Purpose of nosebands ?

Something to hang your standing martingale from ;)

Aesthetic - a decent cavesson of the correct width can do wonders to enhance the appearance of a head, and is traditional and correct in the hunting field, dressage arena and show ring etc. Most horses invariably look better with one in English tack, somehow they always look a little untidy and unfinished without a noseband - says she who loathes nosebands and only uses them for parties :)

They can actually serve a purpose - drop, grackle, mexican, flash etc, etc, etc.
 
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Funnily enough I asked this today!
I can think of lots of reasons why it's a good extra like the martingale one, but can't see what it adds properly as an essential to every bridle?
Will read with interest.
 
Does it help control the horse ? Because some people tell me I should put a grackle noseband on my horse and I would have more control but I dont see how ?
 
HorseGirl1 said:
Does it help control the horse ? Because some people tell me I should put a grackle noseband on my horse and I would have more control but I dont see how ?
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Grackles prevent them from crossing their jaw and opening their mouth, so its harder for them to pull against you. Flash just stops them opening their mouth, as does a drop.

I only use a cavesson, as I'd rather not block any mouth issues - I like to know what I'm dealing with, then school accordingly. Cavesson is purely aesthetic - I just prefer the look of a horse wearing a noseband
 
HorseGirl1 said:
Does it help control the horse ? It can help Because some people tell me I should put a grackle noseband on my horse and I would have more control but I dont see how ?
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Do they say why a grackle would benefit you and your horse?

Different nosebands have different actions, it depends what you want to achieve when choosing one.
 
I usually ride with a cavesson or no noseband with a snaffle bit but I do find it hard to keep a hold of my pony whilst jumping but nothing too major . Is there anything I could do to have a slighy more control ?
 
(im on my phone and cant quote)@Auslander -----when I come of the jump he tends to gather lots of speed and can make it difficult to bring back to a nice canter and.not a crazy canter ,im not a hundred percent sure whats making it hard to keep a good control :/ ?
 
HorseGirl1 said:
@Enfys---they never tell me why they just say it will help....when asked to explain why ,they never can
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When a horse is wearing a grackle or mexican and opens his mouth, the top part of the noseband tightens. So it has the effect of putting pressure on the horse to not open his mouth, but higher up his face as well as at the bottom flash part. On an ordinary flash noseband the top does not tighten when the horse opens his mouth, it stays at a constant pressure.
 
Can provide more control by preventing them from opening their mouth and running through the bit. Reg needs a flash for SJ, as that's his main thing.

I think, whilst it can hide problems, if you know the problem it is a valid solution. Reg doesn't want a stronger bit but he does get very onwards bound and a bit too wild sans flash in the SJ. Everything has a purpose, especially when used correctly.

On Smokey, it breaks up the face and makes him look even prettier :D
 
Auslander said:
. Cavesson is purely aesthetic - I just prefer the look of a horse wearing a noseband
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moana said:
Cavessons are for looks only.
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Cavessons were invented for a very specific reason. If a horse is galloping along sans noseband (think cavalry charge) and it trips and face plants, the lower jaw will spoon the ground and can break. The cavesson ties the lower jaw to the upper jaw and prevents the digging into the ground that can break the lower jaw.
 
I would start with the basics. Chances are you have not had this horse from 'new' and even if you have you may still be dealing with the influence of others.
It can be hard but you need your horse to be attentive and listening not matter what. I use hacking for schooling and if the horse's attention focuses on something other than me(this happens frequently:o) I bring him back and regain his attention. Try working in walk,using frequent changes of bend.(It is highly likely that it is the neck and shoulder you need to influence,rather than the mouth.) Aim for a soft communication with the contact,but if your horse loses concentration,bring him back with a more definite contact and leg.Use shoulder in,leg yield, travers, half halts and transitions to keep your horse busy(and get yourself fit and balanced!)Once you have softness and balance in walk introduce the same in trot and canter . My philosophy is: If I can 'think' the move and get it, there is then plenty of room to up the volume and still get a response when he forgets I am there!
All that said, I have a passion for dressage,hopefully a more experienced 'jumper' will be along with advice for your chosen discipline.
 
