Noseband or no noseband?

[Gypzywingz]

I am getting Breezey a new bridle. She is a 3 year old egyptian arabian. She is green broke and hasn't been riden much at all. I am not sure if I should purchase one with a noseband or not. I know that a noseband can control bit issues with the horse but what are some advantages of not having a noseband?

Thanks
Debbie

[Samsky]

Well unless they need a flash or a grackle for control issues,an ordinary cavesson is mainly just to make the bridle look better on the horse.a noseband is not essential.

[IrisSilverMoon]

if the noseband is adjusted properly it shouldnt' really make a difference whether its there or not. Nosebands aren't supposed to be tight, they aren't supposed to help keep the bridle there, they aren't supposed to interfere with the bit, they can hold a flash, but other than that its probably up to you and your mare as to what you are comfortable with.

[Kalypso]

it depends on what kind of noseband you are talking about. if you're talking about just a plain cavesson noseband, then it really does nothing except look good. therefore, it doesn's really matter if you have it or not. Do you ride him western or english? Most western bridles do not have nosebands, while most english bridles do, it's just "the norm".
The other nosebands (flash, grackle, etc) are used to stop the horse from opening/moving his jaw/mouth so that he cannot maneuver from the bit, etc. (this is only my limited knowledge though)

[Elly Koopman]

If I am breaking a horse in, I find it easier to not use a band - while they are young, as they get older I change to suit them. I start them in a plain 'hunt' cavesson (not a cranked one) and then go from there. If they don't yaw, chew or cross their jaws, then they stay in that. If they do, then I go up to a flash etc. As yours is still very young, you should need a noseband that has any action. After you turned her away (if you are planning to) she how shes goes then. You might need to take into account teething issues too, and make sure that teeth are always checked before changing the noseband (she might cross her jaw, or evade because her teeth are not right - you don't want her to then force her mouth shut if it's going to hurt her!)

[Gypzywingz]

Thanks everyone, I will be riding her western, however the bridles that the other horses have that she is with do have nosebands on them and they ride western as well. I am not sure if that is for a reason or just the bridles that they happen to have.
I haven't bridled her at all since she got here from Missouri but I can find out if they used a noseband or not. But what I have read on nosebands is that it is stop them from moving the bit around and their tongues around it, etc. etc. Maybe I will just try her without one and see how she does.
I have put a saddle on her and lunged her in the round pen and she did really well with me put it on and taking it off of her, she stood really still for me while I just practiced putting it on and taking it off. The tack I am going to be buying for her is all new so I want to make sure I get what is right. But I am going to start her off with a snaffle bit, a D-ring I think, with sweet iron.

[Hollymead]

My advice is to start off with as little as possible, then if neccessary (once any physical issues have been resolved) you can introduce 'gadgets'. A snaffle bit, like the one you described, with either a cavesson or no noseband to start off with is the ideal.

[eventerbabe]

Echo hollymead. my horse never wore a noseband when he was a youngster and then when he was more established i added one to his bridle, purely coz it looks tidier.

[hackedoff]

never use one personally and taking it off the bridle cured my horse of sticking his head up for some reason.............

[april]

IMO...unless the noseband is there for a reason....ie dropped, grackle etc, then i remove them personally........for some reason people think that a nice thick cavason noseband makes a horse look prettier......no so with me i'm afraid.

Nosebands originated in the forces.....part of the headkit(bridle) of the army is a headcollar, and it would have been used as such out on campaigns.
(just mentally checking something out here.....noseband would just be attached by the one strap around the ears.....you would have to add the browband to get the throatlash secured on....)
ok....the military headcollor bit of the headkit is a three piece easy to assemble thing!!!!......it looks like a normal headcollar with a browband.you would then add whichever bit seperately over this headcollar(either a statebit and bridoon bit, or a PMR bit(pelham military reversible))
reading back through this it doesn't make a lot of sense!!!!so sorry bout that!

[Elly Koopman]

like this one - will try to find one on a horse...

[Elly Koopman]

and if you can make it out - shows how it goes on... We had an Ex police horse (got demoted when he thought he'd take himself for a swim in the thames in london...with rider on board!) at the yard had one of these bridles - great for shows as you can put the bridle on and tie him up anywhere without having to worry about needing a headcollar!

[Jessey]

I never used a nose band when I broke my chap and still don't but a few of the trainers I know use a caverson on young horses, they say the because of the length of the jaw it does restrict movement (when fitted correctly). It allows movement so that they can 'play' with the bit but not enough so that they get in to the habbit of opening the mouth to avoid the bit or to get their tonge over it. When I back my filly at the end of the year I think I will probably try her with and with out on long lines first and see which is going to suit her.

J

[april]

yep...thats the one elle!!.......tried to go for a swim in the thames....complete with rider:eek: ........hope he enjoyed it :D :D ... thats made my day!....well i don't blame him!it was probably a hot day and he was thinking "why am i walking these hot, hard streets when i could be swimming!!!"...LOL

[Nicole5310]

I think you should look at this site which I was shown by someone on this forum cant remember who. But it is so informative. I agree what it says about cavessons because my dressage horse had ulcers caused by the cavesson pressing his cheek into his teeth. It wasnt because it was too tight rather because it was quite rigid. A drop surves the purpose of what nosebands are meant for and if I choose to use a noseband on my horse I'll use a drop. Otherwise i will carefully fit the cavesson so loose it can pretty much flap about. All bridles come with cavesson and flash here in NZ so we have little choice unless we want to go out and buy a specific noseband.
Here is the site, hope it helps:

http://www.kahlin.net/noir/dressyr/tack/bridle.php#noseband