Measuring your horse's height

Traditionally horses are measured in hands. One hand will equal 4 inches (the average width of the human hand). The horse's height is termed as x “hands high” or “h.h”.

What tools to use?



You can use your hands to measure your horse's height by placing one on top of the other. However, this isn't very accurate and practical. Ideally, you should use a tape or a stick. A measuring stick will work best, because it won't move that easily and will stay taught (unlike the tape).

Before Measuring

Make sure your horse is standing on flat solid ground. Get your horse to stand squarely to ensure you get an accurate measurement.

How to measure?



With your horse standing still place the stick/tape upright on the ground, keeping it as perpendicular to the ground as possible. Usually, a measuring stick will come with and arm, but if it doesn't you can just make use of a short straight stick.




Place this stick/arm on top of the withers and hole it perpendicular to the stick/tape. Take note of where the stick/arm touches the stick/tape and mark it if you want.

Calculating your horse's height

If you used a measuring stick/tape that measures in inches or centimeters you have to convert your measurement into hands. If you measured in inches, all you have to do is divide the amount by 4. The total will give you your horse's height in hands.

For example:

If your horse measured 58 inches, you divide it by 4 and get 14.5. So, your horse is 14 and a half hands high. Correctly written your horse would be 14.2 h.h because half a hand is 2 inches (remember one hand equals 4 inches).

If you measured your horse in centimeters you will have to convert your measurement into inches first and then divide it by 4.

For example:

My pony measures 129,5 centimeters. I divide this by 2.5 (1 inch equals 2.5 centimeters) and get 50.98 inches. Divide this by 4 inches and I get 12.77.

So I know my pony is 12 hands but I have to calculate how many inches 0.7 is (I usually just work with the first decimal). Now what I do is I times 7 by 0.4 and get 2.8 inches. Thus my pony measures 12 hands and 2.8 inches. So I can say that my pony is somewhere between 12.2 and 12.3 h.h.

Here is a LINK to a table that gives you all the heights in hands and their values in centimeters :)

Treating Tendon/Ligament Injuries

The first 48 hours is a very crucial time when considering treatment. The main goals are to:

1.Reduce inflammation
2.minimize scar tissue
3.promote healing and restoration

Inflammation can be controlled through cold therapy, bandaging and drugs.


Cold Therapy





With cold therapy cold water and/or ice is applied to the leg for a short period of time. The easiest and most practical way to do this is to hose the leg. Ideally you should hose the leg for 15minutes, allow the leg to heat up and then repeat 3 times. Ice packs work better, though, because it is cooler Ice packs should be applied for no longer than 30 minutes. The most effective method is to have the leg soaked in an ice- slurry (mixture of ice and water) for a maximum of 30 minutes, because it gets the leg cool enough to make a difference. Take note that long exposure can be harmful to the healing process, by encouraging blood flow (results in
swelling).


Bandaging





Correct bandaging will help reduce and control swelling in the injured leg. Decreasing the swelling is an important part of preventing further damage to the tendon. Support bandages can be applied between each period of cold therapy. Care must be taken when bandages are applied, because if incorrectly applied they can cause further damage. Here are a few tips for making sure the bandaging is correct:

1.Use adequate padding to ensure pressure gets distributed evenly
2.Left legs should be wrapped anti-clockwise and right legs clockwise, so that the pressure runs from bone to tendon.
3.Don't apply the bandage too tight or too loose.

Bandaging should be checked regularly and I prefer re-bandaging at twice a day (morning and night).


Drugs





Consult a vet when having to use drugs. Corticosteroids should be avoided if possible, because they delay healing and weaken the tendon. Calcification or hardening can also occur at the injection site, impeding stretching ability of the tendons.

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

Examples of NSAID drugs are bute (phenylbutazone) and Banamine (flunixin meglumine). These drugs help to reduce inflammation, swelling and pain. They are best used in the initial stages of injury.

Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO)

DMSO is used to decrease inflammation. It also neutralizes molecules released by the inflammatory cells, preventing further damage. It can be administered intravenously, orally or be applied under wrap. DMSO is used by vets as a vehicle to carry other substances, like corticosteroids, into the body. It is very volatile and latex gloves should be warn when being handled.

Polysulfated Glycosaminoglycan (PSGAG)

Glycosaminonglycans (GAGs) are a component of joint cartilage. PSGAG is a special GAG that contains extra sulfates and is used in the treatment of joint diseases. It reduces inflammation and inhibits enzyme production associated with inflammation. PSGAGs help to reduce pain and swelling and may improve the outcome of therapy. It is suggested that PSGAG therapy aid tendon healing. It should be administered within 28 to 48 hours after injury, every four days up to seven doses. The drug will either be injected around the tendon or into the muscle.

Rest




Rest is very important for healing. How long a horse should be stall rested depends on the severity of the injury. The main reason for stall rest is to minimize movement thus preventing further damage to the injured tendon/ligament. A period of stall rest will be followed by a period of controlled exercise as guided by the vet.

Controlled exercise

The purpose of controlled exercise is important for strengthening the tendons/ligament fibers. Controlled exercise will usually start with about 10 minutes of walking, working up to 40 minutes of walking. Exercise will slowly be worked up until the horse is strong enough to return to work. This can take up to a year or more, but depends on the extent of the injury.






Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)

This is a new treatment that can reduce the healing process from 6 months to just one month. The vet will take blood from the horse, spin it in a centrifuge to isolate platelet-rich plasma and inject it into the site using ultrasound as a guide. These platelets release growth factors that will stimulate the healing of the damaged tendon/ligament. Although, the procedure is useful in most cases, PRP is not suitable for all injuries, such as acute lesions and inflammation (because the injected PRP gets flushed away by the high blood flow).

Tendon and Ligament Injuries

How and Why?





Horses are prone to tendon/ligament injuries, especially when being worked hard. Their legs were not designed to cope with the stresses of everyday hard work. In nature the horse spends most of its time grazing which does little to the tendons/ligaments of the legs. This is why it is very important to ensure the horse is strong enough to do the required work. The horse has to be warmed up properly before staring the work. Working sessions should be started slow and then built up over a period of time so that the muscles, tendons and ligaments can become strong enough to cope.

Tendons/ligament injuries result from severe strain or direct trauma. Other factors can contribute to a tendon/ligament injury: muscle fatigue, uneven/deep ground, poor conformation, ill-fitting bandages/boots and sudden turns.

Different types of injury

Tendon Strains

Overuse or overstress causes damage to the tendons. Damage will range from minor inflammation to the actual tearing on the tendon. The area will be painful and swollen.

Tendonitis

This injury is better known as a bowed tendon. It refers to strains of the SDF tendon. It often occurs when the muscles becomes fatigued and can't compensate for the rapid loading and overstretching of the tendon. This type of injury is not as common in the hindlegs as it is in the frontlegs. The leg will be swollen, warm and painful. The injury is usually described by its location and will either be a low, middle or high bow. Injury to the DDF tendon will cause swelling in the back and below the fetlock joint, and is referred to as a low low bow.

Tenosynovitis

Tendons are surrounded by a sheath, the synovial membrane, that secretes fluid to lubricate the tendon. Inflammation of this sheath causes a build up of fluid in the sheath, resulting in obvious swelling. There are several types of tenosynovitis:

1.Acute Tenosynovitis- there is a sudden build up of fluid within the sheath. It is followed by pain, heat and lameness. This can progress to chronic tenosynovitis.

2.Septic Tenosynovitis- this involves a bacterial infection. The synovial fluid (lubricating fluid) will contain pus and inflammatory enzymes which can digest the tendon. Pain and lameness are severe.

