Noseband Tightness’ Effect on Performance Horse Behavior

The amount of tension needed on the reins to maintain contact with the bit varies with noseband tightness.
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What’s the purpose of your horse’s noseband–do you choose it for comfort? Better performance? Keeping the horse’s mouth shut? Whatever the reason, according to a leading British equitation scientist, it could be time to reevaluate how tight the noseband is, because it’s likely to affect how you ride your horse.

The amount of tension a rider puts into the reins to maintain contact with the bit varies significantly with the tightness of the noseband, said Hayley Randle, PhD, researcher in the equitation science department at Duchy College in Cornwall, U.K. The looser the noseband is, the more tension is needed on the reins to get the same contact with the horse’s mouth and, in turn, the desired effect, she said.

"Noseband tightness definitely seems to increase sensitivity to the bit, as it has an effect on rein tension applied to achieve medium contact," Randle said during her presentation at the 2011 International Society for Equitation Science Conference, held Oct. 26-29 in Hooge Mierde, The Netherlands. "Therefore we should take this very seriously, and careful consideration needs to be given to the fitting of nosebands and in particular riders’ use of noseband tightness as a means to achieve a required outcome in equitation."

In their study Randle and her colleagues evaluated six Duchy College geldings all ridden in tests by a single rider. Fitted with their own regular bridles, the horses were tested when walking, trotting, and stopping, as well as through related transitions, with three levels of noseband tightness: at the "normal" hole that the horses were used to, loosened by one hole, and tightened by one hole. The horses were outfitted with masks so the rider was blinded to the tightness of the noseband. The tension the rider put on the reins during testing was measured with the Rein Check device

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Passionate about horses and science from the time she was riding her first Shetland Pony in Texas, Christa Lesté-Lasserre writes about scientific research that contributes to a better understanding of all equids. After undergrad studies in science, journalism, and literature, she received a master’s degree in creative writing. Now based in France, she aims to present the most fascinating aspect of equine science: the story it creates. Follow Lesté-Lasserre on Twitter @christalestelas.

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