eahotson
Well-Known Member
Yes Its a fashion accessory.
Could someone explain to me what a flash noseband is for?
- Thread starter Cedars
- Start date
HollyWoozle
Well-Known Member
It aggravates me that people use them because they are fashionable, though I do use one myself because Belle goes much better on one. She came with one, I took it off and went for a while but she works much better with her flash on (instructor agrees). I would love to have her out of it eventually but for now it is working best for us. 
Persephone
Well-Known Member
My mare habitually puts her head sideways and opens her mouth when she gets excited.
A gently fitted flash reminds her not to do this. It is fitted in a way that she can still open her mouth, but not fully.
It works for us.
A gently fitted flash reminds her not to do this. It is fitted in a way that she can still open her mouth, but not fully.
It works for us.
Maesfen
Extremely Old Nag!
They were designed for lazy people that's for sure!
Pat Smythe used to jump Prince Hal in a drop with a cavesson so she could use a standing martingale and this was the norm and correct way if you needed them; you used both nosebands or one or t'other and they did a much better job together than the flashes of today do now as they were both direct with their action; unless a flash is done up so tight the poor horse can hardly breathe then it doesn't work.
They are my pet hate, they're neither one thing or the other and a drop does a much better job if you need something plus people always do the strap up the wrong way too; to be correct, the buckle should follow the buckle of the main noseband not done up the other way just so you can tuck the end in the loop.
lexiedhb
Well-Known Member
So erm how exactly do you school a horse out of the habit of trying to get its tongue over the bit, rendering you completely out of control???
perfect11s
Well-Known Member
do what all us clever numpties do.... get some help from a good instructor
there is nothing wrong with getting experianced help to sort a problem and everything wrong with these quick "fixes" that hides rather than sorts problems......
Kat
Well-Known Member
Personally I think flashes are pretty pointless unless you use a standing martingale, and when was the last time you saw anyone in one of those??
A drop or grackle is a much better, and kinder solution for a horse that opens its mouth or gets its tongue over the bit, and the flash was developed for people who wanted to use one of those and also a standing martingale. You can't use a standing martingale with a grackle or a drop because of the pressure on the nose, so the flash is the compromise that is reached.
And that is what it is, a compromise. The flash is never the best noseband for the job, it is a compromise, that is not as good as a drop or grackle but allows you to use a standing martingale.
For a privately owned horse it isn't a big deal to buy a new noseband that does the ideal job, they aren't expensive. I can see however that riding school horses may have them as they can be used as a cavesson or flash depending upon the rider and lesson and that to have multiple drops and grackles and to change them would be awkward, but I think often they are just put on as standard. Not at the RS I go to though, you have the devil of a job finding one when you need one!
A drop or grackle is a much better, and kinder solution for a horse that opens its mouth or gets its tongue over the bit, and the flash was developed for people who wanted to use one of those and also a standing martingale. You can't use a standing martingale with a grackle or a drop because of the pressure on the nose, so the flash is the compromise that is reached.
And that is what it is, a compromise. The flash is never the best noseband for the job, it is a compromise, that is not as good as a drop or grackle but allows you to use a standing martingale.
For a privately owned horse it isn't a big deal to buy a new noseband that does the ideal job, they aren't expensive. I can see however that riding school horses may have them as they can be used as a cavesson or flash depending upon the rider and lesson and that to have multiple drops and grackles and to change them would be awkward, but I think often they are just put on as standard. Not at the RS I go to though, you have the devil of a job finding one when you need one!
lexiedhb
Well-Known Member
do what all us clever numpties do.... get some help from a good instructor
Why would you assume that I dont- and it didnt really answer my question
. The horse i ride is 17, I have ridden him several times without his flash, every time it has been dangerous, as he gets his tongue over the bit and sods off!!! I dont believe a flash is a quick fix, it is an aid, like a schooling whip. My old TB was alos ridden in a flash as he opened his gob and twisted his jaw... not ideal.... this was on the advice of Stepen Clarke--- doesnt really get much more experienced than that!!! posie_honey
Well-Known Member
i'd ideally not use a noseband on my horse - used a drop for a bit with recommendation of RI but no longer use it. use a cavesson for showing etc - but at home over winter i generally go without
alas i now have to use a flash on her to hold her nose net for pollen enduced headshaking on - it's so loose that it would never work as a flash - but stops her nosenet flicking up if she does do the odd shake - but i feel the need to tell everyone that it's only there for the nose net as i'd hate to think people think she needs it
vein - me? yup! 
