whats the point of a crank noseband?

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looking to buy a decent but affordable bridle and i like the look of the chunky german comfort types, but they all seem to have flash nosebands, not a problem i thought as i will just take that part off, but they have crank nosebands too? What is the point of strapping a horses mouth shut?
 
I hate crank nosebands - too easily overtightened by mistake. Obviously there are reasons for wanting a flash (mine is simply to keep my horse's nose net from flying up over his face) but there's no reason why you can't use the crank as a normal noseband - just do it up loosely, remove the flash strap, and it will act the same as a normal cavesson.
 
Same as 3TBS, cranks are only horrid if tightened, if used loosely they provide padding at the back of the jaw AND the buckle is on top of the pad so doesnt pinch the horses jaw.

So I prefer them, but only if they are not done up tightly, like a lot of horsey things the equipment is kind (only) in the hands of someone kind and thoughtful.
 
I like the padding on the back. I like the thick noseband on my big horses. I find them much easier to do up. I think you'd have to be a real idiot not to know you were doing it up too tight - just put a finger under it on the nosebone if you aren't sure.

I think it may be the word "crank" that makes people hate them most, it sounds so "hard". I sometimes wonder if so many people would use Dutch gags if they didn't call theirs a "bubble bit".
 
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I agree, I just bought a caldene double bridle, it has a crank, I don't tighten it much and it is soft padded and OK. I find it fiddly to do up, but it is far softer than anything lse I have ever had- They are used to really hold a horses mouth firmly closed, but there is no reason you have to pull them tight. I don't- you can get quite a few fingers in mine!!!
 
I just leave mine loose too! In fact so loose the other day I managed to forget to undo it a bridle still came off when I pulled it over his head - oops!
 
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