Ban nosebands!

DD

DD

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ban all nosebands except a correctly fitted plain cavesson. In the interests of horse welfare. Discuss.
 
Why ban all nosebands apart from a cavesson? Should browbands be banned as well? What about cheek pieces? :P
 
Downton Dame said:
so everyone thinks its ok to strap its mouth tight shut? Isnt this cruel?
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You are assuming the use of other nosebands always equates to strapping tight shut.
And whilst I agree that there is a potential welfare issue with the mis use of nosebands, there are many many things we choose to do with horses that can equally be deemed welfare issues.

So if you are truly 100% against anything other than a cavesson, can I ask why you feel it is ethical to ride your horse at all?
 
I think some nosebands are used when they're really not needed, and a fair few a incorrectly fitted, but some horses do go better with a correctly fitted noseband so banning them completely seems a little extreme!
I don't use one at all on my horse, he doesn't need one. 'Strapping a horse's mouth shut' doesn't really sit well with me, but I'm well aware it's a personal opinion and wouldn't presume to tell someone using a flash for example that they shouldn't do so.
 
i don't use a noseband, i think it's just an extra thing on my tack to clean that serves no purpose. I think alot of today's tack is about how it looks rather than for purpose and the more the better in some folks view. As long as they are fitted correctly why ban them or you should also ban bits, whips and spurs and other training aids. I do hate to see horses with their mouths strapped shut though and 'tied' down with umpteen leather straps but that seems to be almost normal in horsey society today moreso with those that compete in my opinion. It's all about quick fix than true horsemanship
 
Surely education is needed, not a blanket ban?

Most nosebands have a place when used correctly, and not just added to hide an issue (bad teeth, incorrectly fitted saddle, underlying medical issues).

Whilst I agree that nosebands can be abused, I don't think a ban would do anything to help that other than people getting very heavy handed and agressive with horses and putting stupid bits in to gain control.

E.g My mare needs a grackle for jumping as she crosses her jaw because she wants to go faster. However, it is not pasted onto her face or too tight. I ensure all airways are well clear.

She also likes a drop noseband as it stablises the bit in her mouth. Again, it is fitted correctly, it isn't too tight (always two fingers clearance) and I always check airways.
 
Downton Dame said:
ban all nosebands except a correctly fitted plain cavesson. In the interests of horse welfare. Discuss.
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None of my horses that I've backed or had since recently backed are ridden with any sort of noseband-not even a cavesson. I prefer how they look without them and I hate cleaning tack.

But, I had a horse on loan that didnt conform to that, he went in a (elasticated) grackle-he loved his grackle, didnt go nearly so well without it. He was 17 and a been there, done that type of horse-who am I to argue? Could he have been totally reschooled? Probably-however, neither of us had the inclination frankly.
 
Wasn't the original point of a noseband to prevent the horse breaking its jaw in the event of a peck on landing when jumping? I've always thought of it as a safety feature and not one I'd be willing to dispense with.
 
C1airey said:
Wasn't the original point of a noseband to prevent the horse breaking its jaw in the event of a peck on landing when jumping? I've always thought of it as a safety feature and not one I'd be willing to dispense with.
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A caveson snugly fitted can help stop a horse breaking its jaw in a fall for this reason our horses always have their nose bands more tightly fitted for hunting XC and all exciting stuff .
 
Downton Dame said:
ban all nosebands except a correctly fitted plain cavesson. In the interests of horse welfare. Discuss.
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Better ban saddles (treed and treeless), bits, hackamores, whips, girths, metal shoes, hoofboots... ok, agree with other poster, lets ban riding altogether its simpler. Any of these things can do a lot of damage if not correctly fitted and used.

Ban crank nosebands, that I might agree with! Can't see any ethical use for them.

Also maybe ban all but plain cavesson nosebands in dressage, at higher levels at least? Since most other nosebands are essentially training aids so a well-trained horse should no longer need one. Not sure about that though.
 
laura_nash said:
Better ban saddles (treed and treeless), bits, hackamores, whips, girths, metal shoes, hoofboots... ok, agree with other poster, lets ban riding altogether its simpler. Any of these things can do a lot of damage if not correctly fitted and used.

Ban crank nosebands, that I might agree with! Can't see any ethical use for them.

