Kineton vs Worcester nosebands.

[beth_straw]

I'm planning on trying either of these two nosebands with a lozenge snaffle for hunting, only they seem to be fairly similar in action to each other, and not sure which to try.

My horse is a big, strong puller. I've been hunting in a cheltenham gag (single joint, but with latex bandage over the joint) and a grackle noseband. She still pulls and rushes off with this, which im quite fed up with!

Ive had a go with other bits, waterfords make almost no difference, she really dislikes dutch gags and is very heavy in a pelham. Her everyday bit is a ns universal, which is great at home and I compete her in it with no problem, can just about manage some fast work but hunting it may as well be a snaffle.

Any help would be lovely, thanks.

 

[joy]

I think the Kineton is more severe. Having said that I used to hunt an Irish monster in one and he really did go kindly in it.
He had a vast head and great big rubbery lips which he could extend up most of his face and the Kineton did stop this.

 

[simplyhunting]

As Tetrach says, the kineton is much more severe in action compared to a worcester noseband. It worked rather nicely on my lad who has a reputation for being a rather strong puller despite being only 14.3. Despie that now he has figured his way out of every bit/noseband possible! grrr... Althought the old ones with the metal inserts on the nosepiece work best of all.

 

[TarrSteps]

If you think about it, a Kineton is really not severe - it couldn't be. It basically does two things:

1. Holds the bit "up" and somewhat more still in the horse's mouth. I know technically it can be adjusted to sit not touching the bit but realistically that's almost impossible and pretty much negates the "real" effect, which is . .

2. Distributes some of the pressure put on the bit across the front of the nose, a proven useful pressure point also utilised by hackamores and combination bits.

So it provides, at least potentially, some tongue relief and moderates the nutcracker action of a snaffle and puts some of the pressure onto a less sensitive but still "obvious" area (in terms of what the horse has to do to relieve the pressure). It also doesn't forcibly limit the amount the jaw can move, like every other noseband, even a loosely adjusted cavesson.

Curious for a piece of tack that's "supposed" to work by causing increased discomfort (which is the definition of "severe" whatever anyone says).

Like every piece of tack, works for some and not for others, not always in the expected way.

 

[AML]

I hunt a big strong horse in a kineton and he goes well in it. The beauty of the kineton is that if the horse doesn't pull and you're quiet with your hands, it sits there doing nothing. When you need it, it comes into play.
I'm not a fan of shutting mouths and find the kineton suits my style of riding.