Hi Everyone, I wondered if anyone uses this side pull? I just got one very new/used, and so far my horse loves it! I am wondering though about the adjustment of the noseband and chinstrap. Are there rules of thumb with this besides the “just go with your gut?” advice I was given by a dealer? I think I had it just a tad high the first ride out-more like a traditional cavesson height,
with the chinstrap a “2 fingers loose.” Anyone? thanks in advance!
thank you!
That was really, really helpful, thanks!
Although the girl in the video has some good points, I disagree with her placement of the noseband. I’ve ridden in a sidepull for years and have had it lower than she has it. In fact, it didn’t look bad to me the way she had it in the beginning. However, as long as it is on the bone of the face and not the soft cartilage, there is not going to be a problem with the airway. Think of all the english bridles with the dropped nosebands and cavessons in advanced competitions - would they allow them if the horses couldn’t breath? Plus, you will have a lot more control if it is lower on the face. The same goes for a halter…up high there is no leverage and they could easily ignore the signal. That might not be a problem for a well trained horse, but there is always a possibility that you’ll need that leverage…
I do like the look of those barefoot sidepulls - enjoy yours!!
[QUOTE=threesacharm;6279002]
Think of all the english bridles with the dropped nosebands and cavessons in advanced competitions - would they allow them if the horses couldn’t breath? [/QUOTE]
They are used with the reins attached to the bit. TOTALLY different thing.
You want to make many of the same considerations for the english bridle with a bit and a flash noseband. You want the noseband up on the bone, not on the soft cartilege, and you don’t want the flash to pinch down on the nasal passage, yet it needs to drop under the bit and under the chin.
A figure eight noseband is even easier to adjust up high enough. No drop or flash should sit on the face down low.
I don’t know how a bitless bridle works. This bridle looked very much like the Micklan bridle, to which you attach a bit. It must be different, because using this bridle up that high and attaching a bit would not work, though.
good luck to the OP fitting this to her horse. the video looked very helpful to get her to think about her own horse’s anatomy and as she tries it out she’ll see how it does. I too would not feel uncomfortable with the noseband lower than the video suggested, if the horse needed it for riding but it still pointed out the sensitive areas to be aware of.
