what does....

[palmerlover52]

a flash do? horses i ride wear them, so i was wondering. am i right in thinking that it prevents the horse from raising his head above the point of control to evade the bit?

and::: a horse i rode for jumping wore a bit i have never seen before. it looked a bit like the bit attached, and hte metal bars pressing against the sides of his mouth. what is this type of bit called and what does it do...is it to encourage the horse to turn?:rolleyes:

[tigs]

the flash was devised originaly to combine the action of a drop-noseband that would provide anchorage for a standing martingale.it is not as effective as the drop in closing the mouth but aviods the nose pressure.if the noseband is is adjusted snugly it goes someway towards countering any tendency to cross the jaws.

[equestrian3241]

The flash noseband just prevents the horse from opening it's mouth and evading the bit, I used to use one on my horse. It doesn't prevent the horse from raising it's head or anything of the sort it simple controlls how wide a horse can open it's mouth.

[palmerlover52]

ok thanks. it that case will it hinder a horse in eating? i've seen other (more novice rider's) leaing the flash done up when the twist reins or loosen girth when a livery horse is being left tacked up in stable, and always thought it was a bit cruel...(so i sneakily go and undo it and buckle it up on top of the nose if you know what i mean)

[KateWooten]

That bit you've got there is a fulmer, or full-cheek snaffle. It's really useful on a young horse when you're training him and have to give exaggerated cues sometims to get him to flex and bend - it puts pressure on the opposite side of hte face ie it pushes his face in the direction you want ... and it also stops the bit from being pulled right through. I need to get one really.

and I agree with you on undoing the flash noseband when the horse is standing in ... some people just don't bother thinking it out from the horse's point of view, do they?