Has anyone else had problems fitting a grackle bridle?

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MissGem

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I have just bought a lovely used Otto Schumacher rolled leather grackle bridle, only to find that the noseband is too tight on my ISH (the strap around the mouth), who has a wide head and jaw ... if I make the bottom strap longer, it moves the centre of the grackle too low on his nose. Any suggestions? Has anyone else had problems getting grackles to fit properly? Consequently this lovely bridle will have to be sold and I will have to find another that fits him properly! Grrr......
 
Is it a Mexican grackle? I've had similar issues and had to return a noseband because of it. Personally I prefer the other type (not sure what you call it "non-Mexican"?) where you can slide the top strap too (doesn't have the rings) - I've had problems with the rings being in totally the wrong place and unable to get the straps sorted. But trying to find this "old fashioned" type of noseband is getting extremely difficult).

Sorry doesn't answer your question. Would be interested to hear if anybody had solutions though! Hope you don't have to return the bridle.
 
MCTM said:
Is it a Mexican grackle? I've had similar issues and had to return a noseband because of it. Personally I prefer the other type (not sure what you call it "non-Mexican"?) where you can slide the top strap too (doesn't have the rings) - I've had problems with the rings being in totally the wrong place and unable to get the straps sorted. But trying to find this "old fashioned" type of noseband is getting extremely difficult).

Sorry doesn't answer your question. Would be interested to hear if anybody had solutions though! Hope you don't have to return the bridle.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately won't be able to return the bridle as bought privately, so the sizing and fit was a risk I took because it is such a nice bridle. Yes, it is a Mexican grackle and I saw pictures of it on the horse of the previous owner and it fitted him well. I do have an "old fashioned" type of grackle noseband for my other horse and agree that these are rare to find these days - again, unfortunately it is much too small for the ISH as it is a cob size!
 
If you can't find a solution I'm sure you'll be able to sell it with no problem (just a bit of a pain). I saw a post recently about the two types and virtually everybody preferred the Mexican version - I think it's just me that's old fashioned :( You can get the other type (Jeffries make them) but may need to order online as I haven't seen any in my local tack shops for a while.
 
I am having the same problem, I have just recently bought a lovely shires grackle bridle in cob, but can't get the bottom strap done up. My friend is going to lend me a full to try before buying one as I think a full will be to long, but I could be suprised as was shocked the cob didn't fit & I am gutted as it's a beautiful bridle :(
 
I do. I need full brow band, throat lash etc and cob cheek pieces and grackle. I have to mix and match! It's a pain. Some full grackles come up huge.
 
I bought a really nice normal grackle noseband in a countrywide store, in brown and I think full, for the grand price of 5 pounds a couple of weeks ago so you could try them:)
 
I had loads of problems finding one that fitted nicely. I spent a fortune on a nice equipe one that rubbed her, a sabre one that slipped and finally found an amerigo one that fits beautifully and doesn't slip or rub! (it has
Leather protecting her face from the rings!)
 
Yes I have had same problem with Mexican Grackle - I tried Sabre to start with and Cob was too small and Full was too big! Have ended up with a Keiffer but had to punch extra holes in it to make it fit.

You can get the normal (non ring) grackle from Townfields - they do thier own english leather ones for around £30 I think - worth a try.
 
I don't like the mexican grackles, can't see the point in them anyway. Surely they are pretty much like a flash if the top doesn't adjust/ tighten as the horse tries to lock its jaw or open it's mouth. I have one of the old style ones and had to really look about to find one and it is great.
 
Thanks for all your suggestions. If anyone is interested in a lovely Otto Schumacher rolled leather grackle bridle, please PM me!
 
jj_87 said:
I had loads of problems finding one that fitted nicely. I spent a fortune on a nice equipe one that rubbed her, a sabre one that slipped and finally found an amerigo one that fits beautifully and doesn't slip or rub! (it has
Leather protecting her face from the rings!)
Click to expand...

It's interesting that you say that as the Amerigo was the first one I considered, but then read lots of comments on here and on an American forum that said how big the nosebands came up! I wonder if your mare is the same shape as my boy?!
 
I had lots of problems, my tiny faced 14h pony is in a cob sized one. She's still wearing the head collar she was bought as a weanling!!!!
 
I also have problems with one of my lot, he needs full cheek pieces, head piece and browband, and a cob noseband. (so problem the other way) - my solution was Sabre, you can buy different size headpiece to noseband etc so essentially a make your own bridle which means everything fits great and matches so no more odds and ends off various bridles! :).
 
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