Flash noseband and horse objecting

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Gorgeous George

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George has started objecting about having his flash strap on his noseband done up, he shakes his head about and lifts it up -not good news with a 16.3! I have checked that it is all fitted ok and not too tight and his teeth are ok. Now I don't if he is doing this because he doesn't like the fact that it keeps his mouth shut and he is basically trying to evade this OR because he just finds it genuinely uncomfortable. Something is niggling at the back of my head that it can't be very nice, or am I just being soft?

Advice please!
 
I must admit I don't like the idea of them but they shouldn't be uncomfortable if fitted correctly. When my mare objected it was because it was pinching her hair where the clip had grown out.

How long have you used a flash? What about trying a drop and see how he goes in that.

Good luck, hope you get it sorted.
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I'm soft too and I think it must be annoying to have your mouth tied shut, quite tightly in some cases. So when my horse started doing the same when I tried to do the flash up, I thought he was trying to tell me something and took it off. Yep, too soft, but he goes just as well without it (or just as badly, actually...)

Is he safe without it? You could just use it for extra help when you need it ie on fast hacks, or when you know you will need extra brakes...
 
I would be interested in answers too, my pony is the same, seems to object, everything okay. Am I being soft or is he just annoyed?

I've been looking at drop nosebands which some people seem to prefer over a flash.
 
Could be that the horse doesn't like it, perhaps it really wants to open it's mouth to evade you, OR perhaps it likes to go round with moth open as a natural thing like some horses sticking their tongue out. Try just the cavesson and see what happens.
 
Mine had one for about 6 months. Always objected to having it done up and it wasn't very tight. Over time it stretched and one day my instructor said you may as well take that off. It's not doing anything. So I went back to a cavesson. But he had learned not to evade by opening his mouth.
 
Ok, try this. Put a finger either side of your mouth, about an inch behind the corners of the mouth. Put as much pressure as your flash is done up (the cavesson part), then 'chew' like you were mouthing the bit. See how it's uncomfortable and your teeth rub inside your cheek? That's how a flash feels. Now try the same but over your cheekbone - much more comfortable. That's how a high ring grackle feels. This was shown to me by an equine dentist.

Firstly, try taking the flash off altogether. If your horse is opening his mouth he's telling you he's not happy with his bit. Admittedly though, some need the extra help and in this case I'd always opt for a high ring grackle. More comfortable and don't restrict breathing.
 
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