3.Idiopathic Tenosynovitis- these are mild injuries that result in swelling with no pain or lameness. This includes thoroughpin, bog spavin and wind puffs.

Lacerated/Ruptured tendons

This can be caused by a deep cut to the leg or overextension/overflexion of a fatigued joint during work.

How the injury heals

When the tendon/ligament is injured the tendon fibers and blood vessels tear. The process worsens when blood and fluid leaks into the tendon.

Inflammatory cells migrate to the damaged area. The inflammatory cells secrete enzymes that will break down the damaged tissue so that the body can remove it. Inflammation is a very important part of the healing process, but if it goes unchecked, it can cause damage to the good tendon tissue too.

One to six months after injury new blood vessels and immature tissue are formed. The immature tendon tissue aren't as strong as the old ones. These fibers are made of a weaker collagen called Type III collagen. This type of collagen is less mature, weaker and arranged haphazardly (instead of parallel).

Six months (and onwards) after injury the Type III collagen is slowly replaced by stronger Type I collagen, but not completely. The fibers are slowly rearranged in a more parallel fashion. The fibers has to be strengthened with controlled exercise. Controlled exercise will also help reduce scar tissue. However, the tendon will never be as strong as it was before.

The entire healing process takes anything from 9 to 12 months. Additional healing may occur years after.

Tendon and Ligament Injuries

Recognizing Tendon and Ligament Injury

There are 4 basic signs of tendon/ligament injury:

1. Lameness

2. Heat

3. Swelling

4. Pain

Checking your horse's legs everyday is a very important step to recognizing signs of injury. If you are familiar with the feel of your horse's legs, you will immediately be able to pick up abnormalities to the leg. The earlier you are able to identifying the better. These injuries are easier to treat when in the early stages.





Lameness

Not all injuries will produce lameness as a sign. In mild cases the horse will usually limp or bob it's head. In severe cases the horse won't be able to put any weight on the leg or will severly bob his head while walking.

Heat

This is often caused by inflammation. The increased blood flow to the area causes it to become hot.

Swelling

This is a common sign of acute tendon/ligament injury. It is caused by inflammation. The blood vessels dilate and fluid leaks into the tissue to repair damaged tissue. Bleeding (hemorrhage) into the tissue can also cause swelling.





Pain

The inflammation process causes the area to become painful, making them painful to touch. You can detect the pain through palpation (feeling the injured leg with your fingers).

The Lameness Exam

When the vet is called out he/she will ask you about the horse's history, age, competition, level, activity preceding the injury, training schedule and medications. This will all help to give the vet a clearer picture of what may have happened.

The vet will start off observing the legs by running his/her hands down each leg. Conformation and shoeing is noted, and all joints, tendons and ligaments observed. The back, rump and leg muscles are checked for swelling or atrophy (degeneration). Each hoof will be tested with hoof testers to rule out any hoof abnormalities.





The vet will then ask an assistant to walk and trot the horse in a straight line and in circles in both directions. When observing the front legs the vet will look for signs of a bobbing head. Every time the horse steps on the injured leg, he will lift his head. It is thus important that the horse can move his head freely when being observed. If the horse does not appear lame at the walk it has to be trotted (each leg has to carry more weight so horse more likely to show lameness). Lameness at the walk is indicates a severe injury. When observing the back legs the vet will look for signs of the hips dipping. If weight is placed on the injured leg, the hip on that side will usually appear to fall down.





Once the vet identified the injured leg he/she may palpate the lower leg to help isolate the problem. Each tendon/ligament will be palpated one at a time, starting below the knee. The vet will run his/her fingers down inch by inch, carefully testing for any pain.

