Markus Holst Tack Shop

When we do something to a horse there is usually a reason followed by consequences and we hope that the consequences give validity to the reason.

So many riders like to ride with a tight noseband that I feel we should all look more closely at the reasons why. Even the most conservative books on equitation recommend two fingers clearance after adjustment.

1. To keep the horses mouth shut. Why? To stop him putting his tongue over the bit! Why does he put his tongue over the bit? I believe that the tongue goes over the bit by accident because what he is really trying to do is to push the bit away because it hurts and occasionally it slips over. With a tight nose band it is less obvious and does prevent the tongue from going over but unfortunately it can still come out the side: the consequence. Another consequence is that some one like me or Theresa Sandin is standing next to the warm up arena with a camera!
      
2.  To make the judges think that the horse is not trying to open his mouth in an effort to escape the harsh rein aids of the rider which are ever so discreetly pulling the horse onto its forehand.  Here the consequences are usually disconnected from justice though as the judges accept this cruel practice and think that the gel pad under the jaw is a consequence of the rider’s consideration for the horse’s welfare! I have seen a horse owned by a well known international rider that had its nose BROKEN by doing this! I have even seen a little lever, similar to a larger one used for tightening the girth, for tightening the noseband. Here, however, is the worst consequence of all and it applies to even those who do not over tighten but simply have it “snug” Due to the fact that the horses head is V shaped the nose band tries to move down the horses head the more it is tightened to find the path of least resistance. It can’t because the head piece goes behind the ears and puts a sustained pressure on the cervical vertebra. The force here is dependant on how tight the noseband is but even if slight would cause tremendous discomfort leading to headaches and possible depression. I tried a “crank” noseband on one of my horses a few years ago and he became a head shaker in two minutes.  Luckily for him and many other horses I decided to find out why!
   
   The consequences of our actions are not always where we would like them!
      
3. Every body else does it!  No comment!

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