Nosebands and uses???

[My_chestnut_mare]

Please help

Im looking for a new bridle. I use a flash nose band just now.

But i really like the Mexican grackle ones(bridles) the john Whitaker.

But i obviously not sure about the nose bands and dont want to get something that i just dont need to get.

she is in a stronger bit for jumping but was considering the jw Mexican bridle for jumping so i can keep the french link fulmer snaffle. Is this a stupid idea???

If anybody has any info on different nose bands and bits to use it would be apreschated.

thank you

 

[Elle1085]

grackle nose bands are designed to stop a horse crossing its jaw, if your horse doesn't cross its jaw then you don't need a grackle. it wont be an alternative to a stronger bit. if you did get it you wouldn't be the only one riding round with a grackle they don't need so if you really like it get it just don't expect too much from it

 

[My_chestnut_mare]

Hmmmmm i dont want to be one of those.

If she doesnt need it then i wont.

 

[suzysparkle]

I would actually say a grackle (a high one) is kinder than a flash. It's sits over the cheekbone rather than over the fleshy part of the face. This stops squashing the inner cheek onto the teeth. A flash was originally designed so that a drop could be used with a standing martingale. I much prefer either a drop (if you can find one) or a high ring / mexican grackle. I use a cavesson most of the time, and a grackle for XC and jumping. It gives me more control without using a stronger bit and my Horse prefers this combination.

 

[Eriskayowner]

I tried lots of bits on Jazzy (he has "no brakes") before I tried the combination of a hanging cheek MB02 myler and a high ring grakle noseband. When I had him in the cavesson noseband I could feel that he was opening his mouth. I didn't want to go for the flash so went for the grakle and he is amazing in it.
I managed to get him to work correctly "on the bit" in walk and trot on the hack this morning, and when I took him on his first ever fun ride about a month ago and, although I committed the cardinal sin of a curb bit and a dropped noseband (pelham and a grakle), I had complete control and mostly rode him on the top rein of the pelham.
It's a good noseband to try - it'll either work or it won't. See if you can borrow one from somebody for a couple of weeks, and if it doesn't work you won't have wasted any money.

 

[My_chestnut_mare]

hmmmm dont think i know of anybody with one.

Is there any wrong bits that you shouldnt use with a high grackle?

 

[Eriskayowner]

Apparently curb bits (kimblewicks and pelhams) shouldn't be used with dropped nosebands (drops, flashes and grakles) because the strap interferes with the action of the curb chain, but Jazz seemed fine on the ride with the pelham and grakle.
I wasn't going to take him without them both - a snaffle would have been strong and a cavesson he would have opened his mouth - both would have killed me!
What about a local tack shop with a second hand dept? It wouldn't have to be a really expensive one to begin with - a fiver or so is better than £30 or more on a nice new noseband?

 

[My_chestnut_mare]

to be honest with you there is a bad shortage of good decent tack shops up in Scotland north and none of them do second hand stuff its shocking.

 

[Eriskayowner]

Ahhhh yes - I seem to remember that - I went to Stirling Uni for 4 years! Hmmmm cheap one from eBay?!

 

[martlin]

How about this bargain?
http://www.shiresequestrian.co.uk/shop/product.php?productid=519&cat=541&page=2
It comes with grackle and flash

so you can swap whenever.
I'm not one for economy bridlework, but actually have one of these and it is surprisingly nice

soft and pretty and seems decent quality for the money.

 

[beanie_boo]

i have a grackle on my mare because she crosses her jaw really badly but if u do get 1, try and get one without the rings becasue i see so many people who fit them incorrectly and they end up rubbing the jaw bone.they really work though!