To accurately diagnose the lameness the vet will need to perform one or more diagnostic tests. These tests includes:

1. Flexion Tests

2. Nerve Blocking

3. Thermography

4. Ultrasound

5. Radiographs (X-Rays)


Flexion Tests





This is used by the vet to identify joint problems and can be useful in diagnosing tendon/ligament injuries as well. Flexion tests involves stressing of the joint by bending (flexing) it for 30 seconds to 2 minutes. The horse is then trotted out. If the lameness is more pronounced than before, the problem lies in that joint. Care should be taken, because by stressing the joint further injury can be caused, especially with DDF tendon injuries. A positive flexion test does not rule out a tendon/ligament injury. To rule out fetlock joint problems the vet may use nerve blocks.


Nerve Blocks





A local anesthetic is used to block the nerves to one of the tendons/ligaments. The horse is trotted out again and if the lameness disappears then that particular tendon/ligament is the cause of lameness. This test can lead to complications such as septic and infectious arthritis.


Thermography


This is used to measure and record the temperatures in the horse's legs. These tests aren't always very accurate, because thermography is very sensitive to changes in surface temperatures. It also has limited value in diagnosing a tendon/ligament injury, because it can't show what is going on in the deeper tissue. Thus, thermography is seldom used today.


Ultrasound






Ultrasound waves are used to create a picture of what the leg looks like on the inside. On ultrasound bone looks white, tendons gray and fluid black.


Radiographs (X-Rays)





These help to diagnose bone conditions, such as arthritis and fractures, that could lead to lameness. Tendons/ligaments do not readily appear on radiographs.

Anatomy of the Equine Hindleg

The Hindleg

The hindleg, together with the frontleg, forms the appendicular skeleton of the horse. Unlike the front leg, the hindleg is directly attached to the spine via the pelvis. This ideal design maximizes the hindlegs' power to move the body forward. However, this direct attachment puts the spine at risk of concussion which is why proper hindleg construction is a MUST. Any concussion that does not get absorbed by the hindleg gets directly transmitted to the spine. It is for this reason that the hindleg has many angles instead of it being straight, like the frontleg.





The Pelvis

The pelvis is a circular structure constructed by the fusion of 6 bones (3 on each side of the body). These bones are the:

1. Ilium (haunch bone) - this bone joins onto the spine at the sacrum forming the iliosacral joint.

2. Ischium (seat bone) – this bone forms the point of hip and buttock.

3. Pubis

By early adulthood these 6 bones are fused together forming one solid structure. The strong muscles of the hindquarters attach to several projections of the pelvis. The longer the pelvic bones, the longer and more powerful the muscles.

The Femur and Tibia

The femur is the longest bone in the horse's body. Together with the pelvis it forms the hip joint. It forms part the stifle joint where it joins with the tibia. The stifle joint is similar to the knee joint in the human with the patella as a kneecap. In most horses the fibula is almost completely fused onto the tibia.

The hock (Tarsus)

This structure is made up of 6 bones of which two are fused together. These bones are aligned in 3 rows. The largest tarsal bone is called the calcaneus and corresponds to the human heel. This bone gives rise to the point of hock. At the point of the hock tendons of the gastrocnemius, biceps femoris and portions of the superficial digital flexor attach.

The lower leg

Anatomy of the lower leg is the same as in the front leg. However, there are some minor differences in terms of tendons/ligaments and angles of the joints.

Tendons and Ligaments






In the hindleg there are only two extensor tendons: the long digital extensor tendon and the lateral digital extensor tendon. The suspensory ligament, superficial digital flexor tendon, deep digital flexor tendon and inferior check ligament are all found in the hindleg in the exact same locations, however, they originate from different muscles. The SDF tendon has no superior check ligament in the hindleg.

The tendon and ligament of the hindleg is not injured as often as those of the frontleg. This is because the hindlegs, usually, carry less weight than the frontlegs and are constructed to better absorb concussion.

Anatomy of the Equine Forleg

The Foreleg

The foreleg forms part of the appendicular skeleton of the horse. Compared to the hindleg the foreleg is suspended in place by muscles and tendons, which gives it great mobility, and it is relatively straight with few angles, which makes it prone to concussion injuries. Thus, the foreleg conformation has a big affect on the athletic ability and soundness of the horse.

