Noseband help - please!!

[rosieg]

Just started a month or so ago looking after a lovely 16 hh boy for a friend.

So in trying to get him sorted out and improving his performance on the bit I found he was very rigid on his left side and kept setting his jaw. Through NR forum everyone suggested to get an Equine Dentist in (he came on Thursday) he told me that he was suffering with two mouth ulcers from sharp teeth each side, so after 45 mins of rasping we've so brilliant - sorted that.

He has been ridden in a crank flash noseband and a now the dentist said that he may not need it, so riding him today with loose noseband and no flash he did seem better but I do need to do something to help me stop him sticking his tongue out and opening his mouth slightly. He is also hunted at the weekends so I guess this would help with the brakes.

What do you recommend I should try? What is the difference between a crackle and a caveson with a drop?

Comments from anyone would be great thanks, Rosie

[popularfurball]

I think you meana grackle

Supposedly a grackle is more suitable to galloping work as it is less likely to restrict nostrils - the drop is more likely to be fitted incorrectly and in that case is resricts nostrils... but hey novicey here I was looking at gettin Silver one a while back, but not got round to looking at them yet

[TEmily]

Do you mean a grackle? They are a kind of figure of 8 noseband which crosses over the nose. The flash part fastens in front of the bit as normal, but the other fastening is much higher up the head than a normal noseband (the bit that crosses over the nose is much further up than the flash attachment on a caveson). My understanding is that grackles are quite popular with racers/eventers as their high position means they do not restrict the nasal passages. A cavesson noseband which sits lower can do this.

I am assuming you mean a caveson with a flash, the other option is a drop noseband which is different - it just has one band which fastens below the bit and to stop horse opening their mouth too wide. Drop nosebands can be good as they don't sit where teth are so less likely to cause pinching of skin inside mouth if that makes sense?

[Native Lover]

I have a black grackle full size noseband for sale if your interested ?

[JustJas]

Do you mean a drop noseband?

They are not popular as they do not flatter the nose but do encourage them to keep the mouth closed and have poll pressure like curb action..

[rosieg]

Thanks, still a bit confused. Sounds like the drop is good if he opens his mouth. How could I tell if he is sawing his jaw - I think that's what its called. Personally I wonder what the mexican grackle does to the top of the jaw - does it hold it tightly fixed - like clamped. Though with this option I like the idea of having a clearer airway for hunting and cross country ..... mmmmm - any other thoughts would be great.

Cheers, R

[Daisy_Roots]

Originally Posted by rosieg

I do need to do something to help me stop him sticking his tongue out and opening his mouth slightly.

Why is he sticking his tongue out and opening his mouth?
What bit does he use?
Instead of using a nose band to mask the problem / discomfort he has, why not change his bit to one that he would feel more comfortable with?

[*OEH*]

Originally Posted by JustJas

Do you mean a drop noseband?

They are not popular as they do not flatter the nose but do encourage them to keep the mouth closed and have poll pressure like curb action..

Drop nosebands do not have poll pressure. They don't go anywhere near it.



To the OP: In the long run it the ideal would be to teach the horse to accept the bit without wanting to open his mouth and stick his tongue out. But this is a long and difficult process. Daisy_Roots suggestion of a different bit is a good one. The alternative is a noseband that shuts the horse's mouth so he can't do it. The drop noseband is generally only used in dressage as it is a bit restrictive of the nose, but the advantage is that it holds the bit secure in a horse's mouth which some find easy to accept. The cavesson and flash is the most common 'mouth shutting' noseband and fine for most purposes. The grackle, as people have said, is the easiest for them to breath in as it doesn't cover the nose, but it is also the harshest, and prevents the jaw crossing. Whichever you choose it should be done up loose enough so that you can fit 2 fingers under it, which I suppose is the advantage of these nosebands over the crank which also keeps the mouth shut, but because it acts so much further up the jaw it must be done up exceptionally tight to work.