What Are Your Opinions On Flash Nosebands?

AprilBlue

AprilBlue

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flash nosebands are used to close the horses mouth because the horse is trying to avoid contact with the bit right? well i think that flash nosebands are harsh because the horse might open its mouth because of pain and people then put a flash on and clamp their mouth shut which causes even more pain?! if you really need to use a flash, can't you just use a bitless brdle instead? yes i know that bitless bridles can cause as much pain as ones with a bit in the wrong hands but i'm talking about people using it in the right hands.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a-aV0Rsxmg
look especially at parts 1:22 - 2:30 and 6:18 - 7:18

what are your opinions on flashes?
 
A lot of what you say could also apply to drop and grackle nosebands too - although they all act slightly differently.

Different set ups work for different horses/riders - as long as horse is happy it shouldn't matter.

My mare came with a flash, and is quite strong (not got the softest mouth) but she is happy and confident. That said, I have now tried her without the flash and her jaw is instantly more relaxed. I am still at the stage of finding what bit and noseband combo she will be happiest in - would hope to get her into just a cavesson for flatwork with correct schooling. She does open her mouth without the flash but am hoping correct bit and more schooling will sort this. Would I try a bitless bridle? Yes - would be interesting to see how she goes!
 
I wish people would take the time and trouble to find a bit that the horse is comfortable with - there are hundreds to choose from - instead of fastening the horse's mouth shut with any kind of noseband. And as for RIs who recommend putting a flash etc on a horse - words fail me! They should be helping riders to find out what the problem is, not going for a quick fix.
 
AprilBlue said:
flash nosebands are used to close the horses mouth because the horse is trying to avoid contact with the bit right? well i think that flash nosebands are harsh because the horse might open its mouth because of pain and people then put a flash on and clamp their mouth shut which causes even more pain?! if you really need to use a flash, can't you just use a bitless brdle instead? yes i know that bitless bridles can cause as much pain as ones with a bit in the wrong hands but i'm talking about people using it in the right hands.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a-aV0Rsxmg
look especially at parts 1:22 - 2:30 and 6:18 - 7:18

what are your opinions on flashes?
Click to expand...

Flashes are probably the most used and most mis-used because they are fitted to nearly every bridle nowadays. If you need to a noseband to do that job you need to look at your riding and the horse's education and pick a more effective solution.

Glad to know you apparently have no objection to crank nose bands though which are also fitted to so many bridles now.
 
If a rumour I heard from a big saddlery manufacturer is correct, the crank will be a thing of the past soon under BD rules.

Buying a plain snaffle bridle is almost impossible now. Everything seems to have flash nosebands, padded/raised noseband and or browbands or god forbid, sparkly bits.
 
Used because it looks good is mad, likewise with most gadgets (as hic has pointed out re nosebands too....) however using with a reason in the right way and in the right hands I have no objection to as with any gadgets. Personally I wouldn't like to just stick one on without a real reason why... so I don't.
 
Why do we have nosebands on bridles at all? Surely it is only for looks anyway? If a flash is no fitted tightly then why can't somewhere wear one because they like the look of it? No different to somewhere wearing a cavesson noseband.

Take them all off! :)

For the record, I ride my horse in a cavesson bridle that has a detachable flash which I only out on for jumping and xc. Why? Well, because little horsie decides he would rather like to run and lean on my and when jumping and in order to do this he is opening his mouth and evading (or trying to) as he thinks he knows best. It's all very well saying you should be educating and schooling your horse to prevent this but, in reality, having control of an excited horse when galloping round XC you sometimes need a little bit more help than schooling alone can give.

Mine does not appear to be in any sort of pain or discomfort - I can't reallt aks himot scarify this but, the fact he still does the job and can still eat with the bridle on would suggest he is ok!
 
I don't like them. Even if there is no pain or training issue, & its simply a horse that gets over excited xc or similar & opens its mouth to tank off, a drop is better. To use a flash, the cavesson part has to be fitted tightly, or the flash will pull it down where it joins & put the pressure in one place. So a flash restricts the horse all the time, regardless of how loose you think you fit it. At least with a drop it only comes into use when the horse opens its jaw wide, & it can open its mouth to a normal degree. Ime if you put a flash on most horses they'll object to the restriction just because its there. But many see their horse trying to fight a flash as evidence the horse needs it. And as already said, people should be looking for the actual cause, not just physically preventing the symptoms. It's one thing using a drop or even a grackle for exciting activities such as jumping or hunting when training has been ruled out & its purely excitement, & another entirely to use a grackle on a horse unhappy with the contact for whatever reason. And I hate the way they come as standard on so many bridles.
 
