Dovorian
Well-Known Member
Well, I went to an excellent BHS training day yesterday but came away with a bit of a confusion, please can anyone explain the difference between the two - no clues as I think that may sway opinions!
Grackle or Mexican????
- Thread starter Dovorian
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AdorableAlice
Well-Known Member
At great risk of ridicule - in my view they are both horrible fashion statements that are stuck on far too many horses heads. There is nothing nicer than a handsome, honest head with a generous eye looking through a cavesson noseband and plain bridle. I am old and know nothing, just my opinion.
tinap
Well-Known Member
A grackle doesn't have the metal rings that a Mexican has & sits lower on the face than the Mexican does xx
Kat
Well-Known Member
A Mexican High Ring Grackle is the one that has the metal rings that attach the top part of the cross over noseband to the part of the noseband that goes over the head.
A Figure of Eight Noseband or Traditional Grackle is the one where there are no rings and the nose part is a full figure of eight made from two continuous strips of leather.
A mexican/high ring is easier to fit, stays in place better and is more likely to releave pressure on the cheeks/teeth as it sits higher.
Mexican/High Ring
Figure of Eight Grackle
A Figure of Eight Noseband or Traditional Grackle is the one where there are no rings and the nose part is a full figure of eight made from two continuous strips of leather.
A mexican/high ring is easier to fit, stays in place better and is more likely to releave pressure on the cheeks/teeth as it sits higher.
Mexican/High Ring
Figure of Eight Grackle
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Elsbells
Well-Known Member
Traditional grackle sits lower. I use the Mexican (with rings) which you put up as high as possible. It is used primarily to stop the horse crossing its jaw and avoiding the contact and leaning but IMO, it avoids pressure on the sensitive parts of the horses face, smiliarly to the micklem bridle. I think a lot of horses cross their jaws/shake/fuss/gape, because they are uncomfortable in a traditional cavesson.
My mare loves her grackle and hates a cavesson.
My mare loves her grackle and hates a cavesson.
AdorableAlice
Well-Known Member
Surely the only way a cavesson can be uncomfortable is if it is done up too tightly ?
poiuytrewq
Well-Known Member
Have to agree, There is nothing at all to be uncomfortable. It should in theory be the same as no noseband at all if its fitted correctly its totally unrestrictive.
Personally I think Grackles of either sort are ugly and unattractive what ever the reason for use.
AdorableAlice
Well-Known Member
It is fashion. It is virtually impossible to buy a plain, flat leather cavesson snaffle bridle. I bought a few ropes in the local MSF recently and the bridles were all flash or grackle. All were single stitched, cheap and tacky and looking at them made me realise I need to cherish my old doubles and snaffle bespoke hunter bridles because finding a saddler to make replica's could be tricky.
I cringe when I look at adverts for 4 year olds, they are all equipped with martingales and grackles - why ? This will start a heated debate, but if a horse crosses the jaw or runs about with a gaping mouth, why not investigate the cause, maybe teeth or maybe a ham fisted rider, instead of putting a cranked tight array of straps around it's face.
I have used a flash noseband, a big bit and a standing martingale on a very big and strong horse of very mature years out hunting and I am all for safety. However, it now seems the normal uniform for every horse to be in some sort of cross noseband and a martingale regardless of what it is or what it's job is.
muffinino
Well-Known Member
Which is fine if you don't need control out hunting/on the beach/x-country/whatever
My horse hunts in a snaffle and is great most of the time, however occasionally, usually at a crucial moment, I need a bit more control. The grackle stops him crossing his jaw, sticking his tongue out and hurting himself. This is his trick when he doesn't want to listen and it helps keep him safe. A different bit wouldn't make a difference as he has a soft mouth, he's just too clever and figured out this trick. I would post a pic of him in it but can't at the moment.I use a Mexican grackle btw, I prefer it as it sits high on the head off the nostrils. Much better than a flash, I hate them!
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tinap
Well-Known Member
I don't think the title was who hates/loves/uses a Mexican/grackle though, Merely what's the difference!! Op didn't even say they used one/wanted to try one or anything!!!
Elsbells
Well-Known Member
Yes you'd think so wouldn't you, but the fact it's there is enough for my mare to object to it. I'm sure she would be happier in a Micklem as it sits below the cheek bones and nerves, avoiding the sensitive side of the face. I took a lot of convincing before I would believe it, but the proof is in the pudding. In the Mexican, she's happy and in the cavesson she's not and it's obvious. Yes I've tried her without a Noseband at all that was just a mess. She used to do a wonderfull giraffe impression and so I put a sheepskin on a cavesson and that got her head lower without force, so I do do less, not more. The crackle is my only vice.
She was a showjumper at quite a high level in her youth and wether that has anything to do with it I don't know. She did have a lorry load of issues.