At GlenOlive we offer grazing agistment, superb equine facilities and coaching for those with an interest in dressage and applied equitation science.
05/02/2025
Check your noseband!
A 2017 study, ๐๐ฐ๐ด๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐๐ด๐ฆ ๐ช๐ฏ ๐๐ฒ๐ถ๐ฆ๐ด๐ต๐ณ๐ช๐ข๐ฏ ๐๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ต๐ด โ ๐๐ฏ ๐๐ฏ๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ๐ฏ๐ข๐ต๐ช๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฅ๐บ by Orla Doherty et al., examined the effects of noseband tightness in competition horses.
The study found that 44% of competition horses in dressage and eventing had nosebands tightened so much that it was impossible to insert the ISES taper gauge under the noseband, effectively classified as zero fingersโ tightness. Only 7% of nosebands were fitted at the recommended level of two fingersโ tightness.
The widespread use of restrictive nosebands raises concerns about potential welfare consequences for horses.
โ ๏ธ ๐ฃ๐ต๐๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ ๐ข๐๐ฒ๐ฟ-๐ง๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ก๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐
The study highlighted several potential consequences of excessive noseband tightness, including:
๐๐
๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ง๐ถ๐๐๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐: Tight nosebands exert high pressure on the soft tissues of the face, particularly over prominent bones such as the nasal and jaw bones. This pressure can lead to discomfort, pain, and tissue damage.
๐ง๐ถ๐๐๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ: Research suggests that sustained pressure above 350 mmHg can cause tissue damage. Some tight nosebands have been recorded exceeding 1,400 mmHg, well beyond the threshold for safe pressure levels. The pressures exerted by tight nosebands can exceed levels known to cause pain and tissue damage in humans and other animals.
๐ก๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: Excessive compression of facial nerves can lead to neural damage. In extreme cases, this may result in denervation, which can cause a loss of sensation in parts of the face. Trigeminal neuritis, a condition linked to head-shaking in horses, has also been associated with nerve compression.
๐๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐จ๐น๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: When the mucosa inside the horseโs mouth is pressed against sharp molars due to a tight noseband, ulceration and laceration may occur, causing pain and potential infection.
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ก๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฒ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐: Horses use mouth movements to respond to bit pressure, adjust the position of the bit, and express discomfort. Overly tight nosebands can prevent these behaviours, potentially leading to increased stress and discomfort.
๐ฃ๐ผ๐๐๐ถ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด: The study referenced concerns that tight nosebands may restrict nasal expansion, which could impact a horseโs ability to breathe freely, particularly during strenuous exercise.
