friend wants to use grackle ''because it will look nice''

lincolnlady

lincolnlady

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 December 2011
Messages
357
Visit site
riding with my friend the other day and we was talking about bridles n she said shes going to buy her cob a grackle because she thinks it will look nice tried explaining the use of a grackle but she was still insistant on buying one :confused: what would you do? i know its her horse n totally up to her but her horse is an absolute star and is ridden in a snaffle and not strong in anyway nor does she cross her jaw/play with bit etc
 
You have expressed your concerns, nothing else you can do. Her horse, her decision sadly.
On another note you left out lots of letters in your post!! :rolleyes:
 
As long as she puts it on loosely so what. Lots of people use all manner of tack etc purely for cosmetic reasons, for example how many people use martingales, flashes, 5 point breastplates etc. when they don't actually need them. Leave well alone and let her enjoy her horse.
 
As long as it is correctly fitted, it shouldn't make much difference if the horse doesn't cross its jaw. It won't do anything differently from a cavesson unless the horse does something to make it act... It's not like a bit which is dependent upon both the horse and the rider- the noseband really only depends upon the horse's actions unless it's one of those combination nosebands.
 
Lots of people use flashes because they come with many bridles these days

I guess as long as these things aren't done up too tightly they can't actually do any harm

Will backfire on them though as they have made it look like the horse has a problem when in fact it doesn't! - like the fashion a while ago for gag bits
 
The amount of people I know that do this. Let her get on with it. Or go bridle shopping with her and find a pretty bling bridle and see if it sways her :-)
 
I wouldn't say breast plates are cosmetic reasons at all. I never jump without one, and definitely wouldn't go cross country without one. Its safety in my mind, its a bit like saying that you only wear a riding hat for cosmetic reasons. 5 point breastplates do provide additional security imo.

As for nosebands, I got told off for schooling a horse in no noseband by an instructor the other day :D This is before I even started the session so she didn't know how the horse went. It doesn't need one, and its just something extra to clean. I would put cavesson on the horse for shows for cosmetic reasons as you do get some odd looks. We have nearly 50 horses in work where I work, and I like to make sure every bridle is cleaned after use so only about 10 horses have nosebands, only 3 go in a flash, 1 in a drop and 1 in grackle!
 
I agree with lincolnlady. But what can you do? That's riders for you. But I get REALLY angry when its draw reins. To me the epitome of a good rider on a good horse is the absolute minimum of anything - bit less for preference. I guess only about 5% of us do that?
 
dominobrown said:
I wouldn't say breast plates are cosmetic reasons at all. I never jump without one, and definitely wouldn't go cross country without one. Its safety in my mind, its a bit like saying that you only wear a riding hat for cosmetic reasons. 5 point breastplates do provide additional security imo.

As for nosebands, I got told off for schooling a horse in no noseband by an instructor the other day :D This is before I even started the session so she didn't know how the horse went. It doesn't need one, and its just something extra to clean. I would put cavesson on the horse for shows for cosmetic reasons as you do get some odd looks. We have nearly 50 horses in work where I work, and I like to make sure every bridle is cleaned after use so only about 10 horses have nosebands, only 3 go in a flash, 1 in a drop and 1 in grackle!
Click to expand...

They are a fashion trend!

30 years ago you would rarely ever see a horse wearing one unless their saddle didn't fit. Though with the amount of numnahs and saddle blankets people put under their saddles it's not surprising they need the breastplate.

I still don't own a numnah and have never used one except to improve the fit of a saddle - horse lost a little weight.

I don't own a breast plate either. I've never had a problem - I've been asked if I'd like to tighten my girth but always say no thanks saddle hasn't moved and the horse needs to be able to breathe.
 
I've done this previously. Horse was lovely...from the head back! Very common head with a bit of a roman nose and slightly wonky stripe - standard hunter nosebands or normal raised ones made his head look even more common. With a mexican grackle on, completely changed his head to look at. He didn't cross his jaw, so never got in the way as fitted correctly so really made no difference to his comfort or way of going, but looked aesthetically more pleasing to the eye as just split his big head up a bit more, bless him. He was a gem.
 
moneypit1 said:
As long as she puts it on loosely so what. Lots of people use all manner of tack etc purely for cosmetic reasons, for example how many people use martingales, flashes, 5 point breastplates etc. when they don't actually need them. Leave well alone and let her enjoy her horse.
Click to expand...

I agree, sorry but I don't really see why it's any of your business what type of noseband your friend uses and why. You might choose a flat browband rather than a raised one because it looks nicer on your horse, you might choose a brown bridle rather than a black bridle because it looks nicer on your horse, you might choose to use a grackle rather than a cavesson because it looks nicer on your horse. What's the problem. I don't get cross about the tack people choose to use on THEIR horse but what I do get cross about is the people who think it's got anything to do with them!
 
Ha, I did exactly the same when I was a teenager. It made no ounce of difference to my pony at the time and in reality I didn't need it. There's no real harm unless it ridiculously tight. As fir breastplates, I have never worn one of these on any of my horses in all the years I have been riding and competing at SJing and XC. I do think they're a wee bit of a trend more than a necessity in many cases. Sorry!
 
