Horse not liking drop noseband?

wellsat

wellsat

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I bought G a drop noseband, thinking that it would be more comfortable for him than a flash and he hated it. He settled eventually but was very fidgety and unhappy with his mouth. Will be going back to the flash tomorrow but was really surprised. I thought that drops were supposed to be much more comfortable?
 
Dante hates a drop, and will become very tense and just horrible tbh! He will occasionally wear a flash for dressage because he will tank off with his head up and mouth open when he has one on him, and it just gives that tiny bit extra control when he's got that in mind. He has no issue with the flash. I can only presume that because he has such a short mouth, the drop isn't comfortable for him!
 
As always, horses for courses.:) There are lots of shoes, say, that are supposed to be "more comfortable" but may not be more comfortable for me or for you.

Also, I find a lot of "off the rack" drops are extremely odd sizes, which can make them very hard to fit. They're not even standard between makes and models. I've had the most luck with the ones with adjustable nosebands but otherwise I think it can be very hit and miss.
 
Correct sizing is the key to having a drop that fits. Make sure that it is high enough to clear the sensitive part of the nostril, short enough to allow the drop strap to drop cleanly, but long enough to ensure the cheeks clear the eye.

Also the type of bit it is being used with needs to be considered - the only correct bits to use are those with cheeks such as a Fulmer, a full cheeked snaffle or a Tom Thumb. All keep the bottom strap below the bit. When used with a plain ringed bit the straps often end up lying across the bit ring compressing the bit into the side of the mouth.
 
wellsat, how have you got it fitted? i've never found a horse that didn't like one, as long as it is fitted 'just so' - i agree with the above, a lot of them are sized very weirdly, esp with the piece across the front of the nose far too long. i've found a lot of cob sized ones fit my 16.2 fs horses perfectly...
 
Check your sizing - I bought one recently, it was a cheap shires one but all I could get at the time. The headpeice on the Cob size and even the full was way too short and I ended up getting my saddler to order me in a decent quality English one.
 
I've got a xfull for mine did get a shire one didnt come close to fitting correlty. I used a friends one for a couple of week's to make sure he like it and it work. Now with this one the fitting is odd. Does anyone have a photo of a correty fitted one. I've been told mine should be much lower then it is?? It's already 4 fingers from fresher bit and two finger bottom?? The only thing I've notich with this one is that the band is much bigger then the other one. Going to see how we get on with this one.
 
My last horse hated the drop noseband.
He was ok in a cavesson, but better with a relatively loose flash (you could just squeeze 2 fingers under the flash strap), the flash just seemed to stabilize the bit in his mouth.
 
I think a drop noseband takes some getting used to. Most horses settle into it but usually with some teething problems. Maybe give it a week and see how it goes and then swap back if you have no improvement.
 
Thanks everyone. On reflection I think it may have been sitting a bit high so will have to look for one in an extra full.
 
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