Grackle v flash

Morganna

Morganna

Active Member
Feb 23, 2006
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North Lanarkshire
After a few rather frightening lack of brakes episodes over the XC field last night and last week with my boy in his normal hanging cheek french link snaffle, I was trying out different bits this morning - have opted for the Dutch gag on the second setting and what a difference. I can be very gentle with my hands and wee squeeze of the reins brings him right back to me, phew, happier mummy and Arion isnt getting his mouth yanked off when I want him to slow down.

Whilst trying out the new bit this morning, my RI again mentioned the fact that he is opening his mouth and crossing his jaw, she has noticed him doing this in previous lessons, so has suggested either a grackle or a flash - I have never ridden in either so am just looking to see what ones people use for what purposes and what success you have had with them - or failures as the case may be.:)
 
personally i hate grackles with a dutch gag so i would be mroe inclined ot go with a flash. i have ridden both of my 2 in this combination at various points and find it works really well. please do not join the dutch gag, grackle, running martingale with breastplate and then spurs and a whip club!!
 
Sunshine-x said:
personally i hate grackles with a dutch gag so i would be mroe inclined ot go with a flash. i have ridden both of my 2 in this combination at various points and find it works really well. please do not join the dutch gag, grackle, running martingale with breastplate and then spurs and a whip club!![/QUOTE]

Yikes:eek: He would have me off in a second if I had that lot on. He has only ever been ridden in a french link hanging cheek snaffle and a running martingale for jumping only. I have tried and tried to avoid changing his bit, and i have tried a few different ones - he hates straight bar actions and normal snaffles - I really did not want to change his bit too a stronger one, but nor do I want to have to haul the mouth off him over a course of jumps. I will try and dig out the flash that my bridle came with - which was promptly removed and chucked to the bottom of his box and has never been used:)
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good girl! :) are you in a proper dutch gag or just a bubble gag? and have you got a french link in the gag or single joint? coz if it is a single joint then perhaps he would go just as well in a loose ring jointed snaffle? personally ive fond dutch agags havent helped me much as if my 2 want to be strong they will be strong no matter what bit so they are both in snaffles but then both of them wear flashes all the time and both wear martingales to jump so i cant lecture!!
 
I would suggest borrowing one of each and trying them out. If your RI has suggested both, try them both :-)

Don't think that they are "uneccessary" if that is what you need to gain control. Riders safety comes first!

xxx
 
Sunshine-x said:
good girl! :) are you in a proper dutch gag or just a bubble gag? and have you got a french link in the gag or single joint? coz if it is a single joint then perhaps he would go just as well in a loose ring jointed snaffle? personally ive fond dutch agags havent helped me much as if my 2 want to be strong they will be strong no matter what bit so they are both in snaffles but then both of them wear flashes all the time and both wear martingales to jump so i cant lecture!!
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He doesn't like a single jointed snaffle as thats what I rode him in when I first got him and could not get him to relax with it at all. He is much happier in the french link so I have him in the french link dutch gag like the one below.
 

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sadiesparkle said:
I would suggest borrowing one of each and trying them out. If your RI has suggested both, try them both :-)

Don't think that they are "uneccessary" if that is what you need to gain control. Riders safety comes first!

xxx
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Absolutely rider safety is paramount! I know a lot of people praise the snaffle as the only bit to ride in and it seems to be that if you have a horse in a snaffle at all times its a great thing - but I have seen horses have their mouths yanked off in snaffles and I would rather ride him on something stronger, with softer hands than continue to have to haul at his face like I had to last night - I got such a fright last night when I couldnt stop him, and having to circle him to slow him down on wet grass on a downhill slope. Lets just say a change of knickers was in order lol:eek:
 
if you get on with the gag then thats good as you said if you ride with soft hands instead of hauling at a snaffle!! if you still arent happy with the gag though you could always try a peanut linked bit as those relax some hroses more than french links.
 
Thanks Sunshine :) I will see how we go with it. I am having a few weeks of flatwork lessons in it with my RI just to make sure we are both happy in it, and that my hands remain relaxed and soft, then we will try him over some small jumps then we will try him over the XC course and see how he goes.
 
beki x-x said:
i hate grackles.
my girl came with one and it had given her ulcers on the inside of her mouth where it had pushed her cheecks onto her teeth.
prefer flashes :)
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Sounds wrongly fitted...

