Tight nosebands apply high pressures on the horses' face and alter stride kinematics

Noseband tightness has received increasing attention within equitation science, however, there is little research into how this effects equine behaviour or performance.

1) determine the peak pressures under noseband in vivo at three different tightness; 2) assess limb and back kinematics at different noseband tightness.

Noseband tightness (n = 8 horses) was set using an International Society for Equine Science (ISES) taper gauge with the three settings being; "two fingers (2F)", "one finger (1F)" and "zero fingers (0F)". Peak pressure under noseband was determined using pressure sensors under. Motion capture was used to analyse kinematics of limb and back.

Peak pressures at 1F (40.9 ± 7.2 kPa) and 0F (115.8 ± 52.6 kPa), when compared to 2F (26.4 ± 7.2 kPa), showed a 54% and 338% increase, respectively (F (1.027, 7.192) = 21.012, P = 0.002). As the noseband tightness increased, stride length decreased, showing a statistically significant negative correlation (r_s(22) = -0.592, P = 0.004). A mean decrease in stride length of 6.2% was seen with the 1F when compared to 2F and an 11.1% decrease was seen at 0F when compared to 2F.

In conclusion, as the noseband was tightened, peak pressure increased and this has a detrimental effect on horses' kinematics, markedly stride kinematics.