Mechanics of the front leg





The scapula is a flat triangular bone that joins onto the humerus. The spine of the scapula (a ridge) divides it into two halves, providing attachment for the shoulder muscles. How flat or bulging the shoulder is will depend on size and development of these muscles.

The humerus forms the elbow joint with the ulna and radius. Where they join, the humerus has a deep groove called the olecranon fossa. This is where the olecranon process (the free end of the ulna) will enter when the weight is placed on the leg, locking the joint and so stabilize the entire leg.

When the weight is taken off the leg the elbow joint unlocks and is capable of a wide range of forward and backward motion (about 100°). The elbow can only bend when the knee (carpus) is bent.

The knee (carpus) too can only flex in one direction. It consists of 7 bones. These bones are called the carpal bones, except for the 7th bone which is referred to as the accessory carpal bone.

Anatomy: Horse vs Human





Heather Smith Thomas made a beautiful comparison, in her book “The Horse Conformation Handbook”, between the anatomy of the horse's lower leg and that of the human hand. It is rather fascinating to think that the horse is, actually, standing on its fingers!

The knee (carpus) corresponds to the human wrist and contains the same 7 bones arranged in an identical fashion. The cannon bone corresponds to the human middle finger. The middle knuckle in the human hand is the equivalent of the horse's fetlock joint. The two splint bones corresponds to the 3rd and 4rt metacarpals, but have shrunk to become narrow. The long and short pastern bones together with the coffin bone, in that order, corresponds to the phalanges in the hand.

Tendons and ligaments of the lower foreleg





The Superficial Digital Flexor (SDF) Tendon and Superior Check Ligament

The SDF muscle runs along the back of the radius and narrows near the the carpus to form the SDF tendon. As the SDF tendon passes behind the carpus through the carpal canal it is a round shape. It becomes flattened and half moon shaped as it continues down the limb, cupping itself around the rounder digital flexor tendon. The SDF tendon branches at the fetlock joint, each attaching to a pastern bone. The SDF tendon serves to support the two pastern bones.

The superior (radial) check ligament attaches the SDF muscle to the carpus even though it is a ligament. All check ligaments serve to protect the tendons from overstretching.

The SDF tendon is commonly inured in horses, especially race horses such as Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses. Injury to this tendon will lead to what is called a “bowed tendon”.

The Deep Digital Flexor (DDF) Tendon and Inferior Check Ligament

The DDF muscle runs along the back of the radius. Just above the carpus it narrows to form the round DDF tendon which joins the SDF tendon through the carpal canal behind the carpus. At the back of the fetlock the DDF tendon passes through a sheath that provides lubrication and nutrients to the tendons. The DDF tendon then widens and flattens, crossing the the navicular bone and attaches to the coffin bone (third phalanx). Between the DDF tendon and the navicular bone lie the navicular bursa ( a fluid filled sac) which helps to cushion the tendon as it bends.

The inferior (carpal) check ligament descends from the carpus' base and attaches to the DDF tendon at the mid-cannon bone.

Injury to the DDF tendon is uncommon.

The Suspensory Ligament

It originates behind the cannon bone below the carpus. As it descends down the cannon it runs along the DDF tendon. It divides into two branches, each of which attaches to one sesamoid bone. These branches continue towards the front of the pastern to join the common digital extensor tendon. The main function of the suspensory ligament is to stabilize the lower leg and to prevent overextension.

Injury to the suspensory ligament is common.

The Sesamoidean Ligaments

These ligaments help to stabilize the fetlock joint and is made up of the following:

1. Oblique and straight sesamoidean ligaments (located behind the pastern deep under the DDF tendon).

2. Intersesamoidean ligaments (located between the two sesamoids).

3. Collateral sesamoidean ligaments (located on both sides of the fetlock joint).

4. Cruciate sesamoidean ligaments (descends from each sesamoid bone's base and cross to attach to opposite side of pastern).

