Flash v Drop noseband - comments please

[HoHum]

I'm old..... and when I was at pony club it was usually a cavasson, and occasionally a drop noseband... last few horses have had "normal" cavassons, the newest one was ridden in a flash and without it tends to open his mouth and hang his tongue out..would a drop do the job of the flash?

 

[VioletStripe]

i think so, but i heard that drop nosebands tend to be 'kinder' than flash nose bands

x

 

[Sol]

Yup, I think so.

Though am I the only person in the world whose horse hates drops? Everyone else seems to love them though so worth a try??

 

[Grey_Showjumper]

my horse opens his mouth awfully, strapping it down with a flash made it worse, but a drop nose band really helps, not so restricting because its not clamping their mouths shut, but does stop them from opening it...
my horse really likes the drop nosebands and would reccomend them!

 

[HoHum]

all positive, thank you....so on a more general level, why have they dropped ( pun intended ) out of fashion...??

 

[skewby]

I was told that it was some discipline or other, not sure which, wanting to use both a standing martingale, and a drop noseband. Hence the b*stard that is...the flash!

 

[kerilli]

drops are kinder as long as correctly fitted, 4 finger's width above top of nostril, they should never be fitted tight, at least 1 finger's width in chin groove bit.
they sit best with a full-cheek or fulmer snaffle, they're a bit of a pain with a loose ring or eggbutt (both of which are trendier now) so people tend to do them tight to stop the sides sliding up the bit rings (which doesn't happen with full cheeks obv) and most horses don't relish them being done up tight...!

 

[Gorgeous George]

George much prefers his drop, he will go round with his mouth open given half the chance, and with a flash he seems less responsive, but with the drop seems happy. I also prefer it as it doesn't strap his mouth tightly shut which must be more comfortable.

 

[Donkeymad]

Flash became popular because drops cannot be used with Martingales.(Not sure if it's just the one type of martingale or all)
I would recommend a nicely fitted drop over a flash anyday.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

A drop fitted correctly is said to be more comfortable than a flash and quite a lot of horses go better in one than in a flash. But surely the best thing to do is to find out why the horse is opening its mouth when it has a bit in, (you don't see horses walking round the field with their mouths open), and find abit that the horse finds comfortable. IMO many bits are too thick for horses mouths, especially those which are supposed to be 'mild'. Sorry a bit of a bee in my bonnet about this.