Measuring Noseband Tightness on the Lateral Aspect of the Horse’s Face

Measuring tools designed to objectively determine equine noseband tightness are inserted on the dorsal nasal planum in a rostro-caudal direction. The lateral aspect of the horse’s head has several areas where minimal soft tissue intervenes between the skin and underlying bone, which makes them poten...

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Main Authors: Russell MacKechnie-Guire, Hilary Clayton, Jane Williams, David Marlin, Mark Fisher, Diana Fisher, Victoria Walker, Rachel Murray
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Animals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/4/537
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author Russell MacKechnie-Guire
Hilary Clayton
Jane Williams
David Marlin
Mark Fisher
Diana Fisher
Victoria Walker
Rachel Murray
author_facet Russell MacKechnie-Guire
Hilary Clayton
Jane Williams
David Marlin
Mark Fisher
Diana Fisher
Victoria Walker
Rachel Murray
author_sort Russell MacKechnie-Guire
collection DOAJ
description Measuring tools designed to objectively determine equine noseband tightness are inserted on the dorsal nasal planum in a rostro-caudal direction. The lateral aspect of the horse’s head has several areas where minimal soft tissue intervenes between the skin and underlying bone, which makes them potentially useful sites for measuring noseband tightness. One hundred horses were fitted with a snaffle bridle with a cavesson, Swedish or dropped noseband in random order. The tightness of each noseband type was adjusted sequentially to 2.0, 1.5, 1.0, 0.5 and 0.0 finger-equivalents using an ISES Taper Gauge. For each adjustment, a digital calliper determined the distance (mm) between the inner surface of the noseband at three lateral locations: (1) lateral nasal bone, (2) lateral maxilla rostral to the facial crest, and (3) lateral mandible. Friedman’s analysis was used to test the differences between locations (<i>p</i> < 0.02). No differences were found between 2.0 and 1.5 finger-equivalent tightness at the nasal and maxillary sites for the cavesson (<i>p</i> = 0.89, <i>p</i> = 0.03, respectively) and Swedish (<i>p</i> = 0.06, <i>p</i> = 0.40, respectively) noseband. When adjusted between 2.0 to 0.5 finger-equivalent tightness, the coefficient of variation was “good” for the nasal (16%) and maxilla (19%) sites. These results indicate that a lateral measuring site may provide a suitable addition to dorsal midline measurements.
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spelling doaj-art-e20c74d2403a4b47a2e2f5c302df06172025-08-20T03:11:07ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-02-0115453710.3390/ani15040537Measuring Noseband Tightness on the Lateral Aspect of the Horse’s FaceRussell MacKechnie-Guire0Hilary Clayton1Jane Williams2David Marlin3Mark Fisher4Diana Fisher5Victoria Walker6Rachel Murray7Equine Department, Hartpury University, Hartpury, Gloucester GL19 3BE, UKDepartment of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, 736 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USAEquine Department, Hartpury University, Hartpury, Gloucester GL19 3BE, UKAnimalweb Ltd., The Granary, Hermitage Court, Hermitage Lane, Maidstone, Kent ME16 9NT, UKWoolcroft Equine Services, May Lane, Wisbech PE13 5BU, UKWoolcroft Equine Services, May Lane, Wisbech PE13 5BU, UKEquine Department, Hartpury University, Hartpury, Gloucester GL19 3BE, UKIbikus Ltd., Bury St Edmunds IP32 7AR, UKMeasuring tools designed to objectively determine equine noseband tightness are inserted on the dorsal nasal planum in a rostro-caudal direction. The lateral aspect of the horse’s head has several areas where minimal soft tissue intervenes between the skin and underlying bone, which makes them potentially useful sites for measuring noseband tightness. One hundred horses were fitted with a snaffle bridle with a cavesson, Swedish or dropped noseband in random order. The tightness of each noseband type was adjusted sequentially to 2.0, 1.5, 1.0, 0.5 and 0.0 finger-equivalents using an ISES Taper Gauge. For each adjustment, a digital calliper determined the distance (mm) between the inner surface of the noseband at three lateral locations: (1) lateral nasal bone, (2) lateral maxilla rostral to the facial crest, and (3) lateral mandible. Friedman’s analysis was used to test the differences between locations (<i>p</i> < 0.02). No differences were found between 2.0 and 1.5 finger-equivalent tightness at the nasal and maxillary sites for the cavesson (<i>p</i> = 0.89, <i>p</i> = 0.03, respectively) and Swedish (<i>p</i> = 0.06, <i>p</i> = 0.40, respectively) noseband. When adjusted between 2.0 to 0.5 finger-equivalent tightness, the coefficient of variation was “good” for the nasal (16%) and maxilla (19%) sites. These results indicate that a lateral measuring site may provide a suitable addition to dorsal midline measurements.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/4/537lateralbridle fitnasalcavessonSwedish (crank)surface
spellingShingle Russell MacKechnie-Guire
Hilary Clayton
Jane Williams
David Marlin
Mark Fisher
Diana Fisher
Victoria Walker
Rachel Murray
Measuring Noseband Tightness on the Lateral Aspect of the Horse’s Face
Animals
lateral
bridle fit
nasal
cavesson
Swedish (crank)
surface
title Measuring Noseband Tightness on the Lateral Aspect of the Horse’s Face
title_full Measuring Noseband Tightness on the Lateral Aspect of the Horse’s Face
title_fullStr Measuring Noseband Tightness on the Lateral Aspect of the Horse’s Face
title_full_unstemmed Measuring Noseband Tightness on the Lateral Aspect of the Horse’s Face
title_short Measuring Noseband Tightness on the Lateral Aspect of the Horse’s Face
title_sort measuring noseband tightness on the lateral aspect of the horse s face
topic lateral
bridle fit
nasal
cavesson
Swedish (crank)
surface
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/4/537
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