Flash Nosebands

[santas_spotty_pony]

Is the reason you don't use a drop for this just that it's easier/cheaper to have one noseband you can add or remove the strap that having a drop or s Cavesson you swap between. I ended up with the latter but that's just because I had a horse that hated a Cavesson so bought a matching Drop and now I have a bridle that has both options. Except it doesn't fit current horse anyway.

I have an attachment so I can take it off as and when needed. I’ve used a drop in the past but horse goes well in this combination so haven’t felt the need to change it again.

 

[JenJ]

Just curious - to those who are generally not in favour of the flash, are you in favour of the drop? If so, why?

Are the reasons for not using (or not using) a flash (keeping mouth closed, keeping bit stiller) not applicable to a drop?

 

[AthenesOwl]

This is so interesting. When I learned to ride at a very small riding school/trekking centre in the 1980s, the ponies all either had cavessons or drop nose bands. The owners big flashy horse, who we never got to ride, was ridden in a grackle.

I started riding again in 2021, and I don’t think I’ve seen a drop nose band since. Initially, there were a few horses at my riding school ridden without a nose band at all, but most have flashes. I’ve been told this is to stop them crossing their jaws. No cavessons, and grackles only on liveries.

I’ve been curious about why drop nosebands are no longer in favour. And also wonder how you go about choosing a noseband for your horse?

 

[sbloom]

Just curious - to those who are generally not in favour of the flash, are you in favour of the drop? If so, why?

Are the reasons for not using (or not using) a flash (keeping mouth closed, keeping bit stiller) not applicable to a drop?

IF the drop can be kept on the nasal bone then it's far better designed for the job of keeping the bit up in the mouth, or still. It still must be correctly adjusted which means not tight, and most horses will need it to be adjustable across the top as well as underneath. The issue is that on many horses it will sit on cartilage or nothing and that there are better ways to get good contact/bitting.

Flashes are poorly designed but easy to use, whether it's an upper part that's done up too loose and then the whole thing sits wrong, or the top is tight enough to have the flash strap in the right place, in which case it's almost certainly too tight.