I much prefer grackle to flash personally - for a flash to have any effect it has to be done up reasonably snuggly (as with any flash/grackle etc), but this then pulls the cavesson down ime, unless that too is clamped shut. If cavesson tight, imo that's overkill. If loose, and pulled down, it's likely to compress airways more than a *properly fitted* grackle which should be fitted well above and free of the softer nose tissues, and the mouth strap should not rub cheeks into teeth - if it does it's either WAAAY to tight, or not in the right position...
Other people disagree with that, which is fine, but that's my experience...:o


If you can handle it, put 2 reins on your gag whichever noseband you use; one on the snaffle ring and the other on the second or third (probably 2nd as you say thats where you prefer it). This way you can ride as if it's a snaffle most of the time, and only add in the stronger action when horse gets rude and you need the extra action, rather than a perminant stronger action, even if your hands ARE gentle....

Another thought is that it might be worth just once or twice trying your chosen noseband in conjunction with your snaffle - you might find the noseband will help enough; general rule of thumb seems to be look to a change of noseband before bit. Not a problem if you still need to change bit too, but just a thought =]

Good luck :)
 
Peaches said:
Sounds wrongly fitted...

I much prefer grackle to flash personally - for a flash to have any effect it has to be done up reasonably snuggly (as with any flash/grackle etc), but this then pulls the cavesson down ime, unless that too is clamped shut. If cavesson tight, imo that's overkill. If loose, and pulled down, it's likely to compress airways more than a *properly fitted* grackle which should be fitted well above and free of the softer nose tissues, and the mouth strap should not rub cheeks into teeth - if it does it's either WAAAY to tight, or not in the right position...
Other people disagree with that, which is fine, but that's my experience...:o


If you can handle it, put 2 reins on your gag whichever noseband you use; one on the snaffle ring and the other on the second or third (probably 2nd as you say thats where you prefer it). This way you can ride as if it's a snaffle most of the time, and only add in the stronger action when horse gets rude and you need the extra action, rather than a perminant stronger action, even if your hands ARE gentle....

Another thought is that it might be worth just once or twice trying your chosen noseband in conjunction with your snaffle - you might find the noseband will help enough; general rule of thumb seems to be look to a change of noseband before bit. Not a problem if you still need to change bit too, but just a thought =]

Good luck :)
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hmm, but my dentist told me grackles do sometimes do that and not to use one. i had already taken it off before then though as star doesnt need it :)
 
Each to their own :) - as I say, everybody has different experiences...I have to say, my only problems with grackles are if they were misfitted (which I think is done more regularly than it should, which perhaps is why dentist sees problems? just a thought), seen lots of problems with peoples horses wearing flashes, however they are fitted.

I suppose you have to be careful with any noseband like this, and just go with what each horse prefers, and keep an eye out for problems =]
 
Use what ever you ar comfy with hun!!

I use a flash and coupled with my loopring I get lovely outline and brakes and steering when we are jumping and i get no avvoidance by opeing the mouth and peeing off either!!

Will give you the loopring to try if you like!!

Nikki xxxx:D
 
Thanks for all your responses guys, lots to think about and try out there and I will be taking on board each and every recommendation and trying it out and yes Nik I will try out that loopring too - when I come back from holidays :D
 
I ride in a gag with two reins, the ring below the snaffle is rarely used and mainly stays knotted round his neck however in canter and jumping we need that extra bit of strength. I use a flash as he only has 2/3 of a tongue and can be a bit gobby!
 
Peaches said:
Sounds wrongly fitted...

I much prefer grackle to flash personally - for a flash to have any effect it has to be done up reasonably snuggly (as with any flash/grackle etc), but this then pulls the cavesson down ime, unless that too is clamped shut. If cavesson tight, imo that's overkill. If loose, and pulled down, it's likely to compress airways more than a *properly fitted* grackle which should be fitted well above and free of the softer nose tissues, and the mouth strap should not rub cheeks into teeth - if it does it's either WAAAY to tight, or not in the right position...
Other people disagree with that, which is fine, but that's my experience...:o


If you can handle it, put 2 reins on your gag whichever noseband you use; one on the snaffle ring and the other on the second or third (probably 2nd as you say thats where you prefer it). This way you can ride as if it's a snaffle most of the time, and only add in the stronger action when horse gets rude and you need the extra action, rather than a perminant stronger action, even if your hands ARE gentle....

Another thought is that it might be worth just once or twice trying your chosen noseband in conjunction with your snaffle - you might find the noseband will help enough; general rule of thumb seems to be look to a change of noseband before bit. Not a problem if you still need to change bit too, but just a thought =]

Good luck :)
Click to expand...

Ditto this, I prefer grackles for this reason exactly.x
 
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