Another drop noseband post

[Coffee_Bean]

After seeing so many people rave about them in the Stable Yard, I would quite like to try one as my girl is fussy in the mouth and opens her gob quite alot (teeth fine before anyone asks)

But I have absoloutely no idea where to get one or, more importantly, how to fit one. Plus I don't have much money to spend

ETA so can I have pics of them correctly fitted?? Are they as good as everyone says? Where to get one cheaply?

 

[kerilli]

yes, they're really good. unlike a flash or a grackle, they do not have to be tight to be effective. also, for a horse to salivate properly (which is obviously desirable) he needs to be able to flex his jaw, which is made harder if his jaw is clamped shut.
to fit correctly: you should have 4 fingers' width above the top of the nostril to the bottom of the noseband. this is really important (and comes direct from my classical german trainer). about a finger's width under the strap that goes in the chin groove, no tighter.
they sit really nicely with a full-cheek or fulmer bit, with a loose-ring or eggbut the noseband tends to slide up the rings of the bit unless you do it tight, which isn't ideal.
i've seen them fairly cheaply, but about £17 is the best price i've seen. check the measurements though, a lot nowadays aren't made/measured correctly, and so you can often get away with a cob size on a full size horse... the noseband piece shouldn't be too long.
ignore the people who say that they make horses' heads look ugly, btw, they are a great bit of kit!
best of luck!
(btw, if you really can't find one cheaply you can borrow 1 of mine, i've been hoarding loads for ages!)