterday, he finally found he does not need to be scared of his own power, that he can balance himself and his mouth was totally quiet..

This has taken time, constant hoof trimming support, body work,a fabulous saddler, and slow training..putting the pieces he needs in place (helped by my lack of time!)

So, when I say it's not just a bit fit issue and direct people on more avenues to explore, I do have very first-hand experience of how long these journeys can take..

It's very rarely, just the wrong bit and bridle.

There are only bits that are comfortable for your horses particular anatomy.
How you use it, your horses understanding of it, the rest of the body and mind, all play a part, and it takes time..

OK, so this horse has been a long time, but at 5, he was written off as humans had broken him.
Too much, too soon, and he's taken a long time to unravel..
At 9, he is sound, and more importantly, happy.
The other horses are no longer frightened of him, and he is finally happy in that huge body rather than terrified of it..

Oh, and he's actually only 16.1.. as someone commented the other week, "He's a Unit!"
Well, that Unit is finally realising he's not freewheeling down a hill with failed brakes, and he can choose where to use the power for him, rather than it work against him!

11/04/2025

I recently saw this lovely pony who is new to her family.
When they'd received the bit and bridle I'd recommended, they asked me to check over the fit from these photos.

Can you tell which is the before, which is the after and why?

10/04/2025

I have space on this route on Friday 25th April. Will be mid morning.

DM or WhatsApp 07377 165446 to book in