Talk to me about drop nosebands

[xRobyn]

Please

Without writing an essay I'd like to do dressage with my gelding but he is currently unhappy in his lozenge loose ring snaffle. I have wondered if it is too chunky for his mouth and not quite big enough. He is currently ridden in a french link 3 ring gag on the snaffle rein, this bit is 1/2" bigger and not as chunky. In the snaffle he leans terribly, bares down on the reins despite transitions etc but in comparison, in the gag he is much lighter and seems much happier. I have ordered a 6" french link loose ring which is thinner than his old one to see if this helps however he can be a little strong. He has been in a snaffle until recently (aged 10) and has been schooled plenty recently so although I know most believe in schooling I think you can only persevere so much!

So I was wondering if this new snaffle works better but he is still a little strong, whether a drop nose band might be of any use? He does occasionally open his mouth and has been ridden in a flash but tbh I don't like the idea of them. He is currently in a cavesson. Other people have suggested a french link hanging cheek but I was concerned the reduced ring mobility may encourage him to lean more.

Any advice would be much appreciated. Our schooling sessions consist of plenty of transitions and leg yielding and as I say, there is a stark difference in the gag even though it's on the snaffle ring.

Thanks in advance

 

[Natch]

Isnt a hanging cheek snaffle dressage lsgal? I think so but am not sure. If it is it would make more sense to me for you to try a french link one of those instead, as that will be closer in action to your gag on snaffle setting.

Personally I would keep the noseband as a cavesson.

 

[Lippyx]

The gag on the snaffle ring is pretty much a hanging cheek snaffle, but without the loose ring. The mare I ride was put in a gag and I hated it, so I use to ride on the snaffle then a hanging cheek but now she is in one of those loose ring egg butts and is perfect.
With regards to the nose bands, why don't you like the flash. If its because it clamps the mouth shut, well this is all the drop nose band does, as well as putting more pressure on the nose and if they aren't fitted correctly they can cause a lot of damage in the wrong hands. Again my mare use to be in a flash, but I heard some where that if you remove the flash, and lower the cavesson by a hole or two it does a very similar job, without clamping the jaw tight. I do this and for the first time when I was schooling her, her lower jaw was so relaxed I could hear her teeth "chattering" as we trotted. She much prefers it.

Sometimes going for less is sometimes better. Try the loose ring with a lower cavasson. Good luck.

 

[xRobyn]

I had considered a hanging cheek however due to his tendency to lean I was worried that the fixed cheek may not help?

 

[Lippyx]

Naturally - yes the hanging cheek is dressage legal.

 

[Lippyx]

But remember the hanging cheek has a slight pole action so this may help with the leaning. I would give it a go. Sometimes what we think will happen, often doesn't! You could be pleasantly surprised!

 

[Megibo]

hmm..my opinion of drop nosebands. the best way i can explain is-
strong mare ridden in a flash and 3 ring gag (1st or 2nd hole depending on activity). when putting on a drop...french link snaffle and drop noseband for all activites and mare much lighter in the mouth.

 

[Lippyx]

That just proves my "sometimes less is more" theory. Thanks Tazhazzamoose!

 

[mystiandsunny]

My lot transition seamlessly from gag on main ring to same mouthpiece hanging cheek. Needs to be the right size for the mouth though or they're uncomfortable and will show that in the contact.

Drop noseband keeps their mouth shut - stops them avoiding the bit and is said to stabilise it in some cases. I personally refuse to strap shut the mouth of anything I ride (and have been known to SJ without a noseband at all - and win!) - if it's opening there's a comfort/schooling problem - but that's just me and my opinion. Don't let it stop you!

 

[xRobyn]

I think because I've never needed to mess I don't know where to begin, I may be able to borrow a hanging cheek to try, I did think it was similar but a friend told me she tried the same with her horse and due to the lack of loose ring he leant terribly. Phil curls up in the snaffle but my first step is to see if the thickness makes a difference and go from there.

As for flashes I'm not entirely sure what it is about them He was ridden in one previously when on loan, I'm not sure how he was with that.

I think I need to start at the bottom and work my way up, eliminating what doesn't work! I will try a hanging cheek though if this loose ring shows no difference to his current one. If he is still heavy but not as bad then I will school and see if that helps.

Thank you Tazhazzamoose, sounds great. I'm currently riding on the gag on the snaffle rein with no noseband whatsoever because he got bitten on the nose!

Thank you too M&S, I felt the same way about flash nose bands strapping the mouth shut but I was curious as to how different the drop could be.

 

[Tnavas]

AS she goes well in the Dutch Gag on the snaffle rein then the Hanging Cheek (Baucher) will be ideal for her. Contrary to popular belief there is NO poll pressure with a hanging cheek - you need a curb chain to provide a fulcrum point and the rein attached lower than the mouthpiece to provide leverage.

