October 2017 - Drop Nosebands
'The polo horse is like the engine of a race car in formula 1, it is the most important thing. Once you know how to play polo I'd say 70% of success depends on the horse.’
(Adolfo Cambiaso)
Polo is one of the most extreme disciplines you can ask a horse to do. It is expected to stop turn move left and right and ride off all in a split second. It is obvious how important a good line of communication is between you and your horse. Your tack is your line of communication and if it blurs your messages or inhibits response in any way the efficiency of your engine will be reduced.
An unbelievable amount of preparation goes into getting any polo player on the field to play a game. They search high and low to find the best horses, they spend hours practicing shots and set plays, formulating tactics and making sure they have mallets, boots and gloves which fit them well. But rarely is there much time or consideration given to their tack.
Any article of tack from the brow band to the bandages if poorly made or not fitted correctly has the ability to inhibit the horse.
The drop noseband is the one piece of tack which is most commonly poorly fitted or made. The theory is that it will stop the horse opening its mouth excessively. The reality is that they often sit over the nostrils, preventing the nostril flare and inhibiting breath intake and outtake at the most vital times of physical exertion. In theory the drop noseband should not interfere with the bit at rest or when being used. In reality they often pull the bit down on the lower jaw or up in the mouth or even both. How can we expect to communicate effectively when the free movement of the bit is obstructed? How can we expect our horse to give their all when they are struggling, to catch their breath.
An alternative to the drop nose band is a crossover drop noseband, or grackle, or figure 8 noseband as they are also known. These are being used a lot more and their popularity will continue to grow as they give the best nasal cavity clearance of any drop noseband while still restricting excessive mouth opening. They also have the added bonus of preventing the horse evading the bit by crossing the jaw. Some horses are frustrated by drop nosebands and shake their heads in an attempt to evade them. It has been found that in a lot of these cases replacing the drop with a grackle relieves the frustration and head shaking.
It's a slightly trickier process to fit them correctly but easy with a little practice and well worth the time to get better results and a happier horse.
Another alternative used by a lot of people is a Rawhide drop nosebands. Like with the crossover nosebands they provide great nasal cavity clearance, while also keeping the mouth stable. Their advantage is specifically appreciated by players of older polo ponies who need a little reminder not to lean on the drop.
Next time before you get on your horse spare a moment to consider your tack. Take a look at your drop nose band is it restricting your horse taking a breath, is it pulling on the bit? These seemingly minor details when added together can, and do, make a big difference to your communication and your engines efficiency.
(Adolfo Cambiaso)
Polo is one of the most extreme disciplines you can ask a horse to do. It is expected to stop turn move left and right and ride off all in a split second. It is obvious how important a good line of communication is between you and your horse. Your tack is your line of communication and if it blurs your messages or inhibits response in any way the efficiency of your engine will be reduced.
An unbelievable amount of preparation goes into getting any polo player on the field to play a game. They search high and low to find the best horses, they spend hours practicing shots and set plays, formulating tactics and making sure they have mallets, boots and gloves which fit them well. But rarely is there much time or consideration given to their tack.
Any article of tack from the brow band to the bandages if poorly made or not fitted correctly has the ability to inhibit the horse.
The drop noseband is the one piece of tack which is most commonly poorly fitted or made. The theory is that it will stop the horse opening its mouth excessively. The reality is that they often sit over the nostrils, preventing the nostril flare and inhibiting breath intake and outtake at the most vital times of physical exertion. In theory the drop noseband should not interfere with the bit at rest or when being used. In reality they often pull the bit down on the lower jaw or up in the mouth or even both. How can we expect to communicate effectively when the free movement of the bit is obstructed? How can we expect our horse to give their all when they are struggling, to catch their breath.
An alternative to the drop nose band is a crossover drop noseband, or grackle, or figure 8 noseband as they are also known. These are being used a lot more and their popularity will continue to grow as they give the best nasal cavity clearance of any drop noseband while still restricting excessive mouth opening. They also have the added bonus of preventing the horse evading the bit by crossing the jaw. Some horses are frustrated by drop nosebands and shake their heads in an attempt to evade them. It has been found that in a lot of these cases replacing the drop with a grackle relieves the frustration and head shaking.
It's a slightly trickier process to fit them correctly but easy with a little practice and well worth the time to get better results and a happier horse.
Another alternative used by a lot of people is a Rawhide drop nosebands. Like with the crossover nosebands they provide great nasal cavity clearance, while also keeping the mouth stable. Their advantage is specifically appreciated by players of older polo ponies who need a little reminder not to lean on the drop.
Next time before you get on your horse spare a moment to consider your tack. Take a look at your drop nose band is it restricting your horse taking a breath, is it pulling on the bit? These seemingly minor details when added together can, and do, make a big difference to your communication and your engines efficiency.