who uses a flash and why

[Brambridge04]

As above.

before n after etc x

 

[QueenOfCadence]

I use a flash while working at home BECAUSE my horse tends to snatch at the bit and run (Quite dangerous as he often locates the closest gate and runs out of it and onto the open road). But it's never very tight (Loose enough for him to still be able to accept treats and so forth) - it's just a gentle discouragement (I don't believe in tight nose bands that force a horse's mouth closed as a relaxed horse should atleast be able to minimally open his mouth).

I'll share some pics of him in a flash:

Just a picture of him not being ridden and in a flash (Just for a special photo shoot he had to pose saddleless but with a bridle )...:

 

[Wolfie]

I use one that is quite loose. Without it he opens his mouth and tries to put his tongue over the bit, with it he doesn't even try, eventhough it is so loose it would be completely ineffective anyway.

 

[treacle_beastie]

I dont generally but I just bought a flash bridle for hacking in purely to keep her nosenet from flapping around and serving no purpose.

 

[Cop-Pop]

I used to use one on my mare as she'd get her tongue over the bit and tank off with me I've mostly taken it off now but if I can tell shes in one of her stroppy moods I pop it back on

 

[catembi]

I use one, but not very tight, to stop him getting his tongue over the bit. He can't breathe & gets in a panic if he does it.

 

[fallenangel123]

I've just had to buy my first flash noseband for the new pony, she opens her mouth and tries to bugger off when hacking. Had her teeth etc checked, so just her being cheeky. She schools fine it's just when she gets her blood up!

 

[marmalade76]

So no one uses a flash for the reason it was invented then??

 

[ClassicG&T]

(if the pony hasnt snapped the attatchment off ) i use a flash for jumping and hacking and XC as id like to be able to stop hehe.
He just opens his jaw wide open and locks it and away he goes. dont use it for schooling though

 

[brucea]

snatch at the bit and run

You need to ask why. From the pictures you ride quite quite a contact.

Terribly pretty, but the behaviour of the horse always tells you the truth, if you care to listen

Flash - think about it - you're working hard, need to swallow, feel claustrophobic (all horses are addictive claustrophobic, comes with being a prey animal)_ - look at it from the horse's point of view - does a flash nose-band seen fair?


"tongue over the bit" - get the fit of the bit checked then, or don't use a bit. Understand why the horse does it in the first place.

Sorry - I think they are very unfair.

 

[spotty_pony]

I put one on my boy when we go hunting as when he is excited he opens his mouth to evade the bit and I find that the flash gives me enough extra control without having to resort to a stronger bit.

 

[Lolo]

You need to ask why. From the pictures you ride quite quite a contact.

Terribly pretty, but the behaviour of the horse always tells you the truth, if you care to listen

Flash - think about it - you're working hard, need to swallow, feel claustrophobic (all horses are addictive claustrophobic, comes with being a prey animal)_ - look at it from the horse's point of view - does a flash nose-band seen fair?


"tongue over the bit" - get the fit of the bit checked then, or don't use a bit. Understand why the horse does it in the first place.

Sorry - I think they are very unfair.

From 2 photos, one which is face on and the other shows a reins with a reasonable 'give' in them, you've deduced this? Blimey, please don't look through my old posts- you'll conclude Reg is essentially the unluckiest horse in Norfolk...

Reg goes in a flash- he goes better in it. No idea why, he just does. Not because he leans without, he's just more relaxed with it. The eventual aim is to have him without (it's his only 'gadget') but it'll take time. Al's (hugely knowledgeable and talented) instructor advises he's ridden in his flash until he stops being a twit without it.

 

[MinnieDuke]

because drop nosebands are no longer fashionable!!!!!!! and flashs' look flasher and my chap sit there and flashes his teeth - if no flash the bit moves around and I loose his concentration or rather its an excuse for him to evade - fine line I have to hold him with my body but he can eveade through his mouth.... so flash helps me "contain" him - hope this makes sense .... I hack in a pelham because he gets too fresh and its an easier way for me to maintain him with my body without getting to hand reliant .... bit / flash helps but ultimately i have to be able to hold him together with my body not my hands and bit

 

[marmalade76]

because drop nosebands are no longer fashionable!!!!!!!

Wrong - they back in big time.

 

[Brambridge04]

I cant see why a flash is different to a drop x

 

[Tnavas]

I prefer to use a drop if I have problems with the horse opening its mouth - or a grackle if it crosses it's jaw.

I've found several confirmed headshakers stopped the moment the flash came off, the lower strap crosses over the sensitive nostrils and many horses really don't like it. The drop sits higher and drops on the outside of the nostrils.

At one time a flash wasn't a problem as the strap didn't come from the centre of the nose but from the side - see pic. Then to reduce production costs someone decided to make them using a loop.

