▁nose band ▁can ▁make ▁a ▁heavy ▁head ▁appear ▁more ▁del icate . ▁Second , ▁to ▁keep ▁the ▁horse ' s ▁mouth ▁closed ▁or ▁at ▁least ▁prevent ▁a ▁horse ▁from ▁ev ading ▁the ▁bit ▁by ▁opening ▁the ▁mouth ▁too ▁far . ▁It ▁can ▁sometimes ▁prevent ▁the ▁horse ▁from ▁putting ▁its ▁tongue ▁over ▁the ▁bit ▁and ▁avoid ing ▁pressure ▁in ▁that ▁manner . ▁▁ ▁Third , ▁the ▁nose band ▁is ▁also ▁used ▁to ▁help ▁stop ▁a ▁horse ▁from ▁pulling . ▁ ▁A ▁correctly - f itted ▁nose band ▁can ▁be ▁used ▁instead ▁of ▁a ▁stronger ▁bit , ▁which ▁makes ▁it ▁a ▁valuable ▁option ▁for ▁rid ers ▁that ▁want ▁more ▁control , ▁but ▁do ▁not ▁want ▁to ▁back ▁their ▁horse ▁off , ▁that ▁is , ▁to ▁make ▁the ▁horse ▁afraid ▁to ▁go ▁forward , ▁especially ▁when ▁jump ing , ▁which ▁is ▁often ▁an ▁und es irable ▁consequence ▁when ▁the ▁horse ▁is ▁placed ▁in ▁a ▁strong ▁or ▁har sh ▁bit . ▁ ▁Four th , ▁it ▁can ▁be ▁an ▁attachment ▁for ▁other ▁equipment , ▁such ▁as ▁a ▁standing ▁mart ing ale ▁or ▁shadow ▁roll . ▁ ▁It ▁is ▁also ▁valuable ▁for ▁young ▁horses ▁just ▁learning ▁to ▁go ▁" on ▁the ▁bit ", ▁as ▁it ▁supports ▁the ▁j aw ▁and ▁helps ▁the ▁horse ▁to ▁relax ▁its ▁mass eter ▁mus cle , ▁and ▁flex ▁soft ly ▁at ▁the ▁poll . ▁In ▁some ▁r iding ▁styles , ▁a ▁nose band ▁is ▁added ▁simply ▁for ▁decor ation ▁and ▁is ▁not ▁attached ▁to ▁the ▁brid le ▁or ▁adjust ed ▁to ▁serve ▁any