Re: Flash noseband rant!!!
Fritha, you hit the nail on the head. It's the same with all sorts; they may 'stop' the vice but not necessarily solve them. If a horse is evading the bit; it tells me that either;
a) my hands are too heavy
b) I'm leaning on the bit
c) he's uncomfortable in his work
d) the tack doesn't fit
One of my friends horses evaded the bit and she was advised by her YO and instructor to put a flash on. I told her to get a bit specialist and/or her vet out, the bit was actually too thin for her horses mouth, and pinching her tongue, she was trying to get her tongue over to stop the discomfort. She changed to a slightly chunkier one, but the horse still evaded- so she put her in a Myler and although they're expensive they did solve the problem.
When I backed Shadow, I backed him in a snaffle, but the joint was a nutcracker type. He began sticking his tongue over, and at the early stage, I didn't want him to keep doing this or be in discomfort so he's not in a lozenge full cheek. I'm still saving for his Myler, but he no longer sticks his tongue over.
I've also noticed this, regarding bridles- when I bought Shad's, I could only afford or find a flash noseband. Although when I got the bridle, the first thing I did was whip off the flash and found a brilliant use for it ;), it's a loop and now I hang my bridle through it. Definitely FINALLY found a use for my flash!!
Regarding cranks- cranks can be nasty things- but I had one on Shayden ( he had an elevator bridle too!), but I made sure I never ever did it tight, and always had like three fingers to fit through it. I feel the padding on it was always an aversion and people think it's okay to keep pulling.
Our lives begin to end; the day we become silent about the things that matter.