So I know that nosebands are required for dressage, but I can’t find anything definite about the other two phases. So does anyone know? Are nosebands required for Cross Country? Show Jumping?
For USEA and for FEI.
Thanks!
Rule EV 115.3 just requires “an English type saddle and bridle or hackamore.” Nothing about nosebands for the jumping phases. I’d say no, though you can always email USEF to be sure.
Are nosebands even required for the dressage phase in eventing? EV 115.2(e) says “It [presumably the bridle] may have a cavesson noseband, dropped noseband, crossed noseband, or flash noseband.” May, not must.
By contrast, in the dressage rulebook DR 121 states: “a plain snaffle bridle is required with a regular cavesson, a dropped noseband, a flash noseband, or a crossed noseband.” Figure 3 (Permitted Nosebands and Bridles) even says: “Nosebands are compulsory.”
Comparing how differently the two rules are written, I wonder if nosebands are even required in dressage for eventing?
This is the kind of question that would be best put to someone at USEA. You don’t want to get eliminated because well-meaning strangers on the internet gave you dodgy advice.
I’ve seen horses jumping in myler combination bits with no noseband. I wouldn’t count the nose rope as a “noseband” as it is attached to the bit, not directly to cheekpieces. I seem to remember Jessica Phoenix competing xc without a noseband a few years ago…perhaps Pavarotti, at an event in Canada?
Rules may have changed, so contact USEF. FEI has a new rule prohibiting hackamores on xc, I suppose bits are mandatory? AFAIK, national federations haven’t adopted that rule yet, but typically they follow the FEI leader.
I know someone who competed in the jumping phases without a noseband (and no hackamore, nose rope or anything) at USEA events a few years ago, but it’s worth emailing to be sure.