The drop noseband would be a good idea to keep her from opening her mouth too wide. It is not designed to keep her mouth shut - sounds wierd but it should be done up so that she can relax her jaw - you need to fit 2 fingers between the chin strap and the chin. The front strap shouold be high enoough to be on the bone structure of the nose and not on the cartilage. Usuallty above the top of the false nostril.

 

[Megibo]

That just proves my "sometimes less is more" theory. Thanks Tazhazzamoose!

welcome made for a much happier ponio

 

[Tnavas]

With regards to the nose bands, why don't you like the flash. If its because it clamps the mouth shut, well this is all the drop nose band does, as well as putting more pressure on the nose and if they aren't fitted correctly they can cause a lot of damage in the wrong hands.

The drop is not done up so tight as to clamp the mouth shut! It should be done up with 2 fingers between the jaw and the strap so that the horse can relax its jaw. Height wise it should be fitted above the top of the false nostril. It is an excellent noseband!

Many horses don't like the flash because the flash strap lies against the nostrils. With the drop the strap comes from further around and so avoids the nostril.

Be aware that if you have the Cavesson low there is a possibility that you may pinch the skin in the corners of the mouth between the bit and noseband.

 

[Megibo]

Thank you Tazhazzamoose, sounds great. I'm currently riding on the gag on the snaffle rein with no noseband whatsoever because he got bitten on the nose!

Thank you too M&S, I felt the same way about flash nose bands strapping the mouth shut but I was curious as to how different the drop could be.

bless him definitely think a drop helps, we were suggested a drop as my mare would, alongside being strong, open her mouth and cross her jaw and stick her nose on her chest and bugger off. the drop fixed all of these problems
i've ridden her in the 3 ring gag with the drop only once, and that was for a hound ride. i only just had control so glad i didn't go out in the snaffle!

 

[monkeybum13]

AS she goes well in the Dutch Gag on the snaffle rein then the Hanging Cheek (Baucher) will be ideal for her. Contrary to popular belief there is NO poll pressure with a hanging cheek - you need a curb chain to provide a fulcrum point and the rein attached lower than the mouthpiece to provide leverage.

The drop noseband would be a good idea to keep her from opening her mouth too wide. It is not designed to keep her mouth shut - sounds wierd but it should be done up so that she can relax her jaw - you need to fit 2 fingers between the chin strap and the chin. The front strap shouold be high enoough to be on the bone structure of the nose and not on the cartilage. Usuallty above the top of the false nostril.

Agree with what Evelyn said with an emphasis on the way a drop noseband should be fitted, they should NOT be tight and unfortunately I see them often fitted far too tightly which can impact on the horse's breathing.

 

[kezimac]

The gag on the snaffle ring is pretty much a hanging cheek snaffle, but without the loose ring. The mare I ride was put in a gag and I hated it, so I use to ride on the snaffle then a hanging cheek but now she is in one of those loose ring egg butts and is perfect.
With regards to the nose bands, why don't you like the flash. If its because it clamps the mouth shut, well this is all the drop nose band does, as well as putting more pressure on the nose and if they aren't fitted correctly they can cause a lot of damage in the wrong hands. Again my mare use to be in a flash, but I heard some where that if you remove the flash, and lower the cavesson by a hole or two it does a very similar job, without clamping the jaw tight. I do this and for the first time when I was schooling her, her lower jaw was so relaxed I could hear her teeth "chattering" as we trotted. She much prefers it.

Sometimes going for less is sometimes better. Try the loose ring with a lower cavasson. Good luck.

drop nosebands dont clamp mouth shut if fitted properly they only come into action when horse opens mouth. the front of noseband should be 4 fingers from nostril and the bottom piece under the bit and done up so can get a finger in at the chin groove. The horse opens mouth - it comes into action unlike the flash which clamps mouth shut - the mouth should actually be able to chew the bit and so requires some movement otherwise the mouth will be dry and dead to hand.

 

[SavingGrace]

Holly leans on a loose ring but shes fantastic in the hanging cheek french like Robyn! She is alot softer with any fixed cheek bit that she is with loose rings!

 

[teamsarazara]

I swear by my drop noseband! My horse hates having a flash on, think she feels to restricted! Totally agree with less is more!

 

[*hic*]

Try this: Fit the cheek pieces directly to the "snaffle" ring of the gag she goes well in, then fit the reins to the snaffle ring also. If that works go out and buy the right size loose ring snaffle with the same mouthpiece as the gag has. Job done.

 

[xRobyn]

Thank you JT, I did wonder that. I've already bought a loose ring, just waiting for it to arrive but I also have the chance to try him in a hanging cheek tomorrow as a friend is bringing one down for me to try