Endurance people use breastplates so they can have the girth done up a bit looser than you would normally so that it is more comfortable for the horse over such long distances. But still keeps saddle in place.
 
Personally a correctly fitting grackle is much better than a flash. I did the exact same when I was little, I used to jump and gallop in a headcollar bareback yet for some reason I liked a grackle and a martingale when I had tack on (obviously to make us look more like proper show jumpers!) Never bothered pony but he was a saint so wouldn't have kicked up a fuss anyway. Luckily I've learnt that excess tack= more to clean :)
 
WelshD said:
Will backfire on them though as they have made it look like the horse has a problem when in fact it doesn't! - like the fashion a while ago for gag bits
Click to expand...

True,found a horse which looked nice schooling in a cavesson but other pictures showed it in a grakle, didn't bother to follow up as lots of nice horses around.
 
Even though its not needed, provided its done up loosely I don't think it would cause an issue?
However if she came to sell him it may portray a problem, where there isn't one! :)x
 
PapaFrita said:
Really? Blimey. Just as well I'm not selling my horses :p
Click to expand...

Guessing they must have a mega budget :D

People are snaffle/ cavesson fixated. It's completely mental IMO. Reg is in that combo and I find it highly amusing that this shows a greater level of schooling than a horse in a stronger bit... :D

It's odd I'm blase about this, as all our horses have gone in a plain snaffle and simple cavesson noseband (although Reg now has a flash). It's not something to boast about- Al simply has horses who are soft-mouthed. The mare who jumped in a waterford and grackle was the one who was the best schooled and most useful on the flat...
 
Tnavas said:
They are a fashion trend!

30 years ago you would rarely ever see a horse wearing one unless their saddle didn't fit. Though with the amount of numnahs and saddle blankets people put under their saddles it's not surprising they need the breastplate.

I still don't own a numnah and have never used one except to improve the fit of a saddle - horse lost a little weight.

I don't own a breast plate either. I've never had a problem - I've been asked if I'd like to tighten my girth but always say no thanks saddle hasn't moved and the horse needs to be able to breathe.
Click to expand...

I think if you are going to go cross country then a breastplate should be compulsory. When done up correctly it should not interfere with the horse's movement, and if the saddle slips back then it becomes vital. In any event it is not uncommon for the saddle to slip back when going cross country, so why would you put yourself and your horse at risk by not using one? Like somebody else said, it means you don't have to girth so tightly, which must be a good thing. People who complain about legitimate and harmless gadgets such as a breastplate simply for the reason that "we never used to use them" are narrow minded. It is a totally different question as to whether a horse who only does pleasure rides or dressage needs a breastplate, because there is far less need for one in that situation.
 
oldie48 said:
True,found a horse which looked nice schooling in a cavesson but other pictures showed it in a grakle, didn't bother to follow up as lots of nice horses around.
Click to expand...

Hilarious. Not sure I'd want to sell my horse to someone who'd discount him due to a grackle!

OP - it really makes no odds if they are fitted loosely, it won't interfere with the horse anyway.

Mine wears a grackle, fitted very loosely for schooling, and a bit more snugly for hacking or jumping - it just gives me slightly more brakes when I need them and I am far too lazy to keep switching nosebands over something so insignificant.
 
Lolo said:
Guessing they must have a mega budget :D

People are snaffle/ cavesson fixated. It's completely mental IMO. Reg is in that combo and I find it highly amusing that this shows a greater level of schooling than a horse in a stronger bit... :D

It's odd I'm blase about this, as all our horses have gone in a plain snaffle and simple cavesson noseband (although Reg now has a flash). It's not something to boast about- Al simply has horses who are soft-mouthed. The mare who jumped in a waterford and grackle was the one who was the best schooled and most useful on the flat...
Click to expand...

I adore grackles; done up moderately loosely there's no pressure on the horse's molars (got to be good for the horse) and they 'hold' the bit up nicely in the mouth (important for LC, who is a baby) as well as allowing the the horse to relax its jaw into the contact. Don't like flashes at all; the cavesson part has to be done up v tight for the flash not to pull it down. I like drops as well, but they won't fit nicely over the happy mouth straight bar both my wooden-mouthed horses wear *rolleyes* Cavessons are fine, but again the grackle is a more 'complete' noseband.
Personally I'd rather have a horse that is responsive in a 'harsh' noseband/bit combo than one that has to be hauled around in a snaffle.
Sorry for rambling. Didn't mean to go on and on.
 
I use an English grackle on my horse mostly as it makes her overly large head look slightly more attractive in the eventing dressage arena. It is loosely fitted and I actually prefer them to flashes in their action
 
My mare looked hideous in a grackle - I was greatly dissappointed and purchased my gelding in part because he looks fab in one.
 
Have to say this really bugs me. Why use certain tack when you don't need it? Totally stupid IMO. This is why our sport isn't taken seriously enough, because we put stuff on our horses "just coz it looks nice", good grief.
 
sorry didnt mean to offend id just always been told a grackle was for a horse that crosses its jaw or for strong horses so just thought maybe she was going down the wrong route if that makes sense.

at least now i know a little more thank you for the helpful comments but some posters are so rude!! so thank you to the nicer ones who gave good advice :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top