Kineton noseband users- please reply

[Nezzy]

I want to know if you start using a Kineton noseband, will you always need it for that horse? My pony, who is generally amazing, sometimes gets rammy, and pulls on my hands. I hate to play tug on his mouth, so i wondered if a Kineton would be an option. I have light hands and am generally very kind to my horses. I do not want to put him into an uncomfortable situation. People have different opinions on the K noseband. But i want to hear from those of you who have actually used one.

Also- In case i do decide to use one, can you please instruct me on how to put it on, do you keep the top part of the noseband open when you put it on? It looks complicated to someone who has never done it. Thanks.

[jawa]

I used one with my fox hunting pony. He preferred some nose pressure over mouth pressure. The only issue I had with the Kineton noseband was if it was used with a jointed bit, it could cause rubs at the lips. I ended up using a Micklem bridle with the clips used to connect the nose band to the bit. This solved the rubs at the lip problem. It is easy enough to remove clips. Before I bought the Micklem, but after I had already purchased the Kineton, I used a flash in such a way that it went through the spot on the front of the noseband, then through the front of the bit rings on either side and then back tot he noseband to be fastened together.I did this prior to purchasing a Micklem to make sure it would make pony happy. Maybe make a temporary modification to your current set up to be sure your horse would like the set up.

[beowulf]

I’ve used a Kineton in the past for a horse that gets strong XC but I didn’t want to bit them up. It’s a good tool to keep a sensitive horse rateable, especially if they’re prone to invert or go hollow when excited, and flip through the contact. It’s not an appropriate tool for a horse that curls or goes BTV.

I would not use it with a martingale, but YMMV.

I’ve been able to go back to a regular noseband. It’s not as harsh as it looks as long as the bit isn’t harsh - and yes, depending on which Kineton you buy, some have a buckle you leave open, but other’s don’t. It’s one of those bridles that is easier to put on once you get the hang of it. Make sure it is situated properly when you’re putting the bit in the mouth (metal loops under bit) and it should be good to go.

I’ve never used it “on the flat” though. It’s one of those tools I only use for XC or conditioning sets on terrain.

[Foxtrot_s]

Kineton is a misunderstood attachment. I used mine on an otherwise strong Standardbred for the Hunt and it was perfect for her. She was a successful eventer and did not go in one for anything but the Hunt.
My goal is always to make a horse lighter and easier rather than just having a tug of war. It does not work on a horse that curls up and many can gallop along quite happily with their noses on their chests.

One thing the nosebend does is pinch the lips when reins are used with a snaffle, and if there are any sharp edges on the back teeth, they can cause mouth sores.

I’d say give it a try, bearing in mind they need to be understood.

[Nezzy]

Thanks everyone. i do not use a martingale with him. i have been using a myler comfort snaffle, but idk how it would work with a Kineton.

[asb_own_me]

I’ve actually found the opposite of what two posters have said - both @beowulf and @Foxtrot’s mentioned that it was not the tool for a horse that likes to curl or go BTV. Curling up/going BTV is exactly my horse’s MO when excited and wanting to go. He will very happily gallop a complete XC course (or a complete CDE marathon course, which is MUCH longer) with his chin literally touching his chest. Which is a miserable experience.

Since the Kineton transfers some bit pressure from the mouth to the nose, I’ve found he stays in a much more correct frame with better contact and doesn’t curl up so much. He stays lighter and more balanced, we aren’t struggling with each other and I feel more confident that he is actually prepared for each fence vs. just bearing down on them in a rush. As always…YMMV.

I use it in combination with a Micklem bridle and a flexible mouthpiece bit.

[TKR]

Have you tried a flash? You might try that before the kineton and work with your horse about softening to light pressure and then releasing as a reward. Charles DeKunffy made a comment I always remember about a horse that pulls – “it takes two to pull” –

[Small_Change]

I used a Kineton with a D-ring French link on a very hot TB mare. The D’s seemed to help with the pinching aspect, and the French link draped nicely over her tongue. She was a ridiculously hot mare, and seemed to appreciate how stable the Kineton kept the bit in her mouth, as there was no excess movement at all. She also was able to drop her lower jaw away from the bit if she wanted, without me losing control as I still had nose pressure to work with (she also went well in a short shanked mechanical hackamore, but I found the bit and Kineton gave me a little more finesse than the hackamore alone).

It’s funny, as most people will tell you a Kineton is a train-stopper and only suitable on a puller. I found that it just changed (and stilled) the bit action enough to make my hot, worried horse comfortable. Horses don’t always read the same bitting books that we do, so it is worth a try! I should also mention that I had no problem going between the hackamore, the Kineton set up, and a more conventional snaffle bridle with this mare.

[NancyM]

Tried one years ago, with a keen jumper. It was horrible, he hated it, fought it harder. Eventually, I went into a simple gag snaffle, with two reins. This is now where I go when I have a horse who wants to try to tow. Off the track racehorses have been taught and encouraged to pull down on the rider, balancing himself on the rider’s hands- they are the classic type of horse who would want to tow in their second career- though any horse who has been ridden this way previously can learn the habit too. The gag snaffle with two reins (regular snaffle rein, and a pulley rein) acts like a regular snaffle, until the horse attempts to pull down and tow. The mouthpiece is soft and inviting, and comfortable for the horse as a regular snaffle. When the horse attempts to pull down and tow the rider, the pulley rein comes into effect, and turns the angle of pressure in the mouth, shifts the pressure from the bars of the horse’s mouth (where he CAN pull from, and WANTS to put the pressure so that he can haul on you), to the corners of his mouth, where he CAN’T pull from, and instead his head is raised, instead of pulling down on you. The rider does nothing, just holds the two reins normally, with an educated, giving hand. It is the horse who uses the bit, not the rider. After trying out his regular “tow the rider” habit, and finding out that it simply no longer works for him the same as it did in the past, the horse usually loses the habit in time, and becomes a softer horse to ride. When the habit is extinguished, the horse can often switch back to the use of a regular snaffle.

[Sing_Mia_Song]

Used a Kineton only on XC on my old horse who was a bit of a rooter. I have a bad back and the last thing I needed was for him to decide to root the bit before jumps. Worked great.

I would bridle him, then separately put on the Kineton by undoing the cheek strap and putting it on kind of like a halter, if that makes sense.

[Foxtrot_s]

I also used a two rein gag on my big TB hunt horse - one pull at the beginning and we slipped along sweetly - but the gag was still there as insurance. But, as with all horses and tack - horses are individuals and react differently to different tack.The Standardbred worked well in the Kineton, but was never used as a train stopper as with her it was not necessary. I just did not want to be yarded along. Her regular training kicked in - she was sound as a dollar, brave as a lion, and capable of handing any footing and never had a cometitive jumping penalty. Great little horse.

[luvmyhackney]

I used one on my pony for a few months when he was a jerk face and would take off when he got bored. He prefers and reacts better to nose pressure then a stronger bit. Now he’s back in a comfort snaffle with a dropped noseband. He loved the way it stabilized the bit which when we went to a dropped noseband, solved that problem.