Nosebands - who doesn't use them?

[Smallhorses]

Hi there, I am looking for your opinion on bridles.

The physio commented on Pony’s tack yesterday. He has a Worcester nose band which attaches to a Willkie Bit. The Bit also attaches to the cheek piece and the reins in the normal way. He also has a martingale and breast plate which attached to the D rings of his saddle. Fully equipped I hear you say! He came like this as the previous owner said he was strong. I agree he is – but only when he is in front – and even then its not that bad. They used to hunt him and show jump allot and I don’t so maybe that’s why he has all that stuff.

The physio suggested removing his nose band completely as his bit is strong enough and ride without. She thinks that the noseband he has now is causing him headaches and headshaking. He does thrown his head up and down sometimes and tried to itch the side of his head when we are out. I just thought it was him wanting to scratch.

I never see horses being ridden without nosebands. Is this normal?

 

[ThePony]

I don't ride mine with one. She is only in a caverson anyway so it isn't like it does anything! She is very sensitive around her head and prone to headshaking so we go with a less is more approach! Less tack to clean is always a plus too! She came with a load of stuff when I bought her, but I took it all off and put her in what I thought she needed (loose ring verbindent, headpiece and saddle atm!). She has her noseband on again for a schooling session before a comp and then at the comp (dressage) then off again. Other than that we have a saddle and an 'oh s**t' strap on the front. She can get v strong hacking, but weight/half halts/neck flexing remind her that I'm still there and want a say in things so all is well!

If it suits your horse to be without then I would loose it.

 

[Capriole]

Im riding one of mine without a noseband, purely for the reason I took it off to use a lunge cavesson with it ages ago and never put it back on. Lazy. Its a cavesson noseband which was loosely fitted anyway so not really doing anything when its there.
I suppose his face looks a bit 'bald' without it and he looks quite 'racer-ish' but I dont really think about it.

I cant think of any others I see around here without a noseband if I think about it, most seem to be in flashes

 

[Paint Me Proud]

I have never used a noseband with Chico since he was backed last year (other than for a couple of dressage shows where they were compulsory).

Initially i found it hard to get him to accept the bit whilst also fighting with the noseband to get it in place so i took it off.

Havent used one since!

No one else on my yard rides without one, but as someone else said, most of them are in flashes.

 

[JFTDWS]

I have cavessons for dressage and showing, but don't have them on their everyday bridles. Partly because I'm lazy and it's one more thing to do up, partly because sometimes it's convenient to have a headcollar under their bridles (e.g. for trec). Nothing wrong with riding without at all

 

[pines of rome]

My ex racer goes without a noseband, he is a head ****** and seems happier without one!

 

[jsr]

I have a grackle for SJ, XC and hunting otherwise he has a nakid nose!! Lol!!

 

[Mare Stare]

I think horses look better without nosebands - it shows their face off more.

My friend rides her ID without a noseband and has no problems with him but tbh he is more lazy than sharp.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I used to ride without a noseband all the time (like many of yours, it was only a loose cavesson) however I now always ride with one.

I discovered that the cavesson had been invented to stop the horse from breaking it's lower jaw, if it ever falls over 'face plant' style. I ride over really rough and steep terrain and seem to have dreadful luck with horse injuries, so I'm not risking riding without a cavesson, even if it may never be needed (hopefully).

The Worcester noseband is actually a very kind and effective bit of kit for a strong horse. Make sure that it is fitted correctly and isn't too low.

Try your boy with a cavesson and see how it goes, or try without a noseband, it's up to you. If you end up needing to pull hard to stop him, put the WN back on.

 

[Tickles]

Me!

I usually remove them from bridles as I've not yet ridden anything that needed one on a regular basis.

In theory a plain cavesson is supposed to help with a horse landing nose-first with rider hanging onto bit (you'll have to google as I'm not sure I recall correctly but it is supposed to help with not breaking jaw I *think*). However I've not heard enough to convince me it is a significant risk - although I'm prepared to learn!

Your pony does indeed sound very kitted-up. Unless rider is very small (in which case perhaps lead-rein?) have you considered ditching most of it and doing lots of schooling?

ETS: I've just seen Faracat's reply, that is what I meant!

 

[POLLDARK]

Never use one on either boy, they don't need them, day to day, they are well mannered lads.. Put on a cavesson loosely for showing & dressage but only because you have to, not because they are needed. For me they are a useless piece of kit.

 

[Brandy]

Give it a try without the noseband - you say yourself he isn;t THAT strong. Or at least just a plain cavesson.

Having read some of your other posts, your pony sounds very like mine. He is ridden in a loose ring french link, but I do have a wilkie for excitement outings! He also has a drop nose band, and a running martingale with breastplate. The breast plate is a handy grab handle for me should I need it! The martingale and noseband only really come into action when absolutely needed, which I have to say, is not allthat often these days! Still, they are a security blacket, and do no harm if not needed.

 

[planete]

I have not used one for years. My sensitive lad showed me that every time he opened his mouth he was objecting to the way I was riding him. Cue years of frustration to get rid of my bad habits. I really believe this horse has been my best teacher, he is so good at showing me up!

 

[a kind of magic]

Me-all ours are ridden western and they don't have nosebands on the headstalls. Only time they have a noseband on is if they are in a side-pull.

 

[Firefly*]

Me! I don't use one!

 

[Shantara]

Depends
It doesn't seem to bother him either way or make a difference. I took it off to use the Dually underneith and haven't put it back on yet.
I doubt I will put it back on, he used to have a hideous lump on his nose (roughly the size of a golf ball) but that's gone down so much, you can barely see it. I like to show off his good looks ^^

 

[melxvengeance]

I ride both my boys in grackle nosebands, they are fjords so very strong (and strong-willed) and prone to be rather naughty when least expected so i need them.

However if I was you, take the noseband completely off and ride him, see how he goes. if he's a lot happier, and doesn't take the P, then continue to ride him without one.

you don't know till you try!

 

[MerrySherryRider]

The physio suggested removing his nose band completely as his bit is strong enough and ride without. She thinks that the noseband he has now is causing him headaches and headshaking. He does thrown his head up and down sometimes and tried to itch the side of his head when we are out. I just thought it was him wanting to scratch.

This is quite strange, but my horse had pulled a muscle in his shoulder and a friend on the yard decided to do some Reiki on him as a favour. One of the things she said was that the horse had a headache.
By coincidence, he had a rub on his face, so I decided to remove his noseband. It was very apparent that he was much happier without the noseband, that I never put it back on.
I didn't think the noseband could cause him discomfort, but the difference in him is quite noticeable.

 

[Baby-G12]

I dont ride my hore with a noseband she is very strong but it seems to make no difference when im out with her she does toss her head alot even without the noseband so i think it is a good idea or you can just give it a go

 

[phoebeast]

I've been riding my ex-racer without a noseband while I've been getting her back into work as she's not strong and I'll hack her without one. However I have found that bringing her into more advanced work she does need one, so I ride her in a flash 75% of the time.

 

[FatBobsChum]

I don't use one with my bitted bridle (I jump in a Dr Cook bitless bridle so use one then). The main reason for me is simply because I hate tack cleaning, so the less he has, the less I have to clean!

Never had any issues not using one.