The FEI nose band checker
Remember that timeless wisdom of the two-finger rule? That simple guideline, based on common sense, in which a noseband should be loose enough to allow two fingers to fit in between the bone of the horse’s nose and the actual nose band.
A basic yet simple test of comfort, fairness, and, dare I say it, horsemanship.
In modern dressage overly tightened nosebands have become such a big problem, that the FEI finally came to the conclusion that they no longer trusted their own stewards and officials [humans] set in place to for one safe guard animal welfare, and needed to come up with something new.
Cause evidently, not even two fingers and common sense seem to be enough to save [dressage] horses from suffering, as well as from the risk of suffocating. So enter FEI’s Revolutionary new gadget, the noseband tool.
Or maybe more correctly, enter the FEI Measuring Device. A tool to be used in FEI Competitions to control the tightness of the nosebands.
Buy Me a Coffee
Buy Me a CoffeeMaybe you've seen it, maybe you heard about it, or maybe this is the moment where you first hear about this thing, and sit on your phone [I presume] and be like; WTF, come again what?
To me that would actually be a both safe and very much sound reaction.
Cause let's be honest here, the stupidity and total nonsense around horses is getting worse and worse every day. For sure using something as simple as common sense flew out the window long time ago. So, here we are.
With a sport that once prided itself on elegance and partnership in between horse and man, that is now reduced into a freakin' measuring contest. How did we even get here?
The fact that anybody seriously believe that the problem with a tight noseband will magically disappear, cause we now have a tool to measure what anybody in their sane mind could conclude just by looking, and or using a finger or two is also way and beyond insanity.
Even worse, it feels very naive.
Just imagine the scenario with a top rider having the nose band tightened so hard the horse cannot breath. If no one stopped these kind of riders before, why would they suddenly stop them now?
It doesn't matter if the officials suddenly have armed themselves with the €20,00 FEI Measuring Device? If it was that easy, FEI's own line up of their self trained stewards and other officials could, should and would have stopped this nose band nonsense years ago!
The device itself can be purchased via the FEI Fan Shop. I must admit that may be one of the most ironic not to forget comic "product placements" I ever seen.
Buy a hoodie, buy a hat, buy a sticker, buy an FEI Measuring device..
The device itself have the following measurements:
11.5cm long
3cm wide at the bottom
2.5cm wide at the top
1.7cm high
Tagging along with it is a new set of rules and regulations, the General and Discipline Specific Protocols for Assessing the Tightness of Nosebands.
Yet another appendix [nine pages long] to add on to the already many, different rules and regulations of the FEI. Rules that are almost impossible for most people to even find in the first place. Is this what we call progress?
Do you have any thoughts on this? Don't forget to forward it to a friend and share your thoughts in the comment section. Promise not to bite 🤗
