Best alternative to a grackle for dressage?

[Ziggy_]

As the title, my mare crosses her jaw badly so I ride her in a grackle, which we can't use for dressage. I did my last test in just a cavesson and was a bit lacking in control.

What's the best alternative - a flash or a drop? I used to use a flash but found she fought so hard to open her mouth that she pulled the cavesson part down until it restricted her breathing - would a drop be better?

Teeth are attended to regularly and are fine, its just her!

 

[RuthnMeg]

Iam a fan of drop nosebands, so i'd say use a drop!

 

[arwenplusone]

[ QUOTE ]
Iam a fan of drop nosebands, so i'd say use a drop!

[/ QUOTE ]

Me too. They are soo underrated these days

ETA - alternatively you could try a wide cavesson, just a bit lower.

 

[kerilli]

drop, definitely. fitted correctly (4 fingers' width above top of nostril) they don't have to be tight to be effective... in fact, they're better if not tight (horse needs to be able to move jaw etc.)

 

[katie_and_toto]

Drop noseband

 

[Lolo]

I thought you could do dressage in a grakle...

 

[trundle]

NoSurrender, I think you can use a grackle for BE dressage, but not anywhere else. I was going to try the combination of drop noseband and hanging cheek snaffle on my previous mare, who had NO BRAKES AT ALL at dressage, and which someone on here recommended (but then said mare broke and has been retired, so no need).

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

high fitted flash noseband, and cavesson part as tight as it will go, esp if used to a grackle. i think it was geoff billington that said a noseband shoule be like a womans bra a tight fit otherwise everything falls out!!!!

 

[CBAnglo]

I would say drop as well.

I think a tight cavesson will just cause the horse to try an open the jaw more and cause tension. I have become so conscious of the fit of the noseband recently having rethought bridles and bits for my sensitive TB.