Fleecy noseband covers - advice please :)

[spotti]

Just been noseying on the good old 'tinterweb for a fleecy noseband cover for use with my Dr Cooks bitless bridle.

From what I've seen so far, they're supposed to help absorb sweat and prevent rubbing - some sites also claim that they also aid concentration and lower the horses head carriage...

I'm only interested in them becasue every time Faith wears her bridle, she gets a sweaty line across her nose where the nosebad sits - I suppose this is just because its the Beta version and so maybe doesn't let her skin breathe as much as it perhaps should. She doesn't seem in the least bit bothered by it but then again we've never really gotten a chance to use/wear it for much more than about 30mins at a time and I'm imagining that it may rub/cause irritation if used for longer without something to absorb the sweat.

This is where you lot come in

Has anyone ever used a fleecy noseband cover before? If so, does it help with sweaty bits or is it just a pointless fluffy thing that people think looks good but really doesn't... ?

(I've got my eye on this one at the moment. Proper sheepskin and not too expensive. Oh, and I'd be wanting a black one (so it doesn't stand out as much)
www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk/P/Sheepskin_Noseband_Cover-(1113).aspx )

[racaille]

I want one too!!! It's a good idea Spotti - you can imagine how sweaty Paco gets here! I was thinking of upgrading to a leather bridle but he will still sweat. I am a big fan of sheepskin. I will buy one and try it ........

[scattymare]

I used to have one but it wasn't sheepskin - just cheap fur so I don't remember it helping with sweat absorbtion, but it did help my mare who had very sensitive skin (the first time I turned her out I left headcollar on as you do, by that evening she had a furless headcollar shape on her head!!) though I must confess my reasons for buying it origionally (before said mare) was because I thought it looked cute )
I've also heard the 'theory' of them encouraging the horse to lower their heads - but can't figure out how this would work for the life of me.

[spotti]

Right then Racaille - if you're having one, then so will I! You'll probably get to use it waaaaaaaay before me but hey-ho

And Scatty - I think it is supposed to get them to concentrate (by going crossed-eyed looking at the fluffy caterpillar on their nose?) and I suppose if they're concentrating on their nose and not on something above them or fighting with their rider then maybe they just happen to lower their heads and work through their backs better??? Personally I think that is quite an unreliable claim, but to be honest, we don't have that problem of head-in-the-air...we just have head-close-to-the-ground-so-i-can-sneak-grass-when-mummy's-not-paying-attention!!!

[spotti]

***Sorry the link doesn't work! But you get the idea...

I'm off to buy one now

Just ordered mine (and I've just found out that I know my card details off by heart and don't need to look at my card...oh dear!!)

[scattymare]

Thats not a good sign!!. He he Patricks the same - if I can just carry my head down here then I might just be able to sneak in a mouthfull. Or the classic 'itchy leg' syndrome seems to work!

[mariedigit]

i still got one and if it's big and furry then it does help keep there head down abit!!! but they do look good

[Jen]

it helps lower the head so that its easier to see over the noseband!

[spotti]

Aaaaaah, sounds logical.

Faith does the itchy leg thing too (they're cheeky monkeys aren't they?!)

Well, it should be arriving at home within the week and then I'll give it a go the following weekend when I'm back at home for the summer. Will let you know what the hairy pony thinks of her hairy noseband!!!