Injury is uncommon.

The Palmar Anular Ligament

The palmar anular ligament covers the back of the fetlock joint, creating a channel through which the DDF and SDF tendons pass. It holds these tendons firmly in place against the fetlock bones.

Injury to this ligament itself is uncommon, but swelling and injury to the DDF and SDF tendons can cause problems.

The Foreleg Extensor Tendons

These tendons have two very important functions. They help to move the leg forward (extend the leg) and help to stabilize the front joints. There are three extensor tendons in the foreleg:

1. The extensor carpi radialis tendon. This tendon attaches to the front of the cannon bone and helps to extend the knee joint and move the leg froward.

2. The common digital extensor tendon. This tendon attaches to the coffin bone and helps to extend the toe forward.

3. The lateral digital extensor tendon. This tendon is found behind the common digital extensor tendon and runs on the side of the leg. It attaches tot he first pastern bone (beneath the fetlock joint) and helps to extend the leg.

The ABC of Nosebands

Tight nosebands...

This is one of my pet peeves and gets my skin crawling (I'm not ashamed to admit it!). I cannot stand the sight of a horse with her mouth shut closed by a tight noseband. Why is the noseband so tight? No, because the horse will not behave, objects to her work or will not keep her mouth closed. Does no one know what nosebands are supposed to be used for these days? Who came up with the idea that a tight noseband will solve any problem?

If a horse is schooled, and ridden correctly, she should not need the support of any noseband. Back in the old days horsemanship was an art. The idea was to be able to ride a horse in harmony which meant that the horse should be happy to comply to the rider's requests. No force. No pain. No gadgets. True harmony!

Sadly, in modern horsemanship today, riders have become lazy! Yes, I said it. RIDERS HAVE BECOME LAZY. The horse starts to object to his work (for what ever reason be it pain or harsh riding), tries to evade the bit and trots around with the mouth open. Instead of the rider trying to find the source of the problem and working to solve it, the rider slaps on a tight noseband and continues riding. Voila, the horse is not acting up anymore and the mouth is closed. (Oh, no wait, the horse just misbehaved some more. The cavesson cannot be tightened any more. The rider goes and buys a crank noseband). If only all problems were that easy to solve! Honestly, this form of horsemanship is a farce.

Now, there is a time and place for a noseband. With horse sports involving speed and/or jumping, such as racing, steeplechase and cross country, a noseband can prevent the horse from breaking her jaw. By keeping the mouth closed (not tight, but just enough) the jaw will not be able to dig into the ground in an event of a fall. Mind you, the lower jaw can dig into the dirt like a shovel. With it being very weak it is very easy to break if enough force is applied.

When schooling horses, especially the youngsters, the noseband can be used tactfully to encourage the horses to relax the poll and lower jaw. But this will only work if used correctly (not fitted tight) AND if the rider rides correctly (no constant pulling on the reins etc.). A very good trainer once told me that if a horse is misbehaving or not performing a movement correctly, the rider is to blame 99 percent of the time. How true!

The Cavesson Noseband



This is the simplest form of a noseband. It has its origins in the army when cavalry horses would wear a halter over their bridle so that they can be tied when not being ridden. When fitted correctly you should be able to put 2 fingers between the noseband and the horse's face. Yes, you heard me, 2 fingers! I wonder how many rider's fit their nosebands as loose as this? Very few, in my opinion, that is if you can find any at all. Yet, the 2-finger rule is found in all the Pony Club and BHS manuals. Interesting, no? So, what harm does a tight cavesson noseband actually do? Well, if fitted tight enough it can push the soft cheeks against the teeth causing them to rub against one another. This is a common cause of ulcers and lesions on the insides of the cheeks in horses (old and young!).

