Sheepskin nosebands instead of martingale?

tobiano1984

tobiano1984

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The rider of my young event prospect also rides for a well known eventer's mum, and was told that they use sheepskin nosebands instead of martingales in some cases. This intrigued me and I wondered how common this is, as you don't see many fluffy nosebands out and about (that I've noticed!). It came up as the young eventer has started getting a bit too brave jumping courses and will put his head up going into a jump and then confuse himself as he can't see it anymore (!). I suggested a martingale, and then the sheepskin noseband came up - I think we'll try it and see as I like to avoid excess gadgets where possible...

I guess it works just by meaning they can't see so well if their nose is poking up in the air and so encourage the head down. I might also try it on my SJ pony who likes to poke in the air in canter but also doesn't like the resistance of a martingale.

Just wondered whether other people have used this is a solution and whether it's worked?
 
This was in fashion about 10 years ago where you used to see them everywhere! I guess like the modern day Miklem bridle just slightly less expensive and gadgety! I tried one on my speedy Gonzales mare who started tanking head up into large fences and it did work - she hated martingales and we believed that it actually restricted her natural way of jumping so stuck with the nose band.
 
Rosesandhorses said:
This was in fashion about 10 years ago where you used to see them everywhere! I guess like the modern day Miklem bridle just slightly less expensive and gadgety! I tried one on my speedy Gonzales mare who started tanking head up into large fences and it did work - she hated martingales and we believed that it actually restricted her natural way of jumping so stuck with the nose band.
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Yes well the lady who recommended it is pretty old school...! I do remember having one as a teenager 10/15 years ago purely because it made my horse look like a racehorse, no practical reason!

Interesting that it's worked on your mare - will definitely try it on my two as it can't do any harm.
 
I was doing some training at YRC last year, and Christopher Bartle had everyone's martingales off (that I saw). He did not replace them with nose bands though, just riding from the leg etc.

I gave it a try and my horse was a lot happier. It did not make any difference on the approach, but if we were a bit out of sorts over the fence then there was a more direct line from me to him (no "kink" in the rein) and so he had more freedom to sort us both out.

I have dispensed with a martingale altogether now, and my horse that was VERY tricky (strong and reared) when I got him is now a softie jumping, in his dressage bridle. Suits me - less tack cleaning.
 
I fine the idea of a martingale really interesting, it seems to completely change the direction of the rein aid which I guess is the idea but just seems so weird. Not a fan, for a weird comment once about daring to ride such a big horse without one?

I always prefer simple to gadget :)
 
As I understood it, a sheepskin noseband is not so much to restrict a horses view, more to keep their attention. You still see them being used on cheekpieces in the race industry.

It is certainly worth a try, let us know if it helps.
 
I wondered about trying a sheepskin noseband on my horse and I don't like the feel of the martingale on the reins and she seems to fight it on the odd occasion I've tried it out.
 
Sheepskin nosebands are really to prevent the horse seeing shadows - hence the name Shadow Roll - when the horses head is down they focus on an area just in front of them and those spooky types can get upset by shadows and movement near their feet.

For training purposes I've always used a correctly fitted standing martingale as it only affects the horses nose and not it's mouth. As I want the horse to enjoy jumping and settle nicely into fences I don't want the physical discomfort of being socked in the mouth which is what a running martingale does every time the horse throws its head.

If the standing is correctly fitted the horse has all the freedom it needs to jump. Horses are used to the requirement of pressure on the nose = bring your head down! we use this every time we lead them in a head collar.
 
Al found with Reg that a running martingale just hindered her riding- he got his head up, the martingale played on the reins she lost the contact because of that and then he could do as he pleased. She did use a massive fluffy noseband for a while and it did mean he occasionally glanced down.

Ultimately a standing martingale worked very well, but what worked better was lots and lots of work on keeping him really up in front of her leg into her hand, lots of bending and keeping him concentrating, keeping a really consistent firm contact.

I'm sure you're Norfolk based? If you are, can whole heartedly recommend John Adams for SJ lessons. He is brilliant, Al really enjoys every lesson and takes something from them each time, and he pinpoints problems very quickly. He really did completely change the way Al rode SJ, and turned her and Reg round (still bashed poles, but bashed them stylishly and less frequently!) and gave her back a lot of confidence.
 
I used a sheepskin nose band on my tb x that I had. It worked well. I detest seeing martingales just on a horse for the sake of it. You look at some of them and they haven't even been fitted they are just there short and the people using them have no idea how they work. No rein stops even on the reins.
 
hi so, i have a horse who came with her tack and i was not told sizes i believe she could be in either cob or full bridle. everywhere on the bridle is near enough on the top hole, but the noseband wouldn’t even fit on the last we had to make an extra one right at the end.
i ordered a sheepskin noseband cover and once that is on the noseband dosent even come together, and as the rest of the bridle fits i was going to order a noseband separate but they all seem to be chunky, my noseband cover dosent fasten properly around my noseband even tho it’s a standard noseband so just wondering what noseband everyone recommends to use with the lemieux sheepskin cover. Does having the flash loop make a difference as mine has and i’m not sure if it would be better without?



thank you i really will appreciate answers
 
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