using a flash & a curb chain? can i?

foreverhorses

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Have a 21 yo horse that gets v strong in company,would love to try to hunt him but need to experiment with different bits, he hacks in a loose ring snaffle & just add in a flash for jumping. Tried hunting 2 years ago in a tom thumb with a flash but had no brakes at all! very scary so didn't go again! i thought about trying a Waterford Pelham but he does open his mouth so can I also use a flash? or is this a big no no with a curb chain? thanks :)
 
I would try a normal Pelham with curb chain with plain cavesson noseband or just an ordinary waterford snaffle with flash if you need it. I personally wouldn't combine both or look at a cheltenham gag
 
Think it's a big no-no but I use a Pelham for hacking & use a flash or grakle with it. All seems to sit well together & my horse seems perfectly happy with this set up.
 
Noooooo! I certainly wouldn't. If your horse is so strong when hunting, perhaps hunting just isn't for your horse, have a chat around and see if you can borrow something to hunt. I know people who look for riders for their second horses for hunting or even some of the local riding schools loan hunters out for the day. Far tater than fighting with a too strong horse in a severe bit/noseband combination just so you can ride that horse hunting.
 
Lucy was always fine never had a mark on her. I've personaly never hurd of it causing problems.
I've known curbs cause damage though when they are done up to tight and any bit can cause damage if someone is extreamly heavy in the hands.
 
Lucy was always fine never had a mark on her. I've personaly never hurd of it causing problems.
I've known curbs cause damage though when they are done up to tight and any bit can cause damage if someone is extreamly heavy in the hands.

Nope, not heavy hands and curb was not on the bit, just the combination of the pressure of the bit on the corners of the mouth and the pressure of the noseband causing a pinch... It was awful. At first we did think he could just have super sensitive skin but I rode him for 7 years in snaffles and occasionally a kimblewick without an issue, just never with a drop or a flash and a kimblewick after the day I bought him... It's one of the worst combinations I can think of, but then if you've seen the damage it can cause you have a different opinion than if you haven't I suppose. Lucy must have been lucky :)
 
Our mare goes XC in a rubber Pelham and a grackle, its pretty common to use a Pelham with a grackle or flash. The a correctly fitted and adjusted curb does not sit in the same place as the noseband so there I no interference. We do have a rubber cover on the curb but that just suits our mare. She does only wear this combination XC, she is snaffle mouthed in all other phases but a willfull tank as soon as she gets in the start box!
 
It's often done .
For hunting why dont you try a big ring English gag with two riens .
You can use any noseband you like and there lots of different mouthpieces aviable on the bit.
 
I have also looked after many hunters of the years in curb and flash type Bitting it's not correct but you need to open minded about Brakes for hunters and do what works .
I have never seen the trauma that Queenbee talks about so it if that combination works for your horse OP it's not inevitable that you will end up ' nursing your horse ' after using it.
 
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