nosebands

[Foxfold]

Ok, I'm naive, I must be    either that or I'm totally ignorant to the 'ways of experienced riders/trainers'

My mare does not have a noseband for her bridle, never has.
But looking at pictures on the 'net' of various horses doing various things, I need to ask.

What are nosebands for? 

Now I have read somewhere that they were originally for use on war/hunting/jumping horses as a form of protection. If a horse fell either at speed or over a big jump, that the rider is more than likely to take a pull on the reins, and the horses mouth would gape against the pressure, and if the horse hit the ground head first with his mouth open like this he would quite probable break his jaw. But even then a plain cavesson noseband was the norm, put on just tight enough to prevent the wide gape.

What then is the reason for things like -flash-grackle (complete with padding to stop them digging in), and for pity's sake I've found one called a 'drawtite' which conjures up an awful picture.

I can see how some people like the 'look' of a nice cavesson noseband, and some like the way it can 'frame' a face.
But other than this, in the general run of the mill riding/hacking/dressage/training,,,,, what is the point of these contraptions?

Or are they just to cover up incompetent riding?
If there is a use for nosebands I'd like to know, just for my own knowledge really.

[DaffyDilly]

As far as I see it, a noseband is used to prevent resistance, be it crossing the jaw or opening the mouth. With working in a tack shop, I saw an awful lot of people come in and buy stronger bits, tighter nosebands and martingales etc, rather than get to the root of the problem. At the other end of the scale, I've seen people strip flash, gag and martingale off in one go, and then wonder why they're having trouble.

We use a plain cavasson (fitted as loose as I can get away with without it looking too loose) in the show ring, and yes it suits him, but otherwise I'm not fussed either way, and the noseband on his snaffle bridle, which incidently is a crank and has a flash strap somewhere, is fastened as loose as possible. His other bridles (one of which is actually just a slip head and bridoon bit) don't have nosebands.

[Wendy]

I haven't used one for years for that reason. It is very unlikely I will be galloping through the countryside if I can help it. I think if I was hunting I would use a cavesson fitted properly - not too loose, not to tight - as per the BHS manual.

It makes putting on your bridle much easier, less to clean, more comfortable for the horse, need I go on....

[whisper's mum]

I thought the only purpose for a cavesson was to fix a standing martingale to!  I think they do frame the face, I have a crank but don't crank it.  I have used a grackle to stop a jaw crosser that I couldn't get out of the habit but I don't llike tight flashes.  :( Drop nosebands have fallen out of fashion and are quite hard to fix properly but are quite useful to stabilise the bit for youngsters. I have used a Kineton too, as a quick fix on a hard pulling pony for X country.

[Foxfold]

Thanks for your input ladies, appreciate it.
But from the lack of any further responses I guess it's not such an interesting topic 

I think I've come to the conclusion,(after trawling the net for most of this rainy afternoon) that in the main, nosebands are
a) to frame a pretty face
b) a way for leather workers to earn a living
c) a device to compensate for bad riding.

I can see no other uses other than above, therefore I won't be buying one in the near future

[Fiona]

I use a noseband because my reins are fixed to it 

Fiona

[Claire]

i recommend elwyn hartley edwards book on bits and bitting for all this sort of query - explains them all, what they do etc ...

[Foxfold]

Thanks Claire,
I daren't buy another book, my long suffering OH would faint 

I truly believe that unless you want a nice looking cavesson for your horse to look nice in, there is no other 'practical' reason for nosebands other than to compensate for a riders inadequacies.
Thats just a personal view, as most nosebands are designed,in my opinion, to tie a horses mouth shut to some degree or other, to sit a bit nicely in a horses mouth, to stop them opening their mouth and evade the aids,  etc, etc.  All of which in my humble opinion, are rider problems nothing more.

Heading for my bunker to stay out of the way of the flak. 

[Mossy]

I use a drop noseband when schooling a strong willed Highland in a snaffle. It stops him opening his mouth and leaning. works a treat and he does not argue with it. Cannot abide flashes!

[Erin's mum]

I'm forever being told off at PC for having such a loose noseband but hey, they're lucky I bother with one at all 

[Mossy]

Thanks Claire,
I daren't buy another book, my long suffering OH would faint 

I truly believe that unless you want a nice looking cavesson for your horse to look nice in, there is no other 'practical' reason for nosebands other than to compensate for a riders inadequacies.
Thats just a personal view, as most nosebands are designed,in my opinion, to tie a horses mouth shut to some degree or other, to sit a bit nicely in a horses mouth, to stop them opening their mouth and evade the aids,  etc, etc.  All of which in my humble opinion, are rider problems nothing more.

Heading for my bunker to stay out of the way of the flak. 

You are probably right.  if I had all the time in the world then I could develop the muscles and skill to not *need* the noseband. However I am a mere mortal and 3/4 hr being pulled and harrassed by a grey tank to get 10 mins good work, when I can use a noseband and not get the hint of a fight, what would you choose? As Heather as always said, this riding lark is supposed to be fun.

[Taliessin]

I always remember, years and years (and years  ) ago when I used to ride at a stables near Richmond Park, the owner, a very fierce ex-cavalry Polish man, had a favourite horse there called Pearl, and Pearl always had a drop noseband, but fitted as if it were a cavesson.  Once I actually dared to ask him why, and he said it was because a real cavesson would look too clumsy on her little face.  He was right too.

[catkin]

I use cavesson nosebands mostly to frame the face though I have found something whilst starting youngsters - there seems to be a psychological effect on them even if the noseband is loose and it gets them into 'we are going to school now' mindset (if any of that makes sense!)

[Foxfold]

Oh Mossy, I've offended you, I'm sorry. That wasn't my intention  :'(
The post was just to have a 'conversation' about the reason behind nosebands.

My mare was just like yours when I first got her, probably worse. The first week I had her she came at me with her front feet, backed up by flattened ears and teeth  :

However, I stand by what I said,

Thats just a personal view, as most nosebands are designed,in my opinion, to tie a horses mouth shut to some degree or other, to sit a bit nicely in a horses mouth, to stop them opening their mouth and evade the aids,  etc, etc.  All of which in my humble opinion, are rider problems nothing more.

All the problems of pulling/fighting the bit etc, can be sorted, but it has to be from the ground and it does take time. But if you change your horse and you on the ground I believe the problems in the saddle go away.
Don't get me wrong, my mare can still say "I can't do/cope with what you're asking me to do, but now I listen, whereas before I didn't I just 'demanded' that she did as I asked.

All the above is just my opinion, not a personal slight aimed at you or anyone else.

[Belbe]

hmmm I use a loose noseband, even on my Dr Cooks, but solely for the purpose of carying the horse around. (I know it's dangerous for my fingers if he spooks but I just slip them through enough to have a slight control so they can come off easy. I know I should use the reins but both my rides love to nip the reins, and cos I don have time to teach them properly, I simply avoid to give them the chance.

I do agree however with a slightly droped and somewat tight cavesson noseband while hunting, jumping, hacking, etc.
I also agree with a droped noseband while breaking young horses into the snaffle. However, I think u should only tighten it enough so he won't open his mouth like a garage. As for sliping the tongue over the bit, best to get a tongue port than squeeze the guy's mouth! I mean, we're breaking a kid, it's bad as it is, we shouldn't be putting unnecessary stress into it, and not being able to move your jaw must be stressful.

... or so I think...