Amy Allen Horsemanship LLC

01/08/2025

While a noseband is needed for showing in dressage, but not any western classes, which proves a noseband is not essential, and an owner could choose to be compassionate and apply the two finger rule.
This picture makes me sad, the horse has to go around looking at the ground because its ridden behind the vertical and on the forehand which makes it even harder to move correctly in collected movements, punished for lifting its head to see where is going, in addition to the flash noseband which further restricts mouth movement, we must ask ourselves why do we do this to an animal when its not necessary....where is the respect for the horse? We can do better.
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Pippa Callanan

"I chose to remove my horses’ nosebands because I believe a horse should have both the freedom to release his jaw and the freedom to voice complaints against mistakes of the hand. I also chose to remove my own horses’ nosebands as a political statement against modern dressage. This study adds information about how this piece of equipment can negatively impact performance."

New research shows cranking the noseband hurts your horse's gait.

There are always many opinions about nosebands. Too loose, and a trainer might call it sloppy. Too tight, and it becomes a welfare concern. There are studded and crank and chain and traditional, and all kinds of gadgets and gizmos designed to keep our horse’s mouth shut, but what is best for the horse? Is cranking that extra hole doing more harm than good?

A 2025 study published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science examined the impact of noseband tightness on pressure and performance. The results are eye-opening if you believe that a tighter noseband means better performance in the ring.

Most riders are familiar with the standard: leave two fingers’ space beneath the noseband. It’s even outlined in guidelines from the FEI. And according to the study, 85% of riders say they know this recommendation. But when researchers actually measured the fit using a standardized taper gauge, only 15% had their nosebands adjusted to the proper tension.

The vast majority were too tight. Sometimes dramatically too tight.

The Hidden Pressure on a Horse’s Face
In the study, eight horses were fitted with a simple cavesson noseband and tested at three settings: a standard two-finger fit, a snug one-finger fit, and a cranked-tight zero-finger fit. Under each setting, researchers measured facial pressure and evaluated gait.

- The one-finger setting increased pressure on the nasal bone by 54% over the two-finger baseline.
- The zero-finger setting? A staggering 338% increase in pressure.

Imagine trying to do your day job with a belt cinched tight around your nose and jaw. Now add that your success relies on body movement, and you have no way to say, “This hurts.” That’s similar to what the horse might feel like being asked to perform in a fully tightened noseband that more than triples the force exerted on its face.

Unfortunately, changes to tack and equipment don’t typically come solely from the perspective of the horse’s comfort. So let’s look at performance as well.

In addition to pressure data, the researchers measured each horse’s trot stride. As the noseband got tighter, the stride got shorter—by a lot. On average:

- Horses at the one-finger tightness lost 6.2% of their stride length.
- With a fully tightened noseband, stride loss jumped to 11.1%.

In real-world terms, that’s about 24 centimeters, roughly the length of a hoof, disappearing from every stride. While that may not sound dramatic at first, consider how it compounds across a full course. Shorter strides can mean rushed distances, flat movement, and a horse that never quite gets to “flow.” In the hunter ring, 24 centimeters could be the difference between pinning in a highly competitive under saddle class.

And this wasn’t just about stiffness or resistance. The study found a statistically significant negative correlation between noseband pressure and stride length. In short, the tighter the fit, the shorter the step.

Sure, a longer stride is helpful in the show ring. But this research highlights deeper concerns about what that level of pressure does to the horse’s face and nerves. The noseband sits directly over sensitive structures, including branches of the trigeminal nerve, which help regulate posture and proprioception. Excessive pressure here doesn’t just hurt. It may also interfere with the horse’s balance and coordination.

Previous studies have shown that pressures as low as 32 kPa can damage tissue. In this study, the tightest noseband setting reached an average of 115.8 kPa. That’s far above what’s been associated with pain or injury in other species. That number isn’t just theoretical. It’s happening under tack, often unnoticed, every day. And unlike overt lameness, this kind of pressure flies under the radar, making it easy to miss, but just as impactful.

