Tell me about kineton / combination nosebands please

H

HelenBack

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 June 2012
Messages
927
Visit site
A couple of people have suggested kineton nosebands to me for XC for my strong but sensitive horse. I've no experience of them whatsoever and reading up on them online I do like the sound of them but would like to hear a bit from people who have actually used them.

The horse is currently in a three ring universal / continental gag with just a cavesson noseband. This is fine for SJ for I just feel like I could do with a touch more for XC. I don't think it needs to be a massive change, maybe just a slight tweak.

So I could add a grackle and I think that would make some difference but I was trying to be kind in sticking with the cavesson. I was also then looking at combination bits as said horse really does like a hackamore but that wouldn't be a viable option for XC. This is probably still my first choice of option of what to try next but I'm just doing a bit of research before I make a decision.

Various people then said about the kineton and off I went for a look. From what I've read you should only use them with a snaffle so I didn't know how that would compare to the current universal set up. My horse also prefers a hanging cheek to a loose ring or eggbutt so not sure if that would rule that out. I also then saw that you can get a combination noseband for use with your existing bit and now I am well am truly confused!

I have written to a couple of the bit banks for advice and am having discussions with my instructor too but just thought I'd ask here too for people's real life experiences.
 
Have a look at Worcester nosebands too. Same principle as the kineton but no metal pieces just straps that come down from a caveson to attach to bit rings so its more versatile in what bits it can be used with.

The point is simply taking some of the rein pressure away from the mouth and transferring it to the nose so if the horse already goes well in a hackamore it sounds like it would work well.
 
I hunted my old boy in a Happy Mouth with a Kineton and it worked brilliantly so would certainly say give it a try
 
Tried both a kineton and a combination (Bombers) with my strong boy. Could never get the kineton to sit quite right, unless it was in action it clanked on the bit loosely.The combination was better and really did make a difference. It wasn't cheap though...

saddlemasters.co.uk

Bombers Happy Tongue Hybrid | Saddlemasters Equestrian

A bit favoured by Show jumpers looking for the ideal compromise between a bit and a hackamore to dissipate pressure around different areas of the
saddlemasters.co.uk saddlemasters.co.uk
 
P.forpony said:
Have a look at Worcester nosebands too. Same principle as the kineton but no metal pieces just straps that come down from a caveson to attach to bit rings so its more versatile in what bits it can be used with.

The point is simply taking some of the rein pressure away from the mouth and transferring it to the nose so if the horse already goes well in a hackamore it sounds like it would work well.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I've just had a look and see descriptions of Worcestor nosebands but not any actually for sale. Maybe they've been phased out in favour of all the other new fangled designs? Will keep looking anyway.

cauda equina said:
I hunted my old boy in a Happy Mouth with a Kineton and it worked brilliantly so would certainly say give it a try
Click to expand...

Thanks, that's helpful.

Abacus said:
Tried both a kineton and a combination (Bombers) with my strong boy. Could never get the kineton to sit quite right, unless it was in action it clanked on the bit loosely.The combination was better and really did make a difference. It wasn't cheap though...

saddlemasters.co.uk

Bombers Happy Tongue Hybrid | Saddlemasters Equestrian

A bit favoured by Show jumpers looking for the ideal compromise between a bit and a hackamore to dissipate pressure around different areas of the
saddlemasters.co.uk saddlemasters.co.uk
Click to expand...

Thanks, and yes I know the combination bits are a touch pricey which might be why I'm consider other alternatives too! On the other hand if it does help and it stops me buying lots of other things to try and then give up on I suppose it could be cheaper in the long run. Trust do a slightly cheaper version that looks very similar to the Bombers one but either way I'll go via one of the Bit Banks so I can send it back if no good.

May I ask what bit you use for flatwork? I haven't tried my boy in a happy tongue type mouthpiece yet. He does seem to go well in a ported mouthpiece but so far these have been of the jointed Myler variety. I'm a bit worried that he might set against a solid mouthpiece but on the other hand he might actually like the fact that it's still as his mouth is small and he can be sensitive. There's just too much to think about!
 
HelenBack said:
Thanks, and yes I know the combination bits are a touch pricey which might be why I'm consider other alternatives too! On the other hand if it does help and it stops me buying lots of other things to try and then give up on I suppose it could be cheaper in the long run. Trust do a slightly cheaper version that looks very similar to the Bombers one but either way I'll go via one of the Bit Banks so I can send it back if no good.

May I ask what bit you use for flatwork? I haven't tried my boy in a happy tongue type mouthpiece yet. He does seem to go well in a ported mouthpiece but so far these have been of the jointed Myler variety. I'm a bit worried that he might set against a solid mouthpiece but on the other hand he might actually like the fact that it's still as his mouth is small and he can be sensitive. There's just too much to think about!
Click to expand...

I only ever had that horse in an NS lozenge snaffle for flatwork and hacking, he got stronger when jumping or hunting. So it wasn't similar to the bombers mouthpiece.
 
You could try a english hackamore if that's the one your horse likes, combined with your 3 ring gag if that's what your using. When I was trying different things with my mare I used this combo for a while, I had 2 reins and used 2nd ring down on the bit, mainly rode on the hackamore but used but rein on bit as a backup. I'm not sure rules & regs competing. Now I use a myler comfort Pelham with roundings for exciting stuff.
 
I have happily used the Myler long-shank combination bits, used with two reins, if I've needed to be able to use a softer rein aid while still maintaining control.

Using two reins allows for a transition back to the same mouthpiece (without the combination noseband) if and when it's been appropriate to.
 
Mrs. Jingle said:
I love Kinetons. I have used one a few times, especially helpful with strong cobs with a brutishly muscled neck if they set against you. I found it turned a plain snaffle into something much more helpful without over loading with lots of gadgets and bits and pieces.
Click to expand...
Yes, that was mine 🤣
 
I jumped my horse in a combination noseband and full cheek snaffle.

He had jumped to 3*** eventing and the girl who rode him found him unstoppable in an American gag, martingale and grackle noseband.

I found him strong but perfectly manageable in the snaffle and combination noseband.
 
I've used a Kineton, if the horse responds well to pressure on the nose they're very useful. I did also try using an English hackamore and a snaffle, but I found the Kineton more effective. That will vary from horse to horse though, so if you can borrow a hackamore/Kineton/combination to try them out it might make finding the best option for your horse a bit cheaper!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top