What sort of grackle is this?

[stangs]

As per title. Never seen one like it - is this supposed to be a more elastic option than using leather?

 

[DabDab]

Never seen one either, but doesn't look comfortable to me...

 

[sbloom]

The abomination grackle.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

It's made of rubber and usually only has one twist in the front. That one was obviously too big so they double twisted it. They are commonly used in racing. They are very flexible and forgiving compared to how tight a lot of people do up normal grackles and flashes.

Eta - single twist

 

[DabDab]

I'm only seeing one twist in the picture from the OP Elf...am I being dim?

But one twist or two I can't imagine that there's much slip action to be had there. And no matter how soft and elastic that rubber is (and from the way it is sitting it doesn't actually look that soft) I can't imagine that it is pleasant having a resistance band strapped around your airway

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

I'm only seeing one twist in the picture from the OP Elf...am I being dim?

But one twist or two I can't imagine that there's much slip action to be had there. And no matter how soft and elastic that rubber is (and from the way it is sitting it doesn't actually look that soft) I can't imagine that it is pleasant having a resistance band strapped around your airway

The rubber is a full circular piece, there are no buckles or anything so you put your bridle on with part of the loop under the cheek at the back, take the front piece and cross it over itself just once into a figure of 8, stretch the second rubber loop and put it down under the mouth to behind the chin under the bit. This is the normal way of doing as per my picture.

The one in the OP's picture has had the rubber loop crossed over, twisted round on itself and then looped down under the mouth. Which will make it slightly tighter.

I would far rather have these than the horrifically tight grackles and flashes you see so often in dressage and eventing. These have a lot of give in them. Leather does not and can be done up as tight as the human hand can make it.

 

[stangs]

It's made of rubber and usually only has one twist in the front. That one was obviously too big so they double twisted it. They are commonly used in racing. They are very flexible and forgiving compared to how tight a lot of people do up normal grackles and flashes.

Eta - single twist

Thanks Elf.

On my phone so a bit blind - in your photo, is it attached to the cheekpiece or does it have its own headpiece? I've had a google of NH horses, but mostly seeing the leather grackle: is there a behavioural/medical reason that a horse might have this type of grackle rather than leather, or this just trainer preference? Does the twist ever rub their nose? Does it have a name?

(Apologises for the mini interrogation! I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge.)

 

[Peglo]

It looks like it must have a really uncomfortable pressure point where the knots cross over.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Thanks Elf.

On my phone so a bit blind - in your photo, is it attached to the cheekpiece or does it have its own headpiece? I've had a google of NH horses, but mostly seeing the leather grackle: is there a behavioural/medical reason that a horse might have this type of grackle rather than leather, or this just trainer preference? Does the twist ever rub their nose? Does it have a name?

(Apologises for the mini interrogation! I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge.)

It is a separate piece of kit so has its own headpiece that can slide all round it.

Some horses don't like the leather ones and prefer having a bit more freedom if movement in their jaws. These just stop them from opening their mouth wide enough to be able to swallow their tongue. If you need a grackle for control you use a leather one. They are more common on flat horses than national hunt horses and are just called Rubber Figure 8 Nosebands. They can rub if the horse seriously fights with their mouth and spends as much time as possible with their gobs open arguing but any piece of kit leather or rubber would rub a horse doing that. Other wise no, they generally aren't on long enough to rub. They are taken off as soon as the horse comes in off the track so there's no chance of a sweaty head getting rubbed.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

It looks like it must have a really uncomfortable pressure point where the knots cross over.

Possibly but with the way they are built and what they are designed for they aren't on the horse for a prolonged period of time and as I said above, unless the horse seriously fought with its mouth it shouldn't be more than just a slight annoyance. You couldn't put a piece of fluff under it, well you could but you couldn't attach one to it, you would have to put it on after and not lose it when you take it off again.

 

[DabDab]

The rubber is a full circular piece, there are no buckles or anything so you put your bridle on with part of the loop under the cheek at the back, take the front piece and cross it over itself just once into a figure of 8, stretch the second rubber loop and put it down under the mouth to behind the chin under the bit. This is the normal way of doing as per my picture.

The one in the OP's picture has had the rubber loop crossed over, twisted round on itself and then looped down under the mouth. Which will make it slightly tighter.

I would far rather have these than the horrifically tight grackles and flashes you see so often in dressage and eventing. These have a lot of give in them. Leather does not and can be done up as tight as the human hand can make it.

Ah right I see, so correct is no twists. That is at least slightly better.

Not sure I buy the mechanical explanation tbh. I have more than a passing knowledge in the properties and mechanical behaviour of rubber and personally wouldn't dream of putting a rubber strap around my horse's nose. The fact that people abuse other types of noseband is not really particularly relevant to my mind. No leather doesn't give like rubber but it also doesn't increase in return force the more it's stretched in the same way as rubber does

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Ah right I see, so correct is no twists. That is at least slightly better.

Not sure I buy the mechanical explanation tbh. I have more than a passing knowledge in the properties and mechanical behaviour of rubber and personally wouldn't dream of putting a rubber strap around my horse's nose. The fact that people abuse other types of noseband is not really particularly relevant to my mind. No leather doesn't give like rubber but it also doesn't increase in return force the more it's stretched in the same way as rubber does

True though the rubber certainly doesn't dim Rory's enjoyment of grabbing hold of the white railings round the paddock with his teeth and giving them a good shake scaring the other runners that's if he's not bucking his way round

 

[poiuytrewq]

My old boss was obsessed with these nosebands.
I really disliked them. Think of the nasty bit of pressure under the twist. I don’t see why you’d not just use a grackle. Same thing as far as I can see but without the uneven nastiness.
Also the stretching on and off is pretty horrid (imo)

 

[poiuytrewq]

It looks like it must have a really uncomfortable pressure point where the knots cross over.

You beat me to it!
Some horses long term I swear I could feel the point the cross was on their heads

 

[ihatework]

If I wanted an elastic grackle (which def has its place) there are nicer designs out there eg Kate negus

 

[[153312]]

I'm not sure any tack part can be justified on the grounds of the horse won't have it on for long.
I can't see any way the rolled loops over the bone of the nose aren't uncomfortable

As an aside, I hadn't heard of kate negus before but oh my gosh some of that tack is absolutely stunning

 

[DabDab]

If I wanted an elastic grackle (which def has its place) there are nicer designs out there eg Kate negus

Elasticated fabric is so different to a rubber band as per the OP Mechanical properties-wise though that this is like comparing apples to a lump of cheese

 

[sbloom]

Elasticated fabric designed to lie flat against the horse's head will have no pressure points, round profile elastic rubber not so much.

 

[Jenko109]

As an aside, I hadn't heard of kate negus before but oh my gosh some of that tack is absolutely stunning

Dreamy isnt it. I used to have a Kate Negus hoodie. That's about as close as I can get to affording Kate Negus products