Study
The effects of the r3vobanD on the horse's nose were tested by ZWT GmbH using a computer simulation to calculate and visualize the loads on the horse's nose in comparison to standard leather nosebands.
Structure of the simulation
A computer simulation of a horse's head, bridle and bit was developed to obtain quantifiable and objective measurements of the forces exerted on a horse's nose.
The validated horse's head was scanned with a 3D scanning app that uses an infrared sensor to create a 3D model of the head. A digital 3D model of a bridle was also created and placed on the horse's head in the computer simulation.
3D model of the horse's head and bridle imported into the computer simulation:
Preliminary Definitions
Accordingly, the same load is applied to both models (only leather bridle and r3vobanD® with leather bridle) by an identical displacement - calculated from 1.5 kg tensile force per side.
Computer simulation results
The maximum stresses encountered at the head are highlighted in boxes. The simulation shows that both the stress pattern and the maximum stresses in the simulation without the 3D printed band (r3vobanD®) are higher (like the right edge: 9.26 MPa vs. 0.87 MPa).


Conclusion
In this study, the stresses on a horse's head were compared by developing a computer simulation of a horse's head and bridle with and without an additively manufactured band (r3vobanD®). The tensions occurring on the horse's head are reduced by +/- 60% by using the printed band (r3vobanD®). In addition, the overall load on the bridge of the nose is reduced. The 3D printed band (r3vobanD®) exhibits uniform deformation and stress distribution properties. The data collected shows that pressure can be significantly reduced by using the 3D printed band (r3vobanD®) during riding and competitions. We argue that with an additively manufactured, pressure-reducing noseband, the stress on the bridge of the nose can be reduced and thus the well-being of the horse is guaranteed.