rap ▁to ▁keep ▁the ▁horse ' s ▁mouth ▁closed . ▁This ▁nose band ▁is ▁only ▁used ▁with ▁a ▁s na ff le ▁bit ▁and ▁without ▁a ▁mart ing ale . ▁It ▁is ▁most ▁commonly ▁seen ▁in ▁event ing ▁on ▁the ▁cross - country ▁phase , ▁and ▁in ▁show ▁jump ing . ▁This ▁nose band ▁allows ▁the ▁r ider ▁to ▁ride ▁light ly ▁with ▁a ▁m ild ▁bit ▁and ▁still ▁stop ▁a ▁strong ▁horse . ▁Le ver ▁or ▁combination ▁nose band : ▁this ▁nose band ▁has ▁a ▁half - mo on ▁piece ▁of ▁metal ▁that ▁goes ▁on ▁each ▁side ▁of ▁the ▁horse ' s ▁face . ▁On ▁the ▁" top " ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁curve ▁( near ▁the ▁horse ' s ▁che ek ▁b one ), ▁a ▁piece ▁of ▁le ather ▁is ▁attached ▁that ▁runs ▁under ▁the ▁j aw ▁and ▁attach es ▁to ▁the ▁other ▁side ▁of ▁the ▁face . ▁At ▁the ▁peak ▁of ▁the ▁curve ▁is ▁a ▁piece ▁of ▁le ather ▁that ▁runs ▁over ▁the ▁top ▁of ▁nose ▁in ▁a ▁position ▁slightly ▁lower ▁from ▁where ▁a ▁regular ▁cav ess on ▁would ▁cross . ▁At ▁the ▁" bottom " ▁of ▁the ▁curve , ▁a ▁third ▁piece ▁of ▁le ather ▁goes ▁under ▁the ▁ch in ▁gro ove ▁of ▁the ▁horse . ▁This ▁nose band ▁is ▁similar ▁in ▁design ▁to ▁the ▁figure - e ight , ▁and ▁works ▁similarly ▁by ▁prevent ing ▁the ▁horse ▁from ▁crossing ▁his ▁j aws ▁( which ▁is ▁especially ▁helped ▁by ▁the ▁metal ▁on ▁either ▁side ▁of ▁the ▁face ). ▁Un like