Bridle recommendations? Cavesson vs grackle?

[PipsqueakXy22]

What is the difference between a grackle as opposed to just a plain cavesson with a flash?
also can anyone recommend a decent quality comfortable bridle for£100 or less (maybe slightly more)

 

[Abacus]

It’s probably easiest to Google images but a grackle is a crossed noseband with the top part sitting higher under the jaw than a cavesson. Whereas a flash just has a nose loop attached to a cavesson (probably pulling it downwards). Grackles have been shown to be more comfortable for the horse than flashes.

I like ‘English bridles’ - not sure you’ll get one for less than £100 but probably not much more (or second hand).

 

[Cinnamontoast]

I think a grackle is designed for horses who cross their jaw? (According to a much more knowledgeable person than me)

 

[Kaylum]

You first of all need to think why your horse needs a noseband. Most do not but it's deemed necessary to complete their look. I also prefer English bridles. Jeffries are my favourite you might get a nice second hand one. You also have to think padded is not always best. It adds pressure. I prefer a nice traditional smart leather bridle but each to their own. So long as it fits correctly. Was at a big county show in the summer and the amount of bridles that didn't fit was shocking but that's another thread.

 

[Fluffypiglet]

Mine has a grackle as it gives some stability to the bit in his mouth with having the strap underneath. He used to be in a Micklem. The grackle I have has rings and buckles both sides so super adjustable but it was expensive. I wouldn’t use a flash as i believe they can put a lot of pressure on the nose. Mind you any nose band (and tbh the rest of the bridle) can cause issues if not fitted well. So you need to decide what you want it to achieve and go from there.

et: a good quality second hand bridle as others have suggested would be sensible for your budget. some of the cheaper new bridles are horribly stiff. im sure someone will have suggestions for your options. No idea how much a Henry James bridle would cost but they seem to get good reviews. I’ve only ever had some of their reins which were nice quality.

 

[Abacus]

I haven't tried them but the premier equine range of bridles looks quite nice and reasonably priced - would be interested to know if anyone else has one. They have a grackle bridle for £116, and also an anatomic bridle with flash that (although I don't like flashes) looks better shaped than most.

 

[Zoeypxo]

I haven't tried them but the premier equine range of bridles looks quite nice and reasonably priced - would be interested to know if anyone else has one. They have a grackle bridle for £116, and also an anatomic bridle with flash that (although I don't like flashes) looks better shaped than most.

i have the vendura one , standard cavesson noseband
Its great, fits really well especially behind the ears

 

[JBM]

Derby house has a nice selection of bridles for a good price
This is what I’m currently using on my boy and he likes it but you’d need to buy a flash
He didn’t like a micklem at all but seems much better in this his preference I guess!

 

[webble]

Before buying I would decide why you are buying either type and what you are looking to achieve/ change with it. Do you actually need either rather than a plain cavesson?

 

[ecb89]

I’m sure I read something, either on here or maybe Facebook, that a corrctly fitting grackle is kinder than a cavesson

 

[Love]

I haven't tried them but the premier equine range of bridles looks quite nice and reasonably priced - would be interested to know if anyone else has one. They have a grackle bridle for £116, and also an anatomic bridle with flash that (although I don't like flashes) looks better shaped than most.

I have the premier equine grackle bridle and it really is lovely! I actually have one of the older style ones - I got it in the end of line sale for £45 which is an absolute bargain for what it is. Having got it now I would happily pay full price for one again.

@ecb89 I think I read the same thing - a correctly fitting grackle has the least pressure points of all nosebands or something? (Can't quite remember fully and can't find it again to re-read).

 

[Tiddlypom]

It was Fairfax who found that

• The Grackle tested best in our research for reduced noseband pressure:-

Complete Fairfax Snaffle Bridle with Grackle Noseband

The Fairfax Bridle is the first bridle to be based on scientific research. Based on two years of scientific research, this bridle significantly relieves peak pressure in the six key pressure zones around the head, articultaing and moving in harmony with the horse's head during the stride...

www.fairfaxsaddles.com

I use a plain cavesson, but if ever I needed something more I'd try a grackle first, then a drop, and lastly a flash (which IMHO are horrid things).

 

[criso]

Yes Fairfax tested nosebands for comfort when they were developing their own. The order was Grackles, Drops, Cavessons and Flash last. And of the Cavessons, Cranks performed better than normal.

The noseband info is at bottom of this page

Bridle Testing & Design

Researchers tested under all areas of a large number of bridles on a variety of horses using Pliance pressure mapping technology and gait analysis to identify the exact location of high-pressure zones and demonstrate the performance improvements when bridle pressure is removed.

www.fairfaxsaddles.com

 

[YourValentine]

I would like to know on what fitting they determined cranks to be kinder than a plain cavesson. I use one just because he looks ugly with out, and you can comfortably fit several fingers underneath so it purely decorative. I find it very hard to believe that a 'crank' noseband that clamps a jaw shut is kinder.

