Facial pressure beneath a cavesson noseband adjusted to different tightness levels during standing and chewing.
Authors: Clayton Hilary M, Murray Rachel, Williams Jane M, Walker Vicki, Fisher Mark, Fisher Diane, Nixon Jane, Mackechnie-Guire Russell
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Facial Pressure Beneath a Cavesson Noseband Clayton Hilary M and colleagues measured the pressure exerted by cavesson nosebands at five different tightness levels on eight elite dressage horses, using pressure-sensitive mats positioned over the nasal bones and beneath the mandibular rami whilst horses stood quietly and chewed treats. Pressures increased substantially with tightness, rising from mean nasal forces of 5.8 N and mandibular forces of 12.3 N at the loosest setting (2.0 finger-equivalents) to 45.1 N and 70.7 N respectively at the tightest (0.0 finger-equivalents), with mandibular pressures consistently exceeding nasal pressures across all conditions. Remarkably, all horses willingly ingested and chewed at every tightness level, generating forces approaching 100 N and pressures exceeding 40 kPa without measurable increases in eye temperature or blink rate—traditionally considered indicators of equine discomfort. For practitioners, these findings suggest that horses may tolerate substantially higher cavesson pressures than previously assumed, at least during active mastication, though the study's small sample size and observation of only food-motivated chewing warrant caution in extrapolating these results to typical ridden work where other stressors operate.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Cavesson nosebands exert substantially higher pressure on the mandible than nasal bones, suggesting mandibular soft tissue and bone may be at greater risk of trauma or chronic compression
- •The 2.0 finger-equivalent adjustment appears to be an appropriate benchmark for tightness, as horses showed no signs of discomfort during functional behaviours like chewing within the 0.0-2.0 range tested
- •Noseband tightness should be adjusted conservatively using objective measures like taper gauges, as subjective assessment alone may result in excessive pressure that compromises welfare
Key Findings
- •Nasal pressure increased from 5.8±4.4 N at 2.0 finger-equivalents to 45.1±24.9 N at 0.0 finger-equivalents during standing
- •Mandibular pressure increased from 12.3±8.2 N to 70.7±25.7 N across the same tightness range
- •Mandibular pressures consistently exceeded nasal pressures across all tightness levels
- •Horses accepted noseband pressures >40 kPa during chewing without behavioural or thermographic indicators of distress (blink rate and eye temperature unchanged)