Also maybe ban all but plain cavesson nosebands in dressage, at higher levels at least? Since most other nosebands are essentially training aids so a well-trained horse should no longer need one. Not sure about that though.
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What's the issue with cranks they can be fitted to any tightness they are no more or less open to abuse than any noseband .
And those that fasten at both sides are much more balanced on the horses face .
 
booandellie said:
i don't use a noseband, i think it's just an extra thing on my tack to clean that serves no purpose. I think alot of today's tack is about how it looks rather than for purpose and the more the better in some folks view. As long as they are fitted correctly why ban them or you should also ban bits, whips and spurs and other training aids. I do hate to see horses with their mouths strapped shut though and 'tied' down with umpteen leather straps but that seems to be almost normal in horsey society today moreso with those that compete in my opinion. It's all about quick fix than true horsemanship
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great post
 
C1airey said:
Wasn't the original point of a noseband to prevent the horse breaking its jaw in the event of a peck on landing when jumping? I've always thought of it as a safety feature and not one I'd be willing to dispense with.
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yes I think it was
 
I thought there was actually some new research that shows that cavessons are not actually that 'kind' because of where they lay on the horse's cheeks and press on the teeth and nerves (even when not cranked shut)

I've had 3 natives now who don't mind a fixed cavesson (like on a driving bridle) but didn't particularly like a free hanging one.
 
Downton Dame said:
great post
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I really enjoy your posts DD - your ability to be so convinced by your own opinion that you feel the need to ignore every poster who doesn't share your view and only quote those who agree with you is incredibly entertaining.

Personally I would go for banning morons - both in the horsey world and if successful roll out to the entire planet. As it goes, I don't advocate banning anything, perhaps just educate people.
 
catkin said:
I've had 3 natives now who don't mind a fixed cavesson (like on a driving bridle) but didn't particularly like a free hanging one.
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that's interesting. the only time I have a noseband is when I use my Portugese bridle which has a fixed noseband. I wonder why/when English riding bridles have the additional cavesson noseband with headstrap when other traditional bridles don't?
 
I think like whips, spurs, bits, etc nosebands have their place and so long as they are used correctly should not cause a problem.
For example my mare is ridden with a flash strap when we're jumping because she gets particularly strong and excited when jumping. I certainly don't tighten it right up so she can barely open her mouth. I only tighten it enough so that the bit stays where its meant to and gentle pressure on the reins on her snaffle bit is enough to steady her up. I personally would rather this than change her bit as she goes beautifully in a french link snaffle.
When we aren't jumping the flash strap is removed.
I think rather than a blanket ban, education on how to use potentially "harsh" equipment is whats necessary.
 
I don't think banning is the way to go at all, just enforce correct usage, especially at shows, and punish abusive or bad riding.
My horse rides in a headcollar, a hackamore, a head slip with a bit attached (easiest thing for hacking!), a show Pelham with hunter noseband (for showing) or a Micklem. He's also had a flash bridle briefly when he was fresh and tanking through the bit (pre-Micklem), I used it very loosely. I could put a grackle and a gag on him and he'd still be fine because I'd be using light hands and loose fitting. It's not the equipment, surely, but the hands it's in.
I will confess to hating cranks though - yes you can use them loosely but the only reason for them to exist above a normal fastening is because of their ability to be "cranked" up :(.
 
Not sure how my bitless side pull would work without a noseband. There wouldn't be much left of it. Perhaps I could make a couple of alterations, a few tweaks, attach the reins to each ear......😉😜😉
 
MDB said:
Not sure how my bitless side pull would work without a noseband. There wouldn't be much left of it. Perhaps I could make a couple of alterations, a few tweaks, attach the reins to each ear......������
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Why not chuck the bridle alltogether and use the ears like a pair of joy sticks ��
 
What needs stopping is the so called EDT's rolling teeth so smooth to allow the nosebands to be fitted so tight. Having watched a very well known EDT spend an hour altering the mouth on a horse (not mine) and then telling me proudly that he routinely does it to allow the tight nosebands to be used without the pressure pushing the molars into the cheek, I was unimpressed to say the least. He went on to say the horse won't be able to eat hay for some time. What he failed to say was in the longer term the horse won't be eating hay as an older horse because with that type of dental care there will be no teeth in the older horse.

Disgraceful.

Nosebands and any other tack is fine as long as it is used correctly.
 
RunToEarth said:
I really enjoy your posts DD - your ability to be so convinced by your own opinion that you feel the need to ignore every poster who doesn't share your view and only quote those who agree with you is incredibly entertaining.

Personally I would go for banning morons - both in the horsey world and if successful roll out to the entire planet. As it goes, I don't advocate banning anything, perhaps just educate people.
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Hahaha, I love this post! I'm all about banning morons too- and ignorant people.
 
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