10/01/2025
Interesting read on the effect a nose band being done up too tight can have on your horse.
Always check you have a two finger gap under the nose and once fastened.
๐ช๐ฒ๐น๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ช๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐: ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ณ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ก๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ๐
Have you ever wondered how gear like nosebands impacts your horseโs comfort? A recent study* reveals some important facts about the effects of very tight nosebands on horses. The findings show that nosebands tightened to the extreme can cause stress and stop horses from showing natural behaviours. Hereโs what the study discovered and why it matters.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ช๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ฑ๐ ๐๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐?
Twelve horses wearing double bridles and crank nosebands were part of the study. Researchers tested four levels of tightness:
1. Unfastened (UN): The noseband was loose.
2. Two-Finger Space (CAUN): Room for two fingers under the noseband.
3. One-Finger Space (HCAUN): Room for just one finger.
4. No Space (NAUN): Noseband tightened all the way, with no room underneath.
During each treatment, they measured heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), eye temperature, and how often horses licked, chewed, or yawned.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ฑ ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ?
Stress Levels Went Up
- Heart Rate: Increased significantly when the noseband was tightest.
- HRV: Decreased, showing the horses were under stress.
- Eye Temperature: Got hotter, a common sign of stress in horses.
Natural Behaviours Disappeared
- Licking and Chewing: These behaviours stopped completely when the noseband was tightest.
- Swallowing: Horses swallowed half as often with the tightest noseband.
- Yawning: Rare during all treatments but increased after the nosebands were removed.
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ณ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐
When the nosebands were taken off, the horses made up for lost behaviours. They yawned, licked, and chewed more than they did before the nosebands were put on. This rebound suggests the tight nosebands left them feeling deprived.
๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฒ๐ ๐ง๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ป?
The study shows that very tight nosebands cause stress and stop horses from acting naturally. Researchers recommend:
- Keeping It Comfortable: Ensure at least two fingers of space under the noseband.
- Checking Tightness at Competitions: Gear stewards should enforce rules against overly tight nosebands.
- More Research: Experts need to explore how nosebands combined with rein tension and a rider affect horses.
๐ช๐ต๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐
Your horseโs well-being is key to a good partnership. This research reminds us that gear like nosebands should always prioritise their comfort and health.
๐ธ Pic: An example of an infrared image of the eye region. The cross indicates the position of the maximum temperature within the area of the eye used for analysis.
* "The Effect of Noseband Tightening on Horsesโ Behaviour, Eye Temperature, and Cardiac Responses," by Kate Fenner, Samuel Yoon, Peter White, Melissa Starling & Paul McGreevy (2016)
