Grakle vs Flash

[jenren!!]

Which do you prefer? Cant say im a fan of those flashes, taken it off my horse as cant stand the sight of it clenched tightly round her mouth. Like grakles though, these look more comfortable - what do you think? Are grakles kinder in any way and how do they differ from flashes?

Also, can anyone recommend any good bits for a headstrong horse when jumping? Well, i say headstrong, but she's just very enthusiastic really. I point her to the jump, she breaks into canter, and kind of 'tows' me to it, jumps it, then takes off afterwards. Gets very strong and it's quite hard to pull her back after jumps. She's only ridden in a snaffle at the moment. I was thinking a Dutch gag as at least they have a snaffle part when you want to change between schooling, hacking and jumping. She sets her neck against me a little, and i just think i need that extra bit of control.

Thank you!
Jenny

[Bay Mare]

How much schooling do you do? It may be worth schooling AROUND the jumps so that she becomes used to being around rather than an excitement. She must listen to you and your aids both before and after the jump.

Do you set up the canter before you jump? Do you make sure that it's steady and rhythmical? I'd be interested in how you both approach the jump and ride away from it.

It's better to try and fix the problems rather than stick a 'sticking plaster' over them!

[laura kevin]

I think that grakles are more comfortable than flashes. I also like the look of them and horses tend to go better in grakles. I think you should get a dutch gag but also improve your schooling. A stronger bit can really help but you need to be in control of your horse as well.

[Shirl]

flashes are used for horses that open their mouths wheresas grackles help with horses that cross their jaw also.

i would definatley think about your schooling before slapping a stronger bit in his mouth. do you get nervous when your about to jump? as this will pass onto your horse which could be making her more excitable.

recommend schooling around jumps to show that everytime a jum is there doesnt mean they are to go over it.

do you have lessons? if not find yourself a good instructor who could try to help you through these problems and explore all possibilities before you go out buying new bits.

good luck

[tasha]

Another vote for schooling here. Your horse sounds just like mine, and although I cant improve the quality of the approach because the approach would then be sideways, gridwork really really helps slow them down. I have Kal in a loose ring copper ball link for everything, and change to a pelham and elastic curb with roundings and running martingale just for shows, where her uptightness and excitement requires more brakes. For schooling I keep the snaffle and aim to be able to show in it eventually.

[jenren!!]

Thanks for your replies.

I'll be honest and say that im only just getting into riding again really, due to lack of confidence. i used to jump her over 3ft courses before xmas and i was asking her to wait before each fence, which did work but was bloody hard! These lessons were with Heather but im not sure whether to get her again because as soon as i started riding again a couple of friends having been stated stating whilst i was rising that i had been using my hands too much and not enought leg. Heather did tell me to do lots of half-halts on the approach, to gather her up before the fence, but im not sure whether she actually told me not to use my legs! If i do lots of sharp half-halts on my outside rein on the approach, she does listen but it really is hard as she's still strong and you really have to be sharp with them. She doesnt like being asked to wait either because she sometimes stops and lifts when asking on a corner towards a fence, as if to say 'get off me'. We started a little work with halting after a fence as well, which did start to work. Should i get this instructor back? Just for my jumping? I have an BHSAI instructor teaching me tonight for flatwork - she might be good for jumping as well although i think she's mainly flatwork. I could keep her if she's good and have Heather for jumping?

Jenny

[Marmite]

A snaffle to a dutch gag sounds like a huge jump to me, my friend tried that and her pony was mental in it, head in the air, rearing, bucking, and he still ran off. Id try something softer, maybe even just a french link pelham as they just minimise leaning. And schooling around jumps sounds a good idea.