The thing that struck me about the video was that the man doing the work stated that he had sore fingers after riding a strong horse, what a shame that he and plenty of others, haven't been taught to use their seat to ride with, rather than their hands. Agree with the angel-little-legs, much prefer a drop.
 
sports horse has a flash rather than grackle as he opens his mouth.... dentist says he crosses jaw and needs a grackle but we try not to use one with him unless he is hunting .... cob has cavesson noseband no flash.....
if the tack fits properly can't see the problem.
Always start with least ie caveson and snaffle and work from there ....
 
How do you not fit a flash tightly? The cavesson still has to be pulled tight, & even if you then leave the flash strap loose-ish its still restrictive. And the actual flash can't be left too loose or it would fall from the chin groove.
 
I think they are nothing more than a fashion accessory and do neither one job or the other. A drop noseband is able to be fitted properly and so is a cavesson but something that's between the two will never be able to be fitted so it is as comfortable as either of the others for the horse.
I'd cut the lot off.
 
Mine came with one and I couldnt work out what it did exactly or why he had one it looked the part? As was pointed out to me people like gadgets so I took it off and someone bought me a nice old fashioned plain noseband etc. Horses never use to have these kind of things and dont know why they do now. In fact I think the flash was quite restrictive and unkind.
 
Surely it's down to what suits the individual horse?

I used to be quite anti flashes but the new horse goes well in one (have tried every other type, including plain cavesson). I know enough to know whether my horse is happy or not. There is nothing cruel about it, I'm not using it because it looks nice or just because it came with the bridle. I'm using it because it serves a purpose, and eventually I'm hoping I will be able to go back to a plain cavesson. But for now, the horse needs a flash and works well in one.
 
But that's my point springy, the cavesson part still needs to be pulled tight or the flash, even with two fingers width under, just pulls the front of the cavesson part down where it attaches.
 
In a way, you are right, if your horse suddenly begins putting his/her head up, the you must assume he/she is In pain, if the horse isn't in pain, then a flash nose and is fine, my old horse was a nightmare for gaping and then bolting off, so we put a flash on her, she was like a different pony! Like all pieces of tack, when uses carefully and politely and never in a way of punishment, the flash is fine. :)
 
I thought flash nosebands had been done quite recently.

Just to reiterate then, they are the work of the devil. Only used by unsympathetic, heavy handed numpties who shouldn't be within a mile of a horse.
 
I personally can't stand them to be honest. I'd rather go back to basics and school my horses to be relaxed and responsive in a snaffle and cavesson noseband. I can honestly say that this method has worked in all of the ex-racers and natives I have reschooled, backed and trained. It's no 'quick fix' though, which I think is sadly what some people see a flash/drop/grakle to be.
 
I think they are used incorrectly.
I was always taught a flash is there, not to stop the horse opening his mouth, but to prevent a horse from opening his mouth too far - which is a difference; but is often seen clamping the mouth shut.

Agree with what others have already said - prefer a drop to a flash.
 
I never understand the hysteria about flashes- they have a useful place in my riding kit.

I don't advocate people having them tightened up willy nilly for everything.

I'd echo the poster above. A lot of fantastic riders in the olympics had them, so they obviously believe they are needed in some situations.

I have a x country horse who is perfect going solo round a course, but turns into a tank if he is doing pairs etc. I'd much rather put a flash on him in that situation and get us both safely round the course. It's not a schooling thing, he is perfect when schooling, but in the heat of competing with another horse his reason just goes out the window. I have no qualms in using a flash in that situation and then it happily goes back in the tack box the rest of the time.
 
Springy said:
that's a sweeping statement ...... what about the people in the Olympic team who used then.....
Click to expand...

Interestingly, outside competition were the rules make nosebands complusory, some of our most revered international riders do not use a flash because they do not use a noseband to attach one to.
There is a school of thought that recognises light hands and training enables the horse to relax its jaw and soften better without a 'mouthshutter', a German term.
 
They have their place when used correctly, like most other things but it does irritate me to death the it's so hard to find a nice bridle that doesn't have a flash or has cheek pieces that do up on the outside (another pet hate of mine, silly I know).

Nosebands in general irritate a couple of my horses so when schooling/hacking we tend to go commando!!!
 
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