Long time rider/trainer/instructor. Gave up on the sport when the Barney Ward story came out. Came back to it, and discovered, to my horror, that painfully tight nosebands were normal, in school horses. I loosened one and the horse whimpered in relief. It’s being taught!! I asked Beezie on one of her how-to videos how tight the noseband should be. She never responded. Wake up, horse world. Thank you, epona.
It is being taught! My local tack store has a used book section and I pick up dressage books from time to time. I was shocked to see a book copyrighted in the 80’s saying a snug noseband is correct. So, our instructors were taught by instructors that snug is good- and over time it became tighter and tighter. So many bridles are now made with the mechanism that allows you to crank it even more instead of the regular buckle. I appreciate the padding but the bulk can add more pressure if not loose. I think videos like this help spread the message so much and hopefully mainstream publications will start normalizing a loose noseband, or the option of going without.
How is no one commenting on this? Just perusing videos tonight. I am no expert, just a person with honest observations with a background in healthcare and enjoy having a herd of British ponies at home for 7 years. I just completed a horse anatomy and physiology course that centers on evidenced based horsemanship. And we studied horse responses in terms of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system, and how this relates to learning (effective and not so effective, and how it can also be destroyed). What they found is that they do not learn well if they are in a sympathetic response (and this should not be a surprise, this outcome can be replicated in all mammals). We studied what this sympathetic response looks like both physiologically speaking (vital signs/cortisol levels, imaging) and objectively. The horses in this video all look to be in a sympathetic mindset and they haven't even began their performance. When I watch a dressage performance, I see a centered rider, I see horses doing magnificent maneuvers, that yes, they can do these wonderfully, being the beautiful athletes they are, but then we get to the head, and it's all this overly harsh and powerful tack, over flexion of the neck, a horse stripped of its ability to counter balance and see as it would naturally. I always wonder, why does it have to be this way? I guess just because you can, doesn't mean you should and just because it's always been done this way, doesn't make it right. Then the slapping on the neck if not a total bear hug after a performance. How can these folks, who've obviously devoted their lives to being around horses, not know this? Just pure ignorance? Lack of education? Delusions of grandeur or just total denial? I don't get it now, nor will I ever. Bravo to this photographer for the candid explanation of what he was doing, and why and thank you for doing it. I don't think he's overly judgmental, really just showing us 'how it is.' It is just a fake gesture to do a nose band check, it's truly sad.
The noseband is not necessary to the functioning of a bridle. Just ban their use, and the situation is "solved." If the "sport" does not like the pictures then change the sport.
Imagine how much pain those horses are in after getting their nerves in their mouth and faces basically numbed for however long the bridle has been on them, and then someone tries to touch their head. No wonder they were head shy.
Thank you for this important work to share this information. Dressage and other equestrian events need a complete overhaul and should go back to basics. Judges need to be replaced. The equestrian events will be removed from the Olympics if things don't change, and the current trainers, riders, and organizations are to blame. Too many people are afraid to say anything.
@eponatv I agree with removing the equestrian events as well. It's awful that so many people put their own accolades and financial gains over the welfare of living animals.
Check this video at 7:42. How did this horse pass the check with those marks on his sides? Not to mention that there's no way for the horse ( or any of the horses) to mobilize their jaws in a relaxed manner with nosebands that you can't even get a fingertip under....just a funny comparison on checks; in the western world, you are required to dismount and REMOVE your bridle for the check. Wouldn't that be interesting at a dressage show?
Brilliant work. Also, I really appreciate that you bring up how risky it is for the TD to put their fingers between the noseband and bony areas. I’m pretty sure someone has a little gage that measures nosebands, I just can’t remember which organization it was. Yes, it would need to be cleaned in between horses but it’s standardized and safer than broken fingers or worse.
You're likely thinking of the ISES taper gauge developed by Professor Paul McGreevy and his colleagues and which the FEI stubbornly refuses to use. Interestingly, Professor McGreevy said recently during his plenary speech at the annual conference for the International Society for Equitation Science that he no longer believes that "two fingers" is necessarily enough space under the noseband.
Long time rider/trainer/instructor. Gave up on the sport when the Barney Ward story came out.
Came back to it, and discovered, to my horror, that painfully tight nosebands were normal, in school horses. I loosened one and the horse whimpered in relief.
It’s being taught!! I asked Beezie on one of her how-to videos how tight the noseband should be. She never responded.
Wake up, horse world.