🔗 Read the full article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/07/30/new-research-shows-cranking-your-noseband-hurts-your-horses-gait/

🔗 Read the full study here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0737080625003120?via%3Dihub

31/07/2025

Training Milo

Relaxation.
Leadership.
Support.
Answer the horses questions.
Patience and direction.

I continued with Milo's training in the covered arena this week, continuing to build his trust and confidence. I am so proud of how far this horse has come considering he was so scared of everything. This is owner and we repeated the same current program of lunging all over the arena at all thee gaits, in hand work and then riding. Because the trust is stronger between us, his owner first did random patterns in the outdoor then moved in and out of the covered area and then fully under the cover and closer to the scary woods, building their own relationship of trust. This video was at the end of the session and you can see Milo is relaxed and tuned into his owner, ignoring the trees that are blowing in the wind.

27/07/2025

Training Milo

This is Milo's first training session out of the round pen. My goal is to continue to build his trust and confidence and have him think instead of react. You can see where he doesn't feel very confident by his body language, his head goes up, and his pace quickens. He also wants to stay closer to the horses for support.
As I ask him to move around the arena notice there isnt a pattern. I dont ride on the "rail", I do random circles, I add in a few gentle one rein stops, pauses and then more random walking but with clarity and purpose. By not pushing the horse to do what he cannot do in a relaxed state, I partner with the horse and build his trust and confidence.

27/07/2025

If your new to legerete and you do a search for working the horse in hand, and you find examples and then you try it with your horse but your horse doesn't look ANYTHING like the horse in the online videos, or P.K.s dvds. 🤔 All those horses are standing still and mostly in compliance, because they know how to do these exercise and of course that makes it look really easy. But what about the young horse thats learning and easily distracted? 😵‍💫

This is the third time I've done these exercises with Milo, but the first time out of the r.p. and he looks for all the squirrels. 🐿 As I ask Milo for the different part of the exercise, if he moves his feet I dont stop asking, I go with him until he finds the stop. I look for correctness as we do them and wait for him to learn.
At the very end of the video im waiting for his mouth as hes drawing his tongue back and thats a sign of anxiety or nervousness and we want the tongue forward a sign of relaxation.
Its important to have patience, stay the course and set the horse up for the exercise, sometimes you just have to wait for the horse to find it, know what neutral is, and follow through, IOW do the exercises correctly. Dont quit because the horse isn't doing it right, your the leader not the horse, take your time and partner with the horse.

24/07/2025

Advancing Milo's training and riding out of the pen.
I started in his previous session by siding up to the pipe panel, touch it, then reassure Milo with a reassuring rub, rub on panel, rub Milo, repeat until he can accept it. When I previously did this he moved away as he was afraid of it. I kept repeating until he learned it really isn't scary. In the beginning of this video you can see I repeated that exercise to see if he was accepting it and he was, so I slide the handle open and carefully we opened the gate.
Many horses are going to be afraid of an object coming towards them so be ready to ride that by staying in balance. If you hold onto the gate when they react big, you might get pulled off, so be ready to let go. You can see, he reacted, so ride the reaction and support the horse.
After we open the gate I stay in the pen. Notice Milo keeps telling me, that gates open, why are we not riding through it? I don't have his mind, hes not with me and I don't want to teach him to be gate sour, I also want him with me when I ride through it. So I ride around, practicing things to get him with me mentally. When I have the horse with me again, then I ride through the gate, it makes it safer and a better first experience.
Any time you teach a horse something, that first experience, I have found, is so very important, because horses remember it. And if it was a bad experience, you are going to have to retrain it, so I prepare and make every effort to make that first experience a good experience. I often breaking it down into smaller pieces so the horse can relax, and learn.
An important part of being a leader for the horse, and maintaining that leadership, is building trust, breaking things down in smaller pieces so they can relax and learn, maintaining boundaries and rewarding the try.

18/07/2025

Training Milo

Milo is progressing nicely, building a good foundation of trust and partnership. On the really hot day I switched to a dressage saddle and this was the first ride, we just walked and kept it short because of the heat.
We just started figure eights at the trot, this involves switching eyes, balance changes, and impulsion.
We also rode in the covered arena and had Amanda with Chloe for support. He did really well.

