Horse Noseband Guide | Help & Advice | Houghton Country

A timeless, simple design with minimal interference on the horse’s way of going. The purpose of a cavesson noseband is to stabilise the bridle, preventing too much movement in the headpiece, and is chosen by many riders for a smarter appearance than riding with no noseband.  A cavesson is the only noseband that a standing martingale can be attached to, and the only noseband (along with the similar crank noseband) permitted for use with doubles. Padded cavesson nosebands are available, as well as cavesson nosebands with two buckles which will sit more symmetrically and help ensure even pressure over both sides of the head, as well as allowing more adjustability for the asymmetrical head. A thinner design is likely to suit a finer type, while thicker nosebands look in proportion with a larger head.

To fit the cavesson noseband: There should be two adult fingers' width between the noseband and the horse's cheek bone, which is the prominent bone underneath the eye. There should also be at least two fingers’ width between the front of the noseband and the horse’s nasal bone, and the back of the noseband and the horse’s jaw. Over-tightening any noseband will place undue pressure on the nasal bone, nerves, tissue and blood vessels -- potentially preventing the horse from swallowing and breathing, damaging bone and soft tissue, as well as increasing risk of mouth injury and stress.

A flash noseband is a cavesson noseband with a thinner strap, called the flash strap, attached. The purpose of a flash strap is to close the mouth and prevent evasions such as opening the mouth, getting the tongue over or behind the bit, chewing and chomping. The flash noseband attachment is often built in or can be purchased separately to convert a cavesson into a flash noseband. The flash strap can also be purchased separately. This is a long-standing design chosen for horses that open the mouth, but with developments in research, there are many more innovative and anatomical flash noseband designs of bridle available. 

To fit the flash noseband: As with any noseband, it is important that neither the main noseband nor the flash strap is over-tightened. We are looking for two fingers’ width between the front of the horse’s face and the main noseband as well as the flash strap. Over-tightening the flash strap will pull the main noseband down to form a pressure point on the nasal bone, while leaving the flash too loose will mean it does not have its desired effect.

The grackle or ‘figure 8’ noseband consists of two leather straps that cross over on the front of the horse’s nose, usually with some leather or sheepskin padding, fastening under the chin. The Mexican grackle noseband sits higher on the face, while English grackles sit a little lower. The grackle is best known for helping to prevent horses from crossing their jaw as a form of evasion, but it also helps to stop the horse from opening the mouth, relieves pressure from the incisors and pre-molars, and is less likely to impede breathing if fitted correctly. Many horses that are historically fussy seem to prefer this over any other noseband, but they can be tricky to fit, and do not suit every head shape. Many riders would choose a grackle noseband for a strong horse, but the effectiveness of this depends on why the horse is being strong.

To fit the grackle noseband: The central pad of a Mexican grackle should sit as high as possible, with the upper straps sitting across the cheekbone; the lower strap sits in the chin groove. The English grackle sits lower on the face, with the upper straps sitting underneath the cheek bone. Pictured is an example of an English grackle.

The drop (also known as the dropped) noseband avoids putting pressure over the incisors or molars, which some horses may prefer over a flash, and is designed to stabilise the bit, make use of chin groove pressure, and prevent the horse from opening its mouth. A standing martingale should never be fastened to a drop noseband as there is significant risk of injury to the delicate nasal structure, and it is very important to never over-tighten a drop noseband as this would place pressure on a very sensitive area. A drop noseband is a traditional choice that has stood the test of time, and is most commonly seen in the dressage arena. 

To fit a drop noseband: It is important that the noseband does not come below the end of the nasal bone. For most horses, the ideal place for a drop noseband is a little below half way between the cheekbones and the nostrils, as pictured. The back strap should sit in the chin groove.

A crank noseband looks like a cavesson noseband from the front, but is more padded and fastens more snugly underneath the chin. A crank noseband therefore helps to keep the mouth closed and is a popular choice with high level dressage riders instead of a cavesson when riding in doubles. The back strap has a lever effect, and it is a common mistake to over-tighten this buckle, leading to tension and discomfort, as well as possible damage to soft tissue, nerves and bone.

To fit the crank noseband: The name of this noseband can mislead riders to thinking it should be cranked very tight, and this is absolutely not the case. Over-tightening this noseband compromises horse welfare as much as over-tightening any noseband does. There should be two fingers' width between the noseband and the front of the horse's nasal bone. The adjustability of this noseband helps to distribute the pressure evenly; to have the intended effect of the crank noseband design, the back strap should be snug with no visible space between the horse's face and the noseband, but enough space to slide two fingers in.

The Kineton noseband is a useful alternative to bitting up very strong horses, using considerable nose pressure to enhance control. The metal rings pass under the mouthpiece of the bit, so when rein contact is taken up, the noseband presses onto the front of the nose, and the jaw is pulled back, encouraging the horse to lower its head. This noseband is not designed to help prevent the horse from opening its mouth, but rather uses nose pressure alongside a bit for an alternative form of control. This is a noseband to be used by experienced riders with an independent seat and hands. 

To fit the Kineton noseband: As with the drop, it is important to ensure this noseband is not fitted too low, beyond the end of the nasal bone. It is also important that your horse has the correct size Kineton noseband, as if the front of the noseband is too short, rein contact will cause the bit to invert in the mouth, potentially making contact with the roof of the mouth and more sensitive parts of the tongue.

The combination noseband uses nose and chin groove pressure to help prevent the horse from crossing its jaw and pulling downwards, therefore enhancing control with a strong horse. Like the Kinteon noseband, the combination noseband can be a good alternative to bitting up, especially with a horse that is sensitive in the mouth and will respond better to nose and chin groove pressure than a stronger bit. Combination nosebands are usually used with a bit that does not exert poll pressure, as a poll pressure bit in conjunction with the lever noseband creates a harsh effect. The combination noseband can also be referred to as the lever noseband. 

To fit the combination noseband: The front of the noseband is intended to sit slightly lower than a cavesson but higher than a drop, with the metal ring sitting around the front of the bit. The lower strap fastens in the chin groove, while the higher strap sits higher up the jaw. As with all nosebands, it is important that none of the straps are fastened too tightly, but securely enough that the noseband does not move excessively.