Drop Noseband

Drop nose bands can help ask for a lower head position. When a horse opens his mouth, it creates pressure points low on the nose, coupled with the pressure in the curb groove, and as soon as the horse relaxes his jaw and drops his nose the pressure ceases.

There are a lot of badly designed and badly fitted drops out there. Often they are made so the straps that fasten behind the jaw are too short, which in turm means they are adjusted too low and can interfere with the horses breathing.

The front of the nose band should rest on the facial bones, because if it lies on the soft, fleshy part it will interfere with the expansion of the nostrils as the horse breathes. When the horse is standing still you should be able to fit two fingers between the noseband and the face.
 
Its a far nicer flash - when fitted properly. Only comes into action when the horse resists the bit by opening his mouth, other wise its entirely passive with no pressure on nose/mouth at all. Can be very good for teaching horses not to open their mouths once they work out whats going on as its self releasing.
 
We love ours! I have a flash bridle and a drop bridle and she always goes nicer in the drop and is much less argumental. I think the physiology of the mouth is important as it has an affect on the pressure on the edges of the mouth.
 
I can't think of a con - apart from when fitted wrong (either too loose or too low). Some bits don't fit well, but work roundable.

Nugz was rebacked in a fulmer with keepers and a drop to stop him from learning to open his mouth or fiddling with the bit excessively. He is now ridden in a loose ring, but still with the drop.

If you don't need the cavesson part for a martingale then a drop is far more effective than a flash IMO.
 
They can be a buggar to fit actually - the one Iv got atm, second hand for £4 isnt a great fit, but difficult mare so wanted to see if it suited at all before laying out on a new one!
 
Very useful for a horse that likes something in its chin groove. My mare goes brilliaantly in a pelham, but obviously we can't use that for dressage, so I use a hanging cheek mullen mouth bit and a drop noseband,which she likes.
 
Hi all,

I'm looking to ditch my flash and had a drop on a previous horse which was really great for him.

Can anyone recommend a good brand of drop nose-band that actually comes up true to size?

Thanks!
 
Hi, I have found that my pony works very well in a grackle due to her twisting and dropping her jaw. She does this while misbehaving and the grackle stops her really well. I am aware that a grackle is not allowed in a dressage test and am wondering if a drop noseband would be a suitable replacement for this and if it isn't then what you think would be.
Thank you.
 
ruby-two-shoes said:
Hi, I have found that my pony works very well in a grackle due to her twisting and dropping her jaw. She does this while misbehaving and the grackle stops her really well. I am aware that a grackle is not allowed in a dressage test and am wondering if a drop noseband would be a suitable replacement for this and if it isn't then what you think would be.
Thank you.
Click to expand...

Hmm, unless the rules have changed the grakle noseband is allowed in dressage? The drop noseband has come full circle and I hope will once again replace the ubiquitous flash noseband. It was the most used noseband for young horses in dressage in the 70's & 80's, then the flash came in. Don't like the flash.
 
Cortez said:
Hmm, unless the rules have changed the grakle noseband is allowed in dressage? The drop noseband has come full circle and I hope will once again replace the ubiquitous flash noseband. It was the most used noseband for young horses in dressage in the 70's & 80's, then the flash came in. Don't like the flash.
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I'm pretty the grackle isn't allowed in dressage - well none that I've done anyway. I think they're allowed for eventing under BD rules - page 28 of the 2009 rules

53. Nosebands
It is obligatory to use a noseband. Either a drop, flash or cavesson noseband must be used with a snaffle
bridle. A cavesson noseband only must be used with a double bridle. Drop nosebands and flash straps
must lie in the chin groove. Grackle nosebands are permitted only for Eventing. Nosebands must not
cause discomfort.
 
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