The Drop Noseband (Hanoverian Cavesson)



This noseband was designed by the Spanish Riding School and is still used by them today. It has been designed to fit lower down the horse's jaw and fits below the joint. This allows the noseband to restrict the opening of the jaw to a greater extent, compared to the cavesson. However, the drop noseband MUST NOT be fitted snugly. The horse must still be able to open its mouth to mouth the bit. If too tight, it will cause tension at the poll and jaw muscles which is detrimental to schooling the horse. It also has the ability to compact the nasal cartilage and nostrils if too tight. Thus, if the horse is working hard and breathing hard to get in more oxygen, the nostrils won't be able to widen enough. The horse's breathing must NEVER be hindered by a noseband. The 2-finger rule applies to this noseband too. If you feed your horse a treat and the horse is unable to chew it, the noseband is too tight!

The Flash Noseband (Aachen Noseband)



This noseband is supposed to give the rider the benefits of both the normal cavesson and drop noseband. The drop noseband serves to keep the mouth closed and the cavesson to provide attachment for the standing martingale. There are, however, some problems with this type of noseband. 1. The flash itself does not perform its job efficiently because it runs diagonaly across the face instead of straight. 2. If the flash is fitted too tight it can actually pull the cavesson down the nose (In this case you might as well just use a drop noseband).

The Crank Noseband (Swedish Cavesson)



Now, I agree with Elwyn Hartley Edwards when he stated, in his book The Complete Book of Bits & Bitting, that this noseband should have no place in educated riding. This noseband has only one function and that is to shut the horse's mouth closed as much as possible. I dare you to prove me wrong :)
It makes use of a pulley system and a turn back strap to crank the mouth shut. Believe it or not, this is the same pulley system used to secure cargo on wagons and trailers! Ironically, these nosebands come with a thick pad in attempt to prevent the noseband from cutting into the horse's jaw. Already fitted tight, this noseband will cause the cheeks to rub against the teeth (regardless of the beautiful, fluffy padding!), but when the horse fights this noseband she actually ends up tightening it further, thus, compressing the cheeks against the teeth even more. What a vicious circle!

The Grackle & Figure 8 Noseband



This noseband consists of straps that run across the face in a figure of 8. The point where these straps meet is padded and the straps are held together via a round leather patch. This noseband is used to prevent the horse from crossing her jaws, hanging on the bit and taking hold of the bit with the teeth. Some horses that finds the normal cavesson too restrictive might find the grackle more comfortable, because it is more flexible and giving. Thus, it gives the horse little or nothing to gape against. It also stays clear of the teeth, so there is less chance of the cheeks being rubbed against the teeth.

The Combination Lever Noseband



This noseband works in much the same way as the grackle, but does not give as much “give”. Because it stays clear of the bit, it does not do anything to stabilize it in any way (as a drop or flash does). It's metal bars may hinder the horse and cause it to cross the jaws.

The Kineton Noseband



This noseband originated from the race tracks for the use on pulling or hard- to- control-at- high-speeds horses. Because of this, this noseband has been thought to be “harsh”. The way this noseband works is it transfers the pressure (applied with the reins) from the bars of the mouth to the nose where it acts like a hackamore but without the leverage. This is very useful for horses that try to run away from the bit, because of how it scares and hurt them.

To use or not to use, that is the question...

Which noseband you decide to use and how you use it depends on the horse. The simplest of equipment in the wrong hands can be just as harmful to the horse as the more advanced equipment. Therefore, use the noseband as tactfully as you would any other gadget. There IS a time and a PLACE for a noseband as mentioned. It is up to you to make the right decision. You alone are responsible fore the welfare of your horse. After all, you are the one that puts all the tack on your horse in the first place!

Do avoid using a gadget (correctly or incorrectly) to mask a problem. You will have far more success if you deal with the problems at their sources. Yes, it will not be easy, but at the end of it all you will have a happier horse and you two will be one step closer to true harmony. And that is something to be proud of :)