Flash or no Flash?

Podgelover

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 January 2015
Messages
73
Visit site
Hi Everyone.

My horse is very excitable when out hacking. I have had him a few months now and focused mainly on schooling and we are now hacking a bit more.

He is ridden in a snaffle. He is a serial jogger, and tries to avoid the bit, only when out hacking. I have been recommended a flash fro this, but having researched I'm not sure I agree with "clamping" his mouth shut? Hes not dangerous, but does work himself into a bit of a state if we go for a long hack

Can anyone offer some advice?
 
What does your instructor say?

It is very hard to pass judgement on a horse's way of going without seeing.

Also a flash which 'clamps' the mouth shut is fitted incorrectly. A flash should still allow mouth movement & the jaw to soften but prevents the mouth being opened to avoid the bit.
 
A flash strap is for keeping a horse's mouth closed, nothing more. Does your horse open his mouth? If he does, then I suppose a flash will give short term cosmetic relief from this problem. However I'm not sure that tying his mouth shut will have any effect on his jogging; that would be more of a schooling issue, surely? You can of course simply try it and see if it helps with the problem, but I'd be more inclined to address the underlying issue, which is lack of obedience to the aids.
 
Thanks both, my instructor is on the yard, she recommended the flash. Her horse is ridden in a flash also. I did some googling and some of the opinions over flashs were very negative, hence being put off!
It was our first time on a new route so perhaps pure excitement kicked in! He is absolutely fine in the school no mouth opening, no jogging, so I can only assume it's excitement?
 
Some people do think flash straps are the work of the devil but even a rubber snaffle can act like a razor in a monkey's hands ;)
If you trust your instructor then let them guide you. You could try a flash & if it is no good take it back off.
 
A flash won't stop the horse jogging. My mare spent 12 yrs going everywhere in jog. She was happy if she was trotting but walk was boring

Thanks! Good to know! He's so happy in doing it, just incredibly forward if you allow him to trot he almost runs! Bless him!!
 
If you do use a flash, or grackle or any other kind of device to stop him opening his mouth and evading the bit in that way, bear in mind it should NEVER be tight. Like a martingale it is intended to come into play only when needed and be self reinforcing, releasing pressure when he gets it right. Ask your instructor for her reasoning, both for your and her horses - some people just use them because pretty much all modern bridles come complete with them.
I found with my mare who insisted on jogging, if I pushed her into a proper trot than downward transitioned to walk, she would walk for a while, and that while got longer and longer. Work on your downward transitions if you don't think he will do it without a struggle - does he mainly do it on the way home by any chance?? Mine did - out like a slug and back like a rocket! The answer to that is work when they get home, school work with turns and transitions, instead of the nice end of work and often a feed. He won't be in such a rush then :)
 
Thanks! Good to know! He's so happy in doing it, Ijust incredibly forward if you allow him to trot he almost runs! Bless him!!

It's a training issue if he's running off, which he is if he runs when he's supposed to be trotting. You need to make sure he is listening to you, understands the aids for slowing down and that you are giving the correct aids. A flash might well help you in the short term but you need to get to the bottom of his manners out hacking and why he thinks it is acceptable to run off/ jog. Often it is something we as riders are doing or not doing.
 
Um, why not train him rather than bless him?
Thanks for this. I am actually training him, I'm working with my instructor to do so. She has recommended a flash as he avoids the bit in the hope he can go faster while out hacking, I was simply asking people's option regarding the flash, not about how I talk about my horse
 
I was exactly the same as you - a couple of people suggested using a flash on my TB who opens his mouth as an evasion (when schooling as opposed to hacking as in your case though), I too was reluctant; saw it as the 'easy' option; masking the problem etc. Also mentioned it to my horse's dentist; asked him about flashes squashing the cheeks against the teeth - he said he had never seen signs of this on any horse he'd worked on (very experienced, well thought of, highly respected dentist). So I bit the bullet and got a flash attachment and strap (only cost a few quid). I don't have it tight but it does seem to be helping; instead of horse concentrating on evading and opening his mouth, he seems more settled in his mouth and agreeable to listening to what I am asking, so it might be worth a try in your case too?
 
Thanks for this. I am actually training him, I'm working with my instructor to do so. She has recommended a flash as he avoids the bit in the hope he can go faster while out hacking, I was simply asking people's option regarding the flash, not about how I talk about my horse

I'm afraid that on a forum, even if you didn't ask for advice on say, how to ride or feed your horse etc. you'll get some ;)

A flash is worth a try , it could well help short term, until he learns to respect you when he gets excited, but just make sure as others have said, that it's nice and loose.

The flash can work wonders, and then again it can make the whole problem worse. But in your case I'd give it a go :)
 
My horse is a real pain on the way home, just wants to get back. Try a flash, no harm done if it doesn't work, actually prefer a drop which is very unfashionable these days. I find with my horse that he doesn't respond to the rein but I can hold him with my seat without him getting silly and starting to chuck his head about. Any one hearing me say "shoulders back, sit on your bum" would think I was completely mad but it works for me. Perhaps a better rider would cope better than I do, but I do the best I can and if you can find something that works for you, then that's great. We are all on a journey and some folk are further down the road than others, if you ask for advice, you'll get some people who genuinely want to help and others who just want to put you down. Actually I've read lots of Cortez's posts in the past and have a lot of respect for what is said but not always for the way it's said. Cortez is right, it is a training issue. If you trust your instructor stick with her/him, if not get a new instructor. And i should add that if I feel he's dictated the pace as we get home, we go past our drive, stop, turn round, go past again stop etc until he accepts that he does as he's asked!
Thanks for this. I am actually training him, I'm working with my instructor to do so. She has recommended a flash as he avoids the bit in the hope he can go faster while out hacking, I was simply asking people's option regarding the flash, not about how I talk about my horse
 
Last edited:
I am not a lover of flashes however if the horse is opening it's mouth it may well help, give it a try .
Much worse things can be done to a horse .
 
I don't see how a flash is going to stop a horse jogging. If the horse is opening its mouth and you don't want it to, then a flash may help with that. But I would want to know why the horse is opening its mouth in the first place.
 
Top