Advantage in removing flash noseband

[bluewhippet]

My lovely new horse is 8 year's old, feels very controllable, and has as far as I know always worn a flash noseband. I just wondered if there is any advantage in removing it. I can't really imagine that he needs it - is it to stop him taking hold of the bit?

Do a lot of horses get backed in with a flash for preventative purposes and then end up wearing them for a lifetime without reason? Or do most continue to wear them for good reason?

Or should I just stop waffling and try him without it?!

 

[LaurenM]

Try him without and maybe ask the previous owners why they used it.

 

[tigerlily12345]

try him without, i had a pony who i had to ride with martingale, flash and a kimblewick (for xc and hacking) by the end he didnt even wear a noseband! (or any of these) so definitely worth a try you could always put it back on if it doesnt work..

 

[bluewhippet]

He was in a running martingale until 2 weekends' ago when the last owner tried him without it for the first time and found it made no difference at all. He has always been ridden in flash and martingale since backing, but for the last 3 1/2 years nobody has done much with him at all. The martingale stayed on because the people before liked having a neck strap.

He is a lovely horse to ride, just didn't want to remove the flash if there was some terrible consequences I was likely to incur that I knew nothing about!

 

[Cop-Pop]

I stuck a flash on my mare when she was a baby because one of her favourite party tricks was to put her tongue over the bit and bu**er off I've since taken it off and she's going fine without it

 

[popstar]

I've used one on a fairly loose fitting, on several of my young'uns while getting them established. I find it helps stop any funny habits creeping in while they're getting steady on the contact, but once they are I don't tend to find they actually need it.
Give it a try without and see how he goes I reckon

 

[bluewhippet]

I will give it go, thanks. Just wanted to check I wasn't doing something unwise since I am new to all these horse ownership decisions!

 

[AprilBlossom]

My lad was in a flash because he hangs his Tongue out the whole time I'm riding to any sort of contact. Still manages to get it out with a flash on so I removed the flash and he is significantly lighter to my hand now that I guess he is more comfortable!

You'll only know if it's required or not by trying without

 

[Booboos]

R is ridden without a flash in the school because he is more forward going without it, but he is hacked in a flash because, as I learnt to my cost, if he spooks (which doesn't happen often) without a flash he can cross his jaw and really take off!

 

[tallyho!]

Flash nosebands were invented to stop horses opening their mounths, crossing jaws and taking off. Supposed to be used with a snaffle to aid with contact and were definitely a training aid and needs to be fitted quite tight.

They took off as a "trend" and nearly everyone started having them even to the point where plain cavesson's were hard to come by! Not sure if all of those people knew what it was actually for... and you see them being used with pelhams, kimblewicks, de gouges... crackers.

They have a place but I go by the methodology of schooling makes obedient and use multiple-pressure bits if I need more control.

 

[bluewhippet]

Removed it and no difference at all - thanks for all your advice

 

[indie999]

My horse came with one too I took it off and he was fine I did wonder what it was actually doing. It looked nice anyway. He was in snaffle.

 

[Tickles]

Take it off.

They are supposed to prevent the horse opening its mouth to avoid the bit. If horse is happy with its bit it generally doesn't need one. If unhappy then bit generally needs changing.

Flashes are used far too much IMHO (and often so loosely that they don't do anything anyway). I always remove them given the option. In fact I tend to take the whole nose band off as the cavesson you're left with does nothing anyway.

Save yourself the time and tack cleaning. Save the horse being covered in unnecessary (and occasionally uncomfortable) bits and bobs.

 

[Nikiska]

Couldn't have said it better myself tallyho!!

 

[hudsonw]

Tallyho is spot on, yes they serve a purpose but like most things in the horsey world they became a bit of a fashion gadget and now you can't seem to find a bridle without one.

 

[minkymoo]

Whip it off! When I had my 1st lesson with my instructor, he asked me why I had a flash & martingale on. I said I didn't actually know as he had come to me like that and I had never changed it. So, off it came with the nose band and I am sure that K feels better without it. It does go back on when we do dressage though.

 

[minkymoo]

*** Disclaimer: I would like to point out that the second pic in my sig is a still taken from a dressage test I did! (where you film at home!)

 

[Wagtail]

My lovely new horse is 8 year's old, feels very controllable, and has as far as I know always worn a flash noseband. I just wondered if there is any advantage in removing it. I can't really imagine that he needs it - is it to stop him taking hold of the bit?

Do a lot of horses get backed in with a flash for preventative purposes and then end up wearing them for a lifetime without reason? Or do most continue to wear them for good reason?

Or should I just stop waffling and try him without it?!

I really hate them. I never use them, so yes, just take it off. Yourhorse will be far happier!

 

[snopuma]

i have ridden my boy in a flash for the whole time I have had him (8 years) I recently lost my mare who I never rode with a flash, so the other day I thought i can't be bothered with the flash on my boy, so just left it off, he was very forward, which is no bad thing for him, but he was also completly unfussy in his mouth for the first time ever!!!!! Oh if only I had tried this years ago!

Give it a go, you never know!

 

[diggerbez]

as above a lot of people use them just because they are on the bridle. they are a useful bit of kit though. my youngster was backed in a flash but then i took it off for about 12 months. however, recently he's starting getting strong (esp XC) and its gone back on... that doesn't mean it'll stay on.

if you like to have a neckstrap you can always use a breastplate instead. i have one with a martingale attachment that buckles on so i can change it quickly depending on what i am doing....

 

[Tickles]

Glad you took the plunge bluewhippet

 

[noblesteed]

My old instructor said it needed to be as tight as possible to be effective. So all the horses at my old yard were ridden with their mouths strapped shut til their lips quivered.
I took mine off, and got him a nice comfort bridle because he was getting headshy to bridle. Can't think why....
He still works on the bit without a flash, although it isn't as easy as he can poke his tongue if he's feeling grumpy. I think if your horse goes correctly without one it proves your contact is genuine.
I put it back on only when there is a risk of him tanking eg hunting or xc.

 

[indie999]

Actually no expert but I did get told they were very fashionable too and looking back my strong in the mouth cob the flash was very tight when I got him. Fortunately for my 40th my sister bought me a good old fashioned plain nose band bridle etc which coicided with me removing the flash. I think my horse seemed more relaxed in the mouth taking the flash off.

Best present for us both I think!

 

[AndiK]

My old instructor said it needed to be as tight as possible to be effective. So all the horses at my old yard were ridden with their mouths strapped shut til their lips quivered.

OMG! I ride in a flash as my horse tends to open mouth head in the air tongue lolling out then take off!!! However, the flash on my horse is not so tight that it straps his mouth shut - the instructor is wrong, they only need to be tight enough to prevent the horse from opening its mouth not to restrict any movement in the jaw!!! A flash nose band when needed and used correctly is an effective piece of kit. However, on the flip side if your horse proves to not need one then yes whip it off and dont bother - well done you for trying it