Tack Fashion?

wellsat

wellsat

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Why do so few people use drop nosebands? Lil wasn't happy in her mouth with a flash so after recommendations on here I swapped her into a drop last night. The difference was huge. She was much softer into the contact and really mouthed the bit well.

I know that what works for one horse doesn't work for another but why do so few people use drops these days? Seems a real shame. Even if your horse's head doesn't look as 'pretty' as it does with a flash surely what matters is its way of going?
 
they were quite hard to get for a while when it seemed all you could buy was a bridle with a flash (i dont like flashes), now they seem to be having a resurgence, but ive always liked drop nosebands.
im not that fashionable though :D
 
Tried a drop on my old pony as he wasn't happy in a flash and he went really well in it... so glad I tried it :)
Current pony goes fine in a plain noseband so why fix what isn't broken? :)
 
Haven't a clue I would far prefer to use one to a flash and they are dressage legal too. I think most of the time they look fine too.

I think the appeal of flashes is the "interchangeability" they are sort of buy one get one free.

A drop is much kinder though.
 
As woffled on about earlier :D

Drops used to be used a fair bit, then showjumpers started using the flash... Fashion of course dictated that all horses suddenly needed a flash! I was so surprised when I got back into horses, I thought they can't all need strapping shut and a standing martingale surely?! Some horses will go well in a flash, so horses for courses I think, but it would be good to see a move away from almost every bridle being sold with a flash strap!

As to the fitting of a flash, don't get me started! *mutters into hot choccy and looks for something to keep hands occupied*
 
Always used to ride pony in a drop (30 odd years ago) along with leather plaited reins (ugh) and string girth. So long as drop is correctly fitted I don't have a problem with it at all. (Delves into old tack tin - it should be in there somewhere)
 
i use a drop ;)
or a plain boring hunter bridle - god i'm boring!
oh and i love my plaited reins :o (3 strand though not 5)
oh - and i never bother with a martingale - i'm not actually overly keen on the action of a running tbh.... so i'm obviosly totally last season lol!
 
posie_honey said:
i use a drop ;)
or a plain boring hunter bridle - god i'm boring!
oh and i love my plaited reins :o (3 strand though not 5)
oh - and i never bother with a martingale - i'm not actually overly keen on the action of a running tbh.... so i'm obviosly totally last season lol!
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Oooh! That's just made me think! Thank you :D I can take Dizz's off now, it wasn't doing much good, but did probably stop the odd batt on the nose :D
 
absolute diva said:
Lol, OH was giving me warnings about giving my mobile number to people I've only met on the internet! Think it unlikely that you'd want to kidnap me!:D:eek:
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Funnily enough so did my hubby!

Anyhow I loved the drop i had on my old mare. I used it with a simple snaffle & running martingale when we evented, or a french link. She never needed anything moer. As she got older & i got better i was able to get rid of it & use cavesson. But it was great for stopping her munching on cow parsely on hacks :D

I would use one over a flash any day.
 
I have been wondering this recently too. I have gone through loads of trials and finally found my horses perfect bitting, and I now think my noseband arrangement could be improved! I currently use a Caveson with a flash to keep his gob shut, but I don’t like the way the flash strap goes across the nostrils – and I do have my caveson high enough. I've recently bought a nice dressage bridle with a crank noseband. I don't have it done up too tight, but it just seems so bulky and can't be comfortable for the horse, even though it is padded. I've noticed he tends to try to rub his face on his legs quite a bit.

I had a look in my local tack shop the other day for a drop noseband, to try and see if my boy would prefer that, and couldn't find one. I know I’ll be able to get one online, but I've been a bit disappointed with a few recent online orders when they haven’t been the size or quality I was hoping for. I might just go and have another look.
 
pippipony said:
Oh i am a fan of laced reins, i find the five strand plaited a bit thick & I lothe rubber reins, again to chunkie for my poorly hand.
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oh me too! I currently ride in an old pair of leather lace reins that must be getting on for 25 years old. They are so supple and give good grip and they're not bulky, and I love them. I hate those chunky rubber reins with a passion, and I also hate new, stiff leather.
 
Can your local tack shop order you one? Mine didn't have any but I thought it was asking and they were happy to order one for me. More expensive than ebay but they were happy to exchange it if it was the wrong size and the quality is better than I would have expected from ebay.
 
Another fan of laced reins here too, haven't ridden with a pair for ages apart from on a double bridle. But I'm goingto treat myself when we eventually find a horse.

I think rubber ones are a handful and can rub your fingers and destroy your gloves, and I really hate those fabric ones with the leather stops - uuurrrrgggghhhh!
 
At my RS all the liveries seem to either ride with dutch gags with rein, or use a flash or grackle nose band, along with a martingale. Most of it I'm pretty sure is pointless!! Can't understand why people decide to use unnecessary tack.. My friend one switched her extremely sensitive mouthed welshie from a copper mouthed snaffle to a pelham with 2 reins, purely to accessorise. It was no shock when she got thrown off and I convinced her to move back to the snaffle :D xx
 
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