Drop Nosebands

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vicm2509

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I have noticed a lot of Dressage people have started using drop nosebands again.

Are they better than a Flash? I use a flash on Baron as he opens his mouth quite a bit. I was thinking of trying a drop, my instructor swears by them.

Opinions please.
 
yes, they're much better. my instructor (German, absolute stickler!) won't let me use anything else. because of the angle, they don't need to be tight to be very effective - in fact, they shouldn't be tight, because the horse needs room to flex the jaw, swallow etc. ideally fitted with a fulmer or full-cheek snaffle, because the sides keep the drop part in exactly the right place... with an eggbutt or loose-ring, the drop part can slide up the sides.
the full-cheek single-joint snaffle + drop noseband combo is what they use on all the Spanish Riding School of Vienna stallions before going on to doubles...
i'm so pleased that they're coming back in fashion - so much nicer for the horses than those revolting cranked nosebands etc.
 
I can't think why they ever went out of fashion. I use them a lot, much prefer them to flashes (which have to be so tight to be of any use). However, people often get the fitting of drops wrong - they mustn't be too low - and like Kerilli says, the full cheek or Fulmer is good at keeping them in the right place.
 
yes, i agree with Rowreach about the fitting. my trainer says they should be 4 fingers' width above the top of the nostril, and allow 2 fingers in the chinstrap part. i see pics in h&h of top riders' horses with drop nosebands far too low, which can compromise the horse's breathing...
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Have never used a flash and have no intention to. Have used a drop for a short time, great noseband.
 
Hate the idea of flash nosebands, and the way they must be tight to be effective/stay up. Take it back to the old school!! My boy is settled and happy in a drop. Have the other horse I ride at the mo i a high ring grackle but just waiting to put her in the spare drop. Never crank them tight, they are a well thought out and designed piece of equipment.
 
I do think that people shouldn't just use flashes as standard. Drops work well, however, just like some horses hate flash nosebands, some hate drop nosebands. Everyone should just use what's appropriate for they're own horse, not go by fashion.
 
I was told to use a flash on Beau - BAD IDEA! Just meant lots of pawing and stamping and snorting and he was so upset that you didn't achieve anything! I am considering a drop as he has taken to mouthing a LOT and tonight he started sticking his tounge out a lot as well and was generally trying to snatch at the bit.
 
Law, it's actually a little bit high, believe it or not! 4 fingers' width (i.e. the flat of your hand across the fingers) above the top of the nostril, is where the bottom of the noseband should be. if you put it down a hole and it would be perfect. although a little bit too high is much better than too low, obv! in the second pic, it looks a bit tight in the chin groove, but it's hard to tell from a pic.
 
As kerilli says, about 3/4 fingers above the nostril (depending on the size of the horses head) is perfect! Another way to measure is it should sit comfortably just under the bit, and shouldnt push it up in the mouth

I have found in the past that people who do up a flash strap tightly to keep the mouth shut get resistance in the jaw and this can result in the tongue hanging out or crossing the jaw/tilting the head.

I have found that a hanging cheek and a drop is a good combination for correcting these bad habits.

I have seen a lot more choice recently in drop nosebands, for example the one I use is padded AND has a buckle either side of the nose to enable it to be fitted perfectly and ensure it sits centrally.

I think the popularity of the crank noseband is more because of the way it looks on the horse. It can enhance a horses features etc, whereas the drop can sometimes make a horses head look long...

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I have found in the past that people who do up a flash strap tightly to keep the mouth shut get resistance in the jaw and this can result in the tongue hanging out or crossing the jaw/tilting the head.



[/ QUOTE ]

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Baron can tilt his head and get a little tense in the gaw. I shall be trying the drop as soon as I can.
 
Just a question really , I ride my horse in a loose ring french snaffle and a flash which i do admoi to tightening rather tightly to keep his mouth closed- which I don't like doing.

Would a drop noseband with this type of bit work ok ?, if so I will try him with one.

your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
 
my girlie hated a cavesson or flash, now she schools in no noseband and wears a flash for faster work/shows... seems to work a treat and she is a million times better in the drop than in a flash... don't like flashes or cranks at all, how is a horse supposed to be relaxed in the hand with its jaw clamped tightly shut?
 
Daisy_Duck, you should try to borrow one first really, cos they're silly-expensive imho. i don't find them great with loose rings, because they can slide up the sides of it (so have to be a bit tighter), that's why i use them with fulmer or full cheeks, but i love those anyway because they can't pinch and are so nice and stable in the mouth, so i have really accurate communication.
i'd cadge one off someone and have a go. most horses go better in them, and like being able to swallow and move their jaw.
 
I have my gelding in one and have done for the last few years. My mare is still in a cavason with a flash and that seems to suit at the moment. The moment it doesn't then I shall rethink
 
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