Robert Cook (veterinarian)

Robert Cook, FRCVS., PhD., Professor of Surgery Emeritus of Tufts University, Massachusetts, is a veterinarian graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, London, in 1952. Since then he has been a faculty member of clinical departments at schools of veterinary medicine in the UK and USA.

Cook has published many papers, mainly on diseases of the horse's mouth, ear, nose and throat both in scientific and horseman's journals, covering both various topics:
 * equine diagnostical and surgical endoscopy;
 * pulmonary origin of the "nose-bleeds" in racehorses       (EIPH: Exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage) and its relation with recurrent airway obstruction
 * anatomy and physiology of horse's upper airway;
 * guttural pouch diseases
 * epiglottic entrapment
 * stride and respiration
 * recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN)
 * dorsal displacement of the soft palate
 * laryngo-palatal dislocation
 * headshaking syndrome and its relations with bit-related trigeminal neuralgia
 * physiological incompatibilities of a bit in the mouth of a working horse
 * role of the bit in the soft palate paresis at exercise and in asphyxia-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH)

Since 1997, his main interest is the disadvantages, and problems associated with using a bit in a horse's mouth. He proposes that bit is the direct cause of many behavioural problems and diseases of the horse, and that it exposes both the horse and the rider to serious risk; he concluded that bit is contraindicated, counterproductive and, in the wrong hands, potentially cruel ; he studied a new, patented type of bridle without a bit, and he is now collecting more scientific evidence about its use and about related prevention of important horse problems and diseases.