New research by Czech scientists, published in Animals, investigated the impact of noseband tightness on stress behaviors in dressage horses across competition levels. Using the FEI measuring tool, they found that nearly all nosebands were correctly fitted, shifting focus to how stress behaviors varied with test difficulty. Results showed that stress behaviors increased with competition level, with horses at lower levels displaying a wider variety of conflict behaviors, while higher-level horses exhibited fewer but more frequent mouth-related stress signs. Horses ridden in double bridles showed more conflict behaviors than those in snaffles, and judges’ scores from medium level upwards did not correlate with the amount of stress behavior observed.

Lead author Simona Fialová highlighted the surprising disconnect between stress behaviors and judging at higher levels, where horses could show conflict behaviors over 70% of the time without score penalties. The study also revealed that Swedish crank nosebands reduced mouth-related issues at lower levels, suggesting pressure distribution effects worth further study. Experts noted that increased technical difficulty tends to elevate stress behaviors, and judges’ focus on technical execution may overlook welfare concerns, indicating a potential need for dedicated welfare marks in dressage scoring.