Grackle V Flash- whats the difference?

McNally

McNally

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My daughters pony is ridden in a flash (because he opens his mouth then he is disagreeing with time to stop, not because its cool!)
At the minute tho he has developed a hard lump where the flash joins the noseband so its not comfy and rubs slightly.
A grackle would sit higher up and not get in the way but what is the different "action or reason" behind the two? I've never used a grackle and have no knowledge of them at all!
 
I would be tempted to try a drop noseband rather than a grackle.

Drops were the original nosebands for horses than needed more than a cavesson and flashes were invented to have a similar action, just having the higher strap to add a standing martingale.
And flashes now seem to come on every bloomin' bridle you buy! :(
 
The grakle puts pressure on the horses nose where the straps cross and helps to stop the horse from crossing his jaws, the bottom strap keeping his mouth closed. There is a few different types of grakle, the common figure of eight, which sits more or less in the same position as a flash noseband and the mexican grakle which sits higher up the the face.
 
Ah Ok never even considered a drop!

Now for a really stoooopid question! are you ready .................


Could i, Instead of going to buy a new drop nb as i dont have one use a cavesson but fix it under the bit as a drop would instead of higher up?
I know i'd probably have to use a bigger size but have loads and maybe punch extra holes to allow the the extra adjustment? Possible or idiotic!?
 
You could lift the cavesson part higher on his nose so the flash part has already spread by the time it gets to the sore area or use a drop instead.

The difference between a drop and cavesson is the set up of the front noseband and the strap. See below
NOSEBANDDropNosebandring.jpg


One thing you may have a problem with though is that a drop should really only be used with a cheeked bit as the cheeks prevent the lower strap riding up over the sides of the bit and compressing the sides of the mouth.
 
Ahh, yes ok. My daughter has gone away with my parents for a week so actually i may just remove the noseband all together for this period and ride him myself- being a bit stronger it wont be such a problem for me!
 
If you don't want to use a drop, or if you already have a grackle then no reason why you shouldn't try it. They are designed to stop the horse crossing its jaw, whereas a drop is designed to stop the horse opening its mouth, but you may find it works. Some horses find them quite comfy, especially the high ring mexican style ones.

A drop can be used with a bit without cheeks but they stay in place better with cheeks. Worth trying with your normal bit in the school to see how you get on, plenty of dressage riders use them without a cheeked bit.

Oh and although you shouldn't use a cavesson as a drop, it can be done in an emergency, better than getting tanked off with! ;) One of those emergency things like turning a running martingale into a standing.

You could also try a crank noseband if you wanted to, they also stop the horse from opening its mouth too wide.
 
Surely if you use a grackle and the horse only opens mouth then it will just act like a flash? Might be wrong?! But I can't see that it acts any differently but would just prevent the horse crossing it's jaw if it did? Please correct me if I'm wrong :confused:
 
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