Improper tack usage

Found this picture online...that noseband looks like it's cutting off the horse's air-too tight much?

Yes, that is WAY too tight. That poor horse.

I can't even imagine how hard it must be for him to breathe...poor horse!

That's horrible. Just thinking of his distress at not being able to breathe. Nothing is worse than being partially exphixiated. They can't breathe through their mouths , like we can. Close off the nose and horse is in trouble.

I wonder what the point of doing that is. Looks like a dropped noseband, who's function is to keep the horse from sliding its jaw sideways to evade the bit. It doesn't need to be very tight to serve that purpose. What's this rider trying to do - clamp the mouth solidly together? Why not just use duct-tape or a tourniquet?