No relief & Relaxation

Whilst recently looking through a national equestrian magazine that I had been given to read, I was shocked and dismayed when I came across an article on nosebands.

When I was a girl (some time ago!!) it was difficult to find anything other than a cavesson noseband, these nosebands are basically used to enhance the appearance of the horse’s head, especially if the horse has a long head, or a roman nose, (in my opinion horses are quite beautiful enough without), the article does show the said cavesson, but then goes on to show several nosebands that are very severe, and, in my opinion, have no place on a horse’s head.

The person who wrote the article also seems to have doubts about the use of some of the nosebands, as they have a warning triangle with the words ‘use with caution’ alongside the information relating to the more severe nosebands.

It seems to have become the fashion for bridles to automatically be fitted with a flash noseband, and I see many horses with grackle nosebands fitted. These nosebands are usually fitted to prevent the horse opening his mouth or crossing his jaw.

         

                             Pic 1:    Flash Noseband                     Pic 2. Grackle Noseband

One has to ask WHY do these horses open their mouths and cross their jaw, push their tongues out of their mouths, and so on; the answer is that the horse is trying to find relief from the PRESSURE and/or PAIN caused by the bit.

Does it seem cruel to prevent the horse having the opportunity to open his mouth, to find relief and relaxation in his jaw?

How many hours are they expected to remain like this?

The nose, and poll are extremely sensitive areas of the horse, yet these are the areas that many of these nosebands apply pressure to. When you consider the amount of pressure a rider pulling with all their strength can apply to these sensitive areas, is it any wonder horses try to evade and buck bolt rear or even ‘close down’ to try to get away from the pain.

On one of the nosebands the ‘tester’ refers to the ‘clever’ fact that the loop for the flash is hidden under the cavesson, surely this will simply add a pressure point when pressure is applied via the reins.

Fastening a noseband tight or restricting the horse in his mouth will result in tension, this will in turn cause the muscle of the neck to become rigid, his whole body becomes tense. A tense horse cannot weight his hindquarters and so ’work through’.

The tension caused by the bit and/or nosebands that clamp the horse’s mouth shut, can lead to problems with tension in the horse’s neck and back and so eventually may cause lameness. It is important that the horse have the freedom of his head and neck, that he be able to open his mouth if he wishes. With correct and patient training the horse will become more balanced and established in his work and will be steadier in his head and ‘quieter’ in his mouth.

Instead of forcing the horse to ’shut up’ we should be listening to our horses, if they are unhappy in the mouth, we need to ask why, and act to promote the horses comfort and well-being.

Ask yourself this - if you are uncomfortable or in pain, do you work well?

If you are having problems with steering or stopping your horse, the answer is not in using stronger and stronger bits and nosebands / gadgets, but in improving your riding skills and your horses responsiveness.

When horses prove very difficult, it is often due to poorly fitting / severe tack causing pain; physical problems, (one horse had severe arthritis in his hocks), or poor communication and/or training, (of horse, rider or both).

There are very effective bitless bridles available now; but it is essential that, whatever bridle used, horses are not ridden with a constantly tight rein. Remember that the pressure you have in your hand is transferred to the horses head, applying pressure to some of the most sensitive areas of the horse, his mouth, nose, and poll.

When I see the number and variety of bits now on the market I am amazed and dismayed, the fact that so many are available, and more and more coming onto the market, is evidence indeed that BITS DON’T WORK.

To enable our horses to work well and effectively it is essential that we ensure their comfort at all times.

Pat Voisey - ABRS – BBI (Bitless Bridle Instructor) – Contact: 01457 869612

Any interested Gallop readers who would like to find out more about Natural Horsemanship or take part in future clinics please contact Gallop on: Tel: 0161 427 0844 or Email: lorriegallop@aol.com.