grackle nosebands... opinions

L

laura_1983

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 January 2008
Messages
515
Location
dundee, scotland
Visit site
as it says really! my pony hates a flash, no use in one at all, he's ridden in a drop and for the most part controllable but im not riding him due to pregnancy and sharer is worried about brakes! im not keen on grackles on ponies but its been suggested because i wont change his bit, im totally happy with the way he goes in it and i know he's happy with it!

he's just a bolshy bu**er and i think he's taking the mick!
 
Just be careful! I remember when I first tried a grackle on my mare she managed to bolt round the arena with me.
crazy.gif
She is very sensitive and hates feeling restrained (if you hold her too long she will go up).

I introduced the grackle slowly, starting with it very loose as I really needed the extra control for th XC phase and i am now able to use it how it is meant to be used. (I do however use the mexican grackle which spreads the pressure over a wider area)

Good luck!
smile.gif
 
I used a grackle on one of my ponies when I was a kid and found it excellant. He was extremely headstrong and tough to hold, but the grackle made a world of difference. I used grackles over the years when producing also and have always found they helped, only one horse I had objected, but he pretty much objected to control in general! I ended up riding him in a spanish bridle!

Good Luck!
 
i was thinking on the starting with it loose, especially with him being funny with a flash, how loose did you manage to have it without it sitting wrong, if that makes sense?

i dont personally think he needs it (though i havent ridden him for 2 months) but if i could put it on in a way that he excepts it then it should calm my sharer down a bit, she's had a couple of frights with him and its nerves now thats the problem! so if she thinks its extra brakes it should sort her out!
 
I would say to make sure it is higher rather than lower, so the main part sits in the same area as your previous noseband.

How about a happy mouth 3 ring gag as long as the sharer has kind hands? That way the bit will only come into play when needed? The grackle stops them crossing their jaw, but is well worth a try. Just bear in mind that sometimes they are seen as fashionable and thats why people push for them to be on their horses!!
 
tbh i dont know if my sharer has ever ridden a horse in one, its someone on yard who mentioned it, she doesnt use one either, no one on our yard does except for xc brakes! iv never ridden in one either!

its me not knowing what the little pest is actually doing when he runs away thats the problem, he could well be crossing his jaw, not that he's ever done that with me, he's just so cheeky and i think he knows now that he's given the rider a scare! i feel so helpless at the moment and dont like making decisions when iv nothing to base them on!
 
when he runs, if his head goes down,try a gag...if it goes up a pelham. my mare goes v well in a pelham as it works her poll not her sensitive mouth. id try the noseband too,always worth a go! good luck!
 
You can get grackles that have elasticated parts instead of being leather completely. My old boy hated the complete leather ones but goes really nicely in the elasticated version
 
I use a grackle all the time on P. He has one on both his snaffle bridle and the 3-ring. It really seems to suit him and stops him crossing his jaw. That being said I dont have it "on" all the time only when I feel he needs it....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top