alas i now have to use a flash on her to hold her nose net for pollen enduced headshaking on - it's so loose that it would never work as a flash - but stops her nosenet flicking up if she does do the odd shake - but i feel the need to tell everyone that it's only there for the nose net as i'd hate to think people think she needs it
vein - me? yup! perfect11s
Well-Known Member
fine if you have found something that works in your situation and you and others around you are safe, sorry but Im oftern confused about what English riders are trying to acheive, seems to me sadly its about making the horse do something rather than helping it understand what you want by presure and relese, making the right thing easy and the wrong thing hard...ask yourself the question would stephen need to use one !!!!Why would you assume that I dont- and it didnt really answer my question
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lexiedhb
Well-Known Member
I am entirely trying to make the horse do something.... that "thing" is to stop getting his tongue over the bit, and becoming dangerous, to both himself and me--- I am failing to see why/how that is a bad thing!!
Crank cavesson noseband? there are other ways round a flash, if one is not permitted!!! ALOT of top dressage riders use wm.... but that is a whole different ball game!!
deicinmerlyn
Well-Known Member
Never used one for any of my horses and it really annoys me that when looking to buy, every bridle has one attached.
Luci07
Well-Known Member
oh guys lighten up. They do serve a purpose and I can't believe all the comments, no need to be quite so holier than thou. Yes I agree too many people stick them on as a standard but there are others who end up with a flash because it is what suits the horse. Mine wears one as he is keen on opening his mouth - and yes his teeth are fine, he has been properly bitted and has different bitting requirements for schooling, jumping and hacking. Grackle - didn't really work properly for him so back to a flash for jumping. Flash isn't done up tightly but enough to stop him opening his mouth all the time.
Hels_Bells
Well-Known Member
I am in agreement with Luci07 here.
I use a flash but solely for the cross country phase of eventing. It is purely because my horse is a fairly powerful guy and often gets carried away at xc opening his mouth to evade the bit. The flash (coupled with running martingale) just helps me slightly increase control and precision slightly but still allows me to keep his french link snaffle in (which he is very happy and comfortable in). I would rather add a couple of extra bits of tack than use a harsher bit on him. My horse is very happy, healthy, well cared for and well schooled with frequent physio, chiro, teeth checks and saddle checks taking place. He came to me with a standing martingale and pelham which were totally not necessary and we have found a very happy solution in what we currently use. I have to say that I personally find these high grackle nose-bands with the fleecy paddy bits on them more of a "fashion statement" than a flash, however, I echo the sentiments of those who find a flash attached to every cavesson annoying - I have often had to cut the flash loops off when they aren't needed.
I use a flash but solely for the cross country phase of eventing. It is purely because my horse is a fairly powerful guy and often gets carried away at xc opening his mouth to evade the bit. The flash (coupled with running martingale) just helps me slightly increase control and precision slightly but still allows me to keep his french link snaffle in (which he is very happy and comfortable in). I would rather add a couple of extra bits of tack than use a harsher bit on him. My horse is very happy, healthy, well cared for and well schooled with frequent physio, chiro, teeth checks and saddle checks taking place. He came to me with a standing martingale and pelham which were totally not necessary and we have found a very happy solution in what we currently use. I have to say that I personally find these high grackle nose-bands with the fleecy paddy bits on them more of a "fashion statement" than a flash, however, I echo the sentiments of those who find a flash attached to every cavesson annoying - I have often had to cut the flash loops off when they aren't needed.
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Kat
Well-Known Member
But why not use a drop? It has the same effect without needing to be tightened so much because of the different angle. Therefore it should keep the horse from opening his mouth too much without being restrictively tight. Particularly for XC, you do see pictures of horses where it is obviously restricting their nostrils to an extent.
Hels_Bells
Well-Known Member
I don't feel that the flash restricts my horses breathing in any way, I hardly think that professional riders would use a flash if it restricted their horses breathing as it would reduce their competitive edge if nothing else. I have a flash and it does the job so I use it. I don't see why I should shell out money on something I don't feel my horse necessarily needs when I could spend it on something else that I feel would improve his comfort etc instead. Sure a drop nose band isn't expensive, but I come from the school of if it isn't broke don't fix it and the flash does what I need and my horse is perfectly happy and comfortable in it. Simples.