Any thoughts please.....on bits/flash nosebands

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PIP17

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I currently ride my boy in a hanging cheek snaffle and a flash, I have found over time that he dislikes having his mouth tied shut - it irrates him. I have ridden him without it on but when we trot or canter or if he gets a little stressed he opens his mouth, which so far hasnt been a problem as he hasnt been strong with me or tired to take the p**s BUT having said that I tend to be quite sedate out on hacks. When we school its usually without his flash and again he is fine. He is 16.3hh and Im 5ft2. Anyway, I have been thinking about trying him in a Myler because I was told you dont need to use a flash with these bits(!) and because he head shakes in the summer I am trying to make him as comfy as possible before the dreaded pollen starts :mad: But I was talking to a knowledgeable person last night and she tactfully said that you need to communicate with the horse and sometimes if a flash is needed then use one. So now Im a little confused about what best to do, Im not a fantatstic confident rider and dont want to put myself into any sitiuations that I dont really need to be in if you see what I mean. Any help would be appreciated and sorry if this post is slightly confusing. :rolleyes:
 
I ride my mare in a myler snaffle and she doesn't need a flash. I didn't use a flash with her old bit (loose ring lozenge snaffle) either because she is not strong (I've pulled her up when another horse was bolting away from us) and TBH the flash peed her off. There have been lots of comments about how many bridles these days come with a flash and how hard it is to buy one without a flash.

Ride without the flash in safe situations (so that you aren't worried) for a while and see how it goes.
 
I wouldnt be the biggest fan of flash nosebands, or any nosebands that keep the mouth shut. Mostly the only time the horse will open his mouth when bitted is because hes uncomfortable or someone is pulling on the bit. People tend to underestimate the discomfort or pain that can be caused by the bit, and just assume that the horse is being awkward or resistant wen he opens his mouth. But really the horse opens his mouth to evade the pressure because it hurts him. The mouth is a very sensitive place and was never designed to have a piece of metal or plastic in it. If the horse opens his mouth, hes trying to tell you it bothers him. By strapping it shut, all you are doing is silencing him, without solving the problem. It would be better to find a bit that he is comfortable with and hurts him less, instead of ignoring him. By removing the bit you would solve the problem of him opening his mouth, but not a lot of people are willing to try bitless because they think that they need a bit in order to control the horse, or to compete.
So i think trying a bit that he is more comfortable in, or removing the bit altogether will hopefully help you out, so best of luck.
ps, i think that a french link would be kinder than a single jointed bit as there is less nutcracker action, or a ported mouthpiece to allow more room for the tougue.
 
One of mine used to be in a flash, she hated it, changed her to an NS hanging cheek and she`s stopped her head flinging and general annoyance.

Not saying you have done this but the amount of people I have seen with badly fitting flashed is shocking. A girl used to hack out with my ride and drive group and the noseband of the flash was literally on top of the nostrils and the flash directly unederneath, and she wondered why her horse flung his head about and was constantly aggitated :rolleyes:

As already said try her without a flash when you feel confident enoug and gradually take it from there.
 
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