A normal cavesson noseband should fit two fingers width below the cheekbone of the horse, and be snug, not loose. Horses who open their mouths or cross the jaw may have the noseband tighter. Browbands should not flop down the face or be held tight against the forehead. Cheekpieces should be done up not right at either end of the holes, but in the middle in a well fitting bridle there should always be room for adjustment. It should be kept oiled with neatsfoot oil, and checked regularly for wear, and to check that the stitching is secure.
Nosebands are a versatile way of influencing how a horse goes in conjunction with a bit.
The cavveson merely holds the mouth shut, but some people also use a flash attachment to keep the jaw well and truly shut unfortunately, some horses resent this and fight it. A grackle noseband is a more severe way of stilling jaw movement, but again can cause resentment and prevent the jaw softening. It is most often used for strong horses. The kineton noseband acts in conjunction with the bit to take some of the rein pressure and transfer it to the nose. The Australian cheeker noseband is fastened to the headpiece of the bridle and runs down the middle of the face before splitting in two and attaching to the bit rings it works in two ways firstly by lifting the bit in the mouth and preventing his tongue getting over it, and secondly by applying pressure on the whole of the horse's face when he gets strong, gently asking him to lower his head.