Tight Nosebands

M

M'n'M

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 January 2011
Messages
179
Location
USA
Visit site
So I'm taking dressage lessons and my instructor wants me to tighten Molly's noseband really tight, so she can't open her mouth at all. Now, I'm not one of those people who are all mushy gushy when it comes to horses, but my conscience cannot rest! She has never had a problem with opening her mouth and I hate tightening it so much, but my instructor said because we are going to be pushing her harder than she's ever worked we may get some rebellion and with a tight noseband she can't evade the bit.

What do you think?

Ease my conscience rest or tell me what to do!!!! I'm worrying here!

Thanks
 
Im not a riding instructor but I say dont try to fix whats not broken. My horse has an awful tongue habit and Id do anything to get him to be relaxed in his mouth.
Id be afraid you may end up with a horse with an evasion.
 
Dont..you know her best, and it looks like you dont want too.

And 'MAY' get some rebellion..so its pre-emptive strike now? :S

Your instructor must know other ways to help her adjust to harder work.

If I were in your shoes I would seek oppinions of other instructors.
 
If she's never had a problem before, keep it at the correct.. tension? Is that the right word? Why make the horse uncomfortable if it's going to carry on in the same way? Tightening could even cause problems. Keep it the same if I were you. Why take action if you're not even sure it's going to happen? Is she in just a plain snaffle/cavesson noseband? xx
 
Thanks so much for your replies.

VioletStripe - She's in a plain noseband, no flash or anything.

I'm worried about saying no to my instructor. I feel like it will be like me saying I know more than her and that even though I'm training under her I'm not going to do what she says. Is this a stupid fear for me to have? I feel like it is but ya know...
 
I'd rather take all the time in the World to get the horse working properly in comfort rather than strapping it in/up/down for a quick fix. Your instructor sounds like a quick fix-er, I'd find another. A bit of rebellion if the work is too hard is better in the long run as you'll eventually see the results if she is allowed her opinion.
 
I have to say that I ride my mare in a simple French link snaffle and straight forward cavesson noseband - however if we are to do a flatwork lesson or go hunting then I tighten up her noseband, purely and simply it is a psychological thing - as soon as her noseband is tightened, she knows that work is iminent and that she must behave ;) For a simple hack, then the nosband is hardly revelant as its done up on the very last hole ;)
 
Tell your instructer that NO you will not be tightening your noseband very tight. To work correctly and with softness and relaxation the horse needs to be able to soften its jaw - that means it needs to drop the lower jaw so that the teeth are not jammed together.

Try running around with your teeth jammed against each other - painful. lol

If increasing the level of work is likely to cause a rebellion then the horse is not ready to do so. Established basics and a steady increase in training and each phase - new movement will come easily.

I would be inclined to look around for a better instructor with a classical attitude to dressage.

A stressed, tail swishing dressage horse is not what is required.

If your instructor is worth anything she will listen to your reasons for not tightening the noseband.

Correct fit for the cavesson is 2 fingers.

Make haste slowly!
 
Last edited:
Sack your instructor.

If you are being asked to strap the horses mouth shut, why?

You say the horse is not in a flash, so obviously she's not putting her tongue over the bit, yet! but your instructor is about to cause that or some other displacement behaviour.

The problem with these people is that they are rushing to get the horse into an outline or whatever, without taking the time to work into it properly.

Sack this woman or she will spoil your horse.
 
Flippin 'eck! How hard is she anticipating this poor horse work??? So hard it needs it's mouth strapping shut, it's nostrils restricted? What kind of dressage is that?? If you're working in harmony and collection the horse will be SEEKING contact, not evading it.

I've been doing classical dressage on my chap since I first got him and we've never touched his noseband. Don't really know why we wear one (I don't when I'm out hacking when I probably shuould because it was designed to stop horses spading the ground if they fell) as if a horse want to open their mouths it's to do with the bit.

Stand your ground or find someone more sympathetic. What level is she btw? What dressage?
 
tallyho! said:
Flippin 'eck! How hard is she anticipating this poor horse work??? So hard it needs it's mouth strapping shut, it's nostrils restricted? What kind of dressage is that?? If you're working in harmony and collection the horse will be SEEKING contact, not evading it.

I've been doing classical dressage on my chap since I first got him and we've never touched his noseband. Don't really know why we wear one (I don't when I'm out hacking when I probably shuould because it was designed to stop horses spading the ground if they fell) as if a horse want to open their mouths it's to do with the bit.

Stand your ground or find someone more sympathetic. What level is she btw? What dressage?
Click to expand...

^^Agree^^
 
Your instructors methods obviously usually result in resistant, uncomfortable horses. I'd be looking for a new instructor asap
 
So your horse is going soft and compliant now, but you're told to effectively make her unfcomfortable and possibly block that forward movement 'just in case'.

Hm.

Either grow some small spherical items and tell your instructor No, but you will change noseband to a Mexican grackle or similar should the need arise; or change your instructor.

I know of a dressage rider who starts all her hroses in a flash, irrespective of whether they 'needed' it or not, so as they would never learn to evade the bit.

Personally speaking, and I'm not a dressage diva in any respect, but I have found that horses that are going to argue tend to do it no matter what the bit/noseband combination, although the combination may stop it being so obvious.

Just my pennies worth.
 
Well, that sounds all to familiar to me! my instructor does the same, i hop off and undo it, she tightens, i hop off and undo it.lol. She has now excepted that my DOES NOT need a tight noseband and that he works well without his mouth being rammed shut. I hate it and no-one is going to ram my horses mouth shut. End of.x
 
I have never heard such tosh!

I have to admit that I have a real 'thing' about fastening horses' mouths shut anyway. IMO if a horse opens its mouth, it's because it is uncomfortable and that problem should be resolved.
In your case, your horse seems to be quite happy with the bit you are using, I cannot imagine why your RI thinks she will be less comfortable in her mouth as you do more demanding work. Presumably you will be keeping your hands soft.
I'd get a different instructor, rather than a different noseband.
 
AndySpooner said:
Sack your instructor.

If you are being asked to strap the horses mouth shut, why?

You say the horse is not in a flash, so obviously she's not putting her tongue over the bit, yet! but your instructor is about to cause that or some other displacement behaviour.

Sack this woman or she will spoil your horse.
Click to expand...

Ditto this. Totally nuts if you ask me!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top