 

[QueenOfCadence]

I'm not sure how brucea has come to the conclusion that my horse is unhappy and needs to be rescued. He goes in a french link snaffle and when I'm riding at home their is usually a bit of sag in the reins (Unless I'm doing two track work which is when he NEEDS me to take up the reins in order for me to support him in a suitable frame and for him to know EXACTLY what is expected of him). He is generally a very fat and happy horse (but very excitable - he has broken 3 of my ribs by galloping over me after throwing me over his head) and although he is a dream to work with 90% of the time - he is an absolute danger to himself and others the other 10% of the time (As he doesnt just trample me but he likes to chase dogs and other horses too). He comes from a bit of a dodgy Show Jumping background and came to me with a phobia of jumping, crops, small children, men and hose pipes (it was a horror to try and bath him). After years of work he is now much calmer and accepts most things - but he still does tend to loose his head every now and then, and there is just no way that I'm risking my life (and possibly more ribs) just to appease people who don't like flashes.

And he does go bitless. In a halter. That was specially made for HIM. (on his good days):

Lengthened canter bareback (attempted gallop on my old man):

Don't make assumptions off of two photos

 

[moodymare123]

Mine has one due to the fact he just drops his head and goes, and comes the point of putting me and him in danger, yes I have have everything checked.
And as I do XC without it he would be going at the jumps at a phenominal speed.
He might be small but he is a cheeky b*gger!

 

[noblesteed]

I used one when I first got my horse because he was very rude with his head, would do anything to evade, would spook, spin and run or charge off round the school bucking!!!! I found the flash gave me the extra control I needed rather than using harsher bits - he has a low palate and a big tongue anyway so has a gentle little french link snaffle.
As he has become better behaved over the past couple of years I no longer require the flash attachment. I would prefer him to work correctly without it, rather than slap it on for dressage as a quick fix.
I DO use it for hunting, xc and sj warm-up arenas as he gets excitable, which culminates in the inevitable take-off-bucking routine! Better to be safe than sorry! When he learns to stop doing that then the flash will go altogether.... Again it's either flash or stronger bit.

I am now looking for a nice flat cavesson for general daily riding. I got him a nice mid-range comfort bridle and just took the flash off, for daily use as we ride a lot on the beach and don't want an expensive bridle ruining with salt-water! Don't see the point in 'comfort' including a flash... doesn't that defeat the object?

 

[amandap]

At one time a flash wasn't a problem as the strap didn't come from the centre of the nose but from the side - see pic. Then to reduce production costs someone decided to make them using a loop.

Interesting, thanks I didn't know that.

Apart from anything else (potential for blocking air intake etc.) I think flashes look bloomin ugly!

 

[sbloom]

I cant see why a flash is different to a drop x

The drop holds the bit raised and steady in the mouth, and has much better angles to its straps to stop the horse opening his mouth - but it does all this on a slightly loose fitting, which is correct. The flash has to have the cavesson adjusted really very tight to stop it sagging down - the cavesson should sit level and straight and not be pulled down or at all affected by the flash strap, most pics including the pally (sorry!) aren't really correct. The flash strap also has to be tighter than a drop to have an effect - in engineering terms it is all wrong - too llong a strap anchored too far away from the part of the body it is meant to be controlling!

It was developed to give SOME drop action whilst still being able to use a standng martingale, was adopted by auction riders as it gave a quick fix for young horses and enabled them tobe hot housed and sold quickly. Then it because fashionable and the rest is history.

The Spanich Riding School, plus many classical masters, start all their young horses in the drop - it encourages correct contact with the bit, rather that trying to discourage the wrong behaviour.

 

[amandap]

This link is interesting and explains the action of various nose bands. http://www.sustainabledressage.net/tack/bridle.php#flash

 

[unbalanced]

The drop holds the bit raised and steady in the mouth, and has much better angles to its straps to stop the horse opening his mouth - but it does all this on a slightly loose fitting, which is correct. The flash has to have the cavesson adjusted really very tight to stop it sagging down - the cavesson should sit level and straight and not be pulled down or at all affected by the flash strap, most pics including the pally (sorry!) aren't really correct. The flash strap also has to be tighter than a drop to have an effect - in engineering terms it is all wrong - too llong a strap anchored too far away from the part of the body it is meant to be controlling!

It was developed to give SOME drop action whilst still being able to use a standng martingale, was adopted by auction riders as it gave a quick fix for young horses and enabled them tobe hot housed and sold quickly. Then it because fashionable and the rest is history.

The Spanich Riding School, plus many classical masters, start all their young horses in the drop - it encourages correct contact with the bit, rather that trying to discourage the wrong behaviour.

Thanks for this really interesting post. My (classical) instructor asked me to put my mare into a drop as a support for her. It must be said it took her a few weeks to persuade me as I prefer no nosebands and if any then only a very loose cavesson! I really believed that the only function of nosebands was to strap the mouth shut and give more control - it is interesting to learn about how they can actually help your horse.

 

[smiffyimp]

Brilliant post. I use a flash and have no idea why! There's honesty for you! He can open his mouth when being arsey but never pees off. I never have it tight so what's the point. I get a lecture off instructor if I take it off. Dressage dudes they all use them. However one horse on yard is now in a drop and goes much better. My boy events and can get strong but a flash won't stop him, he's only in a French link snaffle for gawds sake I can soon up the bit power if it becomes a problem.

Decision made, I'm going to 'lose' it first thing!