Is a flash necessary any more?

[noblesteed]

My horse is 12 this year. After nearly 3 years he now works happily in an outline for me, and does so quite naturally now even when hacking out. We mainly hack out and do prelim dressage and jumping. People say he makes a nice shape although he can snatch at his bit sometimes. He can be strong but I have learned to turn him to stop so not a problem. He is ridden in a loose ring french link snaffle.
When I first bought him he was very unschooled and my instructor tightened his noseband and his flash as tight as they could possibly go, like to the point where his nose was quivering. She said he was crossing his jaw in resistance so he needed to have his mouth strapped shut. I immediately undid it a hole as it looked too tight and that is how I have ridden him, also because I needed control as he was very spooky, fizzy and would buck, but that's water under the bridge and he is a good boy now. He is still difficult to bridle - he protests violently to his flash being tightened and pokes his tongue, then wacks his head into things. I have his teeth done regularly so this is not the issue.
I bought him a comfort bridle recently and took the flash off. Tbh he is fine without it. He seems much happier in it with less snatching didn't protest at wearing it. At his age, I would expect a horse to know that he is expected to work in an outline. So shall I just ditch the flash completely? He obviously doesn't like it. I suppose I can use it for schooling if he needs a reminder. It's just that all the dressage riders I know have their horse in a flash all the time, but is it really necessary?

Pointless post really, think I have answered my own question!!! I think my horse has been trying to tell me something for quite some time now!

 

[celia]

Sounds like you already know your horse is happier without it! I think too many people are too quick to use a flash now. The attitude often seems to be that if a horse opens his mouth it needs strapping shut - rather than trying to find the cause of the resistance and work on that.

 

[vikkiandmonica]

I agree with the above; I was told to put a flash on my horse, I did, and he soon started protesting about being bridled, just like your's has. He's now had the flash taken off and only have a loose cavesson on, and he is very settled into a contact and doesn't open his mouth, however I am still left with a horse that is fussy when being bridled.

 

[alwaysbroke]

Sounds like you already know your horse is happier without it!

Totally agree with this. I have never been a fan of flash nose bands, if you dont think you need it try without, you can always pop it back on as a r reminder if you d to.

Have become a convert to drop nose bands on some of ours after reading abut them on here.

 

[MrsMozart]

Yup, whip it off hun

If he was to return to crossing his jaw, I'd put a Mexican grackle on. If he returned to just opening his mouth, I'm with Alwaysbroke with the drop noseband

 

[noblesteed]

Thanks guys I think I just needed someone to tell me I am doing the right thing! It can't be nice having your mouth strapped shut, and it's pointless having a flash if it's too loose to work anyway.

I think it must be a fashion thing, because all new bridles seem to have flashes on them. It is a real shame that fashion seems to take precedence over considerate riding. I remember a few years back everyone was riding in grackles.

 

[Sue C]

Yes you are right, less is more. They tell you if they are unconfortable for a reason

 

[pillion]

lol!! nah!! why not pop a grackle on? only kidding, but it does tend to be a trend, I hate it not being able to buy a bridle without a grackle or flash noseband!!

I use a drop when hacking and nowt when schooling (sometimes pop it back on when a bit of a silly head when schooling)

 

[Jennyharvey]

I think your right in that your horse was telling you something. Glad to hear you have taken off the flash. In my view, the only time a horse will need a flash, grackle or drop to keep the mouth closed is when the horse is unhappy in his mouth. A comfortable horse wont open his mouth or cross his jaw, so if a horse needs his mouth tied shut, then i reckon there is a problem with the bit.
Unfortunately a lot of people still see a horse as being awkward or resistant when he opens his mouth, instead of being caused by dicomfort. If the real cause of the problem was removed, there would be no need for these types of noseband.

 

[diggerbez]

if he doesn't need it take it off- you can always put it back on if you decide that he does need it. my horse just has a normal cavesson as he doesn't need anything else. its possible that if he keeps getting stronger XC that i might need an upgrade in the future but for the minute he's fine