Correctly fitting nosebands
Loosen off your horse’s noseband – you must be able to fit 2 fingers under it at least – no matter what ’style’ it is. He has to be able to move his lower jaw, and to chew gently (the old masters used to say ‘to murmur’).
A noseband should not a be a band-aid for bad training. Be proud in the comfort your horse has with a cavesson noseband that is just for ‘aesthetics’, rather than tightened as a crutch. Ask questions of your training, riding, and use of your hands.
Overtightened nosebands lead to tension throughout the horse’s body. Although our own anatomy is obviously quite different to a horse, feel the tension in your neck and shoulders when you clench your teeth. Now stop clenching, and gently move your mouth. Don’t you feel much better?
Philippe Karl says that if you strap your horse’s mouth shut, you are effectively telling him
’shut up, I don’t want to hear what you have to say’.
Why don’t you loosen off your horse’s noseband today and listen to what he has to say?
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