Thank you, epona.
It is being taught! My local tack store has a used book section and I pick up dressage books from time to time. I was shocked to see a book copyrighted in the 80’s saying a snug noseband is correct. So, our instructors were taught by instructors that snug is good- and over time it became tighter and tighter. So many bridles are now made with the mechanism that allows you to crank it even more instead of the regular buckle. I appreciate the padding but the bulk can add more pressure if not loose. I think videos like this help spread the message so much and hopefully mainstream publications will start normalizing a loose noseband, or the option of going without.
How is no one commenting on this? Just perusing videos tonight. I am no expert, just a person with honest observations with a background in healthcare and enjoy having a herd of British ponies at home for 7 years. I just completed a horse anatomy and physiology course that centers on evidenced based horsemanship. And we studied horse responses in terms of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system, and how this relates to learning (effective and not so effective, and how it can also be destroyed). What they found is that they do not learn well if they are in a sympathetic response (and this should not be a surprise, this outcome can be replicated in all mammals). We studied what this sympathetic response looks like both physiologically speaking (vital signs/cortisol levels, imaging) and objectively. The horses in this video all look to be in a sympathetic mindset and they haven't even began their performance. When I watch a dressage performance, I see a centered rider, I see horses doing magnificent maneuvers, that yes, they can do these wonderfully, being the beautiful athletes they are, but then we get to the head, and it's all this overly harsh and powerful tack, over flexion of the neck, a horse stripped of its ability to counter balance and see as it would naturally. I always wonder, why does it have to be this way? I guess just because you can, doesn't mean you should and just because it's always been done this way, doesn't make it right. Then the slapping on the neck if not a total bear hug after a performance. How can these folks, who've obviously devoted their lives to being around horses, not know this? Just pure ignorance? Lack of education? Delusions of grandeur or just total denial? I don't get it now, nor will I ever. Bravo to this photographer for the candid explanation of what he was doing, and why and thank you for doing it. I don't think he's overly judgmental, really just showing us 'how it is.' It is just a fake gesture to do a nose band check, it's truly sad.
The noseband is not necessary to the functioning of a bridle. Just ban their use, and the situation is "solved." If the "sport" does not like the pictures then change the sport.
Those hands 😞 And the horse’s eyes 😭
Imagine how much pain those horses are in after getting their nerves in their mouth and faces basically numbed for however long the bridle has been on them, and then someone tries to touch their head. No wonder they were head shy.
Old video, but it is a good thing people keep exposing things! Only way to prove the horrible way horses are often trained and treated.
Question: Why are the nosebands checked AFTER the competition and not before going in? That would make much more sense to me.
Thank you for this important work to share this information. Dressage and other equestrian events need a complete overhaul and should go back to basics. Judges need to be replaced. The equestrian events will be removed from the Olympics if things don't change, and the current trainers, riders, and organizations are to blame. Too many people are afraid to say anything.
We’re actually in favour of equestrian events being discontinued from the Olympics. Every dumb decision the FEI has made, it’s made to appease the IOC
@eponatv I agree with removing the equestrian events as well. It's awful that so many people put their own accolades and financial gains over the welfare of living animals.
Check this video at 7:42. How did this horse pass the check with those marks on his sides? Not to mention that there's no way for the horse ( or any of the horses) to mobilize their jaws in a relaxed manner with nosebands that you can't even get a fingertip under....just a funny comparison on checks; in the western world, you are required to dismount and REMOVE your bridle for the check. Wouldn't that be interesting at a dressage show?
If you have to have a noseband that tight, maybe you should try another sport!
Brilliant work. Also, I really appreciate that you bring up how risky it is for the TD to put their fingers between the noseband and bony areas. I’m pretty sure someone has a little gage that measures nosebands, I just can’t remember which organization it was. Yes, it would need to be cleaned in between horses but it’s standardized and safer than broken fingers or worse.
You're likely thinking of the ISES taper gauge developed by Professor Paul McGreevy and his colleagues and which the FEI stubbornly refuses to use. Interestingly, Professor McGreevy said recently during his plenary speech at the annual conference for the International Society for Equitation Science that he no longer believes that "two fingers" is necessarily enough space under the noseband.
@@eponatv interesting! Thanks!
Those nosebands should be banned
Do they check the bridles BEFORE THE TESTS?
Eyes don’t lie…
Introduce new rules no nosebands and double bits. Simple bits or only bitless bridle🤩🤩🤩🤩