Faracat said:
Cavessons were invented for a very specific reason. If a horse is galloping along sans noseband (think cavalry charge) and it trips and face plants, the lower jaw will spoon the ground and can break. The cavesson ties the lower jaw to the upper jaw and prevents the digging into the ground that can break the lower jaw.
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^ this. Bet me to it lol.
 
abitodd said:
I would start with the basics. Chances are you have not had this horse from 'new' and even if you have you may still be dealing with the influence of others.
It can be hard but you need your horse to be attentive and listening not matter what. I use hacking for schooling and if the horse's attention focuses on something other than me(this happens frequently:o) I bring him back and regain his attention. Try working in walk,using frequent changes of bend.(It is highly likely that it is the neck and shoulder you need to influence,rather than the mouth.) Aim for a soft communication with the contact,but if your horse loses concentration,bring him back with a more definite contact and leg.Use shoulder in,leg yield, travers, half halts and transitions to keep your horse busy(and get yourself fit and balanced!)Once you have softness and balance in walk introduce the same in trot and canter . My philosophy is: If I can 'think' the move and get it, there is then plenty of room to up the volume and still get a response when he forgets I am there!
All that said, I have a passion for dressage,hopefully a more experienced 'jumper' will be along with advice for your chosen discipline.
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Nice. But completely incomprehensible. You need to get the hang of half halts, which means getting a good instructor. Sorry, but internet forums cannot teach you to ride (nor can books). Get a good teacher on the case. And best of luck!
 
abitodd said:
I would start with the basics. Chances are you have not had this horse from 'new' and even if you have you may still be dealing with the influence of others.
It can be hard but you need your horse to be attentive and listening not matter what. I use hacking for schooling and if the horse's attention focuses on something other than me(this happens frequently:o) I bring him back and regain his attention. Try working in walk,using frequent changes of bend.(It is highly likely that it is the neck and shoulder you need to influence,rather than the mouth.) Aim for a soft communication with the contact,but if your horse loses concentration,bring him back with a more definite contact and leg.Use shoulder in,leg yield, travers, half halts and transitions to keep your horse busy(and get yourself fit and balanced!)Once you have softness and balance in walk introduce the same in trot and canter . My philosophy is: If I can 'think' the move and get it, there is then plenty of room to up the volume and still get a response when he forgets I am there!
All that said, I have a passion for dressage,hopefully a more experienced 'jumper' will be along with advice for your chosen discipline.
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Thank you i brought my pony in august 2012. Im not really sure how to do "shoulder in,leg yield,travers" ? Im not very old either ..in my teens. So lots of things to take into my small brain lol :)
( The pony is an Arab X. )
 
They look nice - I hate the look of a bridle with no noseband, especially awful on horses with big heads.... Just my opinion and I will always use one.
 
Perhaps an experienced instructor may be your best option rather than asking for hints from people who don't know your pony, your riding style or what issues you are having. There could be 101 reasons why :)

As for nose bands, every one has a different purpose in basic terms

Cavessons as mentioned above were designed as described above, 'finish' a head off and can to a certain extent prevent minor opening of the mouth if fitted correctly.

Flash's keep the mouth closed and the bit stable in the mouth.

Grackle prevent crossing of the jaw.

Drops, combination of flash and grackle, although the prevention of crossing of the jaw is negotiable.

Then we could get into Australian nose bands, cranks, kinetons, levers, Worcester's etc... And we'd be here all day!
 
I've never understood the purpose of a Cavesson noseband tbh.

M arrived with one; it broke and I never replaced it with anything. He doesn't pull or evade the bit nor cross his jaw.

So, it did rather perplex and amuse me (as an ex-polo player and hunter) to arrive with such wonderfully (to my mind) minimal tack at a dressage comp last year to be told I HAD to compete with a noseband ....

Can anyone tell me why? It made no sense to me, beyond aesthetics :o
 
Mrs B said:
I've never understood the purpose of a Cavesson noseband tbh.

M arrived with one; it broke and I never replaced it with anything. He doesn't pull or evade the bit nor cross his jaw.

So, it did rather perplex and amuse me (as an ex-polo player and hunter) to arrive with such wonderfully (to my mind) minimal tack at a dressage comp last year to be told I HAD to compete with a noseband ....

Can anyone tell me why? It made no sense to me, beyond aesthetics :o
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'Tis the rules: you have to have a noseband (of prescribed style) for FEI and national competition. Nosebands have come and gone with prevailing fashion - OUT in much of the medieval period; IN in the 17th century; OUT again for much of the 18th and early 19th; IN again now.
 
Mrs B said:
I've never understood the purpose of a Cavesson noseband tbh.

M arrived with one; it broke and I never replaced it with anything. He doesn't pull or evade the bit nor cross his jaw.

So, it did rather perplex and amuse me (as an ex-polo player and hunter) to arrive with such wonderfully (to my mind) minimal tack at a dressage comp last year to be told I HAD to compete with a noseband ....

Can anyone tell me why? It made no sense to me, beyond aesthetics :o
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The same reason you can't use a bright pink saddle or ride in fancy dress - it is much easier to judge horse and rider combinations fairly if everyone is broadly wearing the same tack, outfit and equipment. the dressage powers that be decide what equipment would distract from the horse's way of going the least.
 
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