sj/xc peeps - flash nosebands? evasion/discomfort?

NeverSayNever

NeverSayNever

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almost every picture I see of XC & SJ - the horse is rarely in a plain cavesson, most are in a flash with some in a grackle.

my horse came to me in flash (over a year ago) which i removed along wth changes in bit & dentistry work to get him comfy again. The inside of his cheeks are permenently scarred, his mouth was a mess, and he was in a single jointed bit which he hated. That is all now rectified - he goes really nicely now in an NS snaffle and also in a ported kimblewick (which i use for sj/xc) BUT - i notice in pics & vids he is opening his mouth when jumping a lot... he is very forward and i suspect he is protesting & disagreeing with me about the pace
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So - knowing as i do it isnt a comfort issue - should i be consdering a flash again? Does it really matter if he's opening his mouth...... ? Is it really likely to be evasion rather than discomfort?
 
I made similar mistakes - my mare is strong and I had instructors strap her mouth tight shut with a tight cavasson and flash, with a single jointed snaffle.

Taking it all away and using a LOOSE cavasson improved matters, adding a NS bit helped even more.

She does tend to go with her mouth slightly open but shes softer and less strong than she has ever been.

Photobucket is down for me, so I can't show you any photos of my mare now.
 
Strapping it shut could just cause you more problems.. he will be opening his mouth to get away from the port I should imagine and like you said he is arguing over the pace, doesn't necessarily mean it is hurting him rather that he is feeling it and evading it.
If your not having problems then I would resist the urge to mess tbh.
 
i would try a drop noseband, as long as it isn't too low (must be 4 fingers' width above top of nostril) then it doesn't need to be tight to be effective. i have 2 fingers' width in chinstrap and it works and they don't fight against it.
 
Ditto the drop. It discourages rather than forces. I hate flashes. They must be uncomfortable (pushing the inner cheek onto the teeth) and they aren't effective unless really tight. Much prefer a drop or high ring grackle.
 
Good for you to take of the flash strap and ride in a cavesson.

I've recently stopped two headshakers by removing their flash strap - they were obvioously objecting to the feel of the strap on the sensitive side of the nostrils.

A drop will help to keep her mouth shut but should only be used with a cheeked bit otherwise the strap moves across the bit rings and compresses the bit into the sides of the mouth.

Is she really fighting you when jumping? or is it just what you see in the picture. If not actually fighting then I suggest that you make no changes.
 
Well said.
I hate both single jointed bits and tight grackle / flash nosebands with a passion.
I think those who 'torture' their horses with them should try wearing them in their own mouths for a day
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I'm far from a 'tree hugging happy hacker' but I do think people should stop and think about how they manage their horses.
 
[ QUOTE ]
A drop will help to keep her mouth shut but should only be used with a cheeked bit otherwise the strap moves across the bit rings and compresses the bit into the sides of the mouth.

[/ QUOTE ]

You keep saying this, but it just isn't a problem I have ever had if the drop and bit are fitted correctly because as one takes up a contact the bit rings lift and the strap of the drop is nowhere near them. I'd be interested to hear what your basis for saying this is?
 
thank you all for your replies...

am now convinced that for the moment i will be sticking with the cavesson.:) Im loathe to strap his gob shut again when for 8 years of his life , before i got him, his mouth was strapped shut with a sj bit that hit the roof of his low-palleted/fleshy tongued mouth and with razor sharp teeth cutting his cheeks
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now i know he is comfy, and working well again- i was wondering about the opening of his mouth at XC in all my pics. Im pretty convinced its just him attempting to evade and dictate the pace but he isnt succeeding in that anyway.... so does it really matter if he opens his mouth if it isnt causing me any control probs? No!
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i spoke to heather at NS again as well, She basically said; if the opening of his mouth is an evasion and causing control probs, then in a horse of his age(13) it may be safer to close his mouth for his safetys sake and mine! lol - but she said a grackle is far kinder than a flash as it sits higher up and has more even pressure, and is less likely to press the cheeks against the teeth.


Im also away to trial an NS universal with teh same mouthpioce as his snaffle, instead of the kimblewick.. so we'l see how we go.
 
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