Ditto with a grackle vs a loose cabesson.

 

[eggs]

I would like to know on what fitting they determined cranks to be kinder than a plain cavesson. I use one just because he looks ugly with out, and you can comfortably fit several fingers underneath so it purely decorative. I find it very hard to believe that a 'crank' noseband that clamps a jaw shut is kinder.

It is the padding on the back strap that makes the crank more comfortable than the standard cavesson. All my bridles have crank nosebands but I do NOT crank them tight - I can easily fit two fingers under the noseband.

 

[criso]

I would like to know on what fitting they determined cranks to be kinder than a plain cavesson. I use one just because he looks ugly with out, and you can comfortably fit several fingers underneath so it purely decorative. I find it very hard to believe that a 'crank' noseband that clamps a jaw shut is kinder.

Ditto with a grackle vs a loose cabesson.

They said correctly fitted so presumably the same level of tightness. They also mentioned the increased pressure if a Cavesson was fitted high compared to correctly.

Cranks have rings which allows articulation and movement which they incorporated into designing their own.

The link talks about how shocked they were about some of the findings.

Incidentally my previous horse hated a plain Cavesson, went much better without but was also happy with a drop.

 

[ponynutz]

I had a grackle because I preferred the look and she needed a flash - she really liked it actually, I think she was more comfortable.

 

[SpotsandBays]

Mine has a grackle as it gives some stability to the bit in his mouth with having the strap underneath. He used to be in a Micklem. The grackle I have has rings and buckles both sides so super adjustable but it was expensive. I wouldn’t use a flash as i believe they can put a lot of pressure on the nose. Mind you any nose band (and tbh the rest of the bridle) can cause issues if not fitted well. So you need to decide what you want it to achieve and go from there.

et: a good quality second hand bridle as others have suggested would be sensible for your budget. some of the cheaper new bridles are horribly stiff. im sure someone will have suggestions for your options. No idea how much a Henry James bridle would cost but they seem to get good reviews. I’ve only ever had some of their reins which were nice quality.

Just out of interest, did you find much of a difference swapping from the micklem to a grackle for your horse?

 

[Fluffypiglet]

Just out of interest, did you find much of a difference swapping from the micklem to a grackle for your horse?

hi, yes he’s better in the grackle in my opinion. I think because it’s adjustable both sides rather than one side like the Micklem so he feels less one sided. He does wear the bottom strap very loosely though so it could be my imagination.

 

[First Frost]

One of my horses absolutely hated a cavesson, so I tried a micklem which he also dislikes. I then tried a grackle which he is quite happy with. He prefers no noseband at all but unfortunately we do dressage and event so he has to wear something.

 

[Armchair Eventer]

Just out of interest, did you find much of a difference swapping from the micklem to a grackle for your horse?

I inherited a Micklem when I bought my mare last summer. After she settled we started having regular lessons and she was very much on the forehand in the Micklem. My instructor suggested a grackle and she is going so much better and lighter in it.

 

[Love]

Just out of interest, did you find much of a difference swapping from the micklem to a grackle for your horse?

Mine also went like a sack of spanners in a Micklem and is by far the best in his grackle

 

[SpotsandBays]

hi, yes he’s better in the grackle in my opinion. I think because it’s adjustable both sides rather than one side like the Micklem so he feels less one sided. He does wear the bottom strap very loosely though so it could be my imagination.

I inherited a Micklem when I bought my mare last summer. After she settled we started having regular lessons and she was very much on the forehand in the Micklem. My instructor suggested a grackle and she is going so much better and lighter in it.

Mine also went like a sack of spanners in a Micklem and is by far the best in his grackle

Thanks everyone, that’s really interesting! I bought a micklem a few years ago after borrowing a friends and seeing and improvement, but I might see if somebody has a grackle to try!

 

[mini_b]

I haven't tried them but the premier equine range of bridles looks quite nice and reasonably priced - would be interested to know if anyone else has one. They have a grackle bridle for £116, and also an anatomic bridle with flash that (although I don't like flashes) looks better shaped than most.

ive just bought a PE bridle, it’s nice and ok quality for the price. Does need a good oil and regular condition as it’s very stiff at the moment. I took the flash off. It’s not the anatomical bridle which I did originally like the look of. I bought that one and it was way too padded and fitted weirdly around the ears so returned it. The one I came back with is the deliciozo.

sabre bridles are lovely, if I wasn’t in a hurry I would have tried to find another one second hand.