12/07/2025

Training Milo

Milo will 'pick me up' from either side of the mounting block. Since he chose the offside, I mounted on that side. This was a first as I usually do a lean over and get on his other side.
I did ask him for a neck extension for the first time. He took the contact but thinks im asking him to back. So I will teach him neck extension from the ground first. We are just starting to stop straight, my seat and weight aids are first, then I bring him up to me. I'm asking him to stop by a change of balance by lifting, not pulling down and back which is painful to the mouth and physically incorrect. The balance changes to the hind to stop, by the horse lifting the front.

Working on the trot...hes a good example of why relaxation is so important. Before hes relaxed you see bracing, uncertainty and a lack of rhythm. This isn't easy to ride and I am making an effort to set the rhythm, and he will find it. You probably can't see this, but from a riders perspective hes asking me a million questions; do I stop?, do i go?, do i stop?, do i go?, where do I go?, how fast?, oh thats a bit scary, I can't see you, ok were going...going to try to relax a little....then all the questions all over again. And I'm up there trying to read his thoughts and his body language so I can give him an answer right away. With this type of leadership, and the correct timing and feel, he will gain confidence and relax.
After a break so he could soak (process), you see the second trot to the left was much better, he turned loose a little, hes more relaxed and starting to have some rhythm. Thats much more comfortable for both of us. Hes got a lovely trot.

05/07/2025

Training Milo

As I've stated before, Milo doesn't have a lot of confidence (I've nicknamed him cling-on), we are progressing to build his confidence. We just started trotting and our first session he would give me around 4 strides then stop and with a brace, head up, chewing nervously with his mouth, trying to digest what happened. I praise, praise, praise letting him know hes ok and what a good boy! Praise the try. We kept doing this, both directions.
The next training session, he wanted to trot right away. He does have a lot of try, and wants to please, he just needs that leadership to support him. Of course we didnt start trotting right away as I knew he wasnt with me enough and while he had the right idea, we worked on the walk, flexions, balance and one rein stops to keep building that strong foundation. Horses do not make good leaders but a partnership built on trust creates a great relationship. Leaders don't run away from every single thing that scares them. Horses have ears and eyes strategically placed high on their head and also four long legs for a reason, to run away.

I'm teaching Milo to think instead of react. Teaching him to go forward in a trot started with the walk, faster walk and then trot attempts that were praised for the try. I built on that idea and would encourage him to go further and further. Most times he would take me up on that idea. Sometimes he did not, I still praised him for trying. Its the same idea of teaching a child to ride a bike, we start with training wheels, direction, instruction and encouragement. With some kids its a lot of support and praise, with other kids its trying to prevent them from hurting themselves. If you have kids you know exactly what I'm taking about. 🤣

This short video is day two of working on the trot. Like I said, he wanted to trot soon after I asked him to walk. After some work we went back to the trot work and as a result of good timing, feel, observation of what he needed, soon we were going further and further.

A good leader creates a balanced willing partner who wants to please and be with you. We know what a bad leader does to a horse. Be that leader that your horse wants and needs.

05/07/2025

The flag of America will continue to soar as it boasts its colors to symbolize freedom and bravery. Have a great Independence Day!

28/06/2025

Some of my clients steam their hay or want to steam their hay, here's the latest info on steaming from Dr Kellon.

Using hay steamers to prepare dry hay has become fairly popular, especially for horses with respiratory issues. They are available in both smaller units to accommodate a hay net or larger ones to d…

26/06/2025

McCombs hay in Satsop has low sugar/starch (ESC+starch 5.60) Teff with 15.66 protein if your looking. 360-470-1717
This is where I get my 4th cutting alfalfa for our old horses.

26/06/2025

Milo and his owner during our training session today.

Lots of good moments including soaking, very relaxed and content to stand still with no worry. He was hooked on her, instead of hooked on me, which is a change. He sided up on both sides for her, another positive change. He looked to her for direction and leadership and as he became more comfortable with her he was more willing to move out with relaxation and connection.