I’ve seen some GP horses that have a dip in their nose where their crank noseband sits. Is that something that happens over time? Is it considered abusive? The reason I ask is my mare is a coming 4 y/o and I don’t tighten it that much. My flash and crank are lose enough where I can pull them off. Should they be tighter? The flash is just cosmetic, BTW. She doesn’t really need it.
You will get many different opinions for this question… My gelding was in training with a person who cranked his noseband and flash… It did nothing but cause resistance through is entire body… I of course said nothing as "I was not the so called trainer)… I am now with a trainer who wouldn’t have either on a the bridle if I’d let her:) She has taught him to be light off the seat and leg. I can attest he is a far happier horse in every way… His movement is superior to where it was under the former trainer. There is no resistance through is poll, jaw and neck…If you are riding correctly, there is no need for a “cranked”’ noseband and flash…My opinion and that of my “very well respected” trainer. 
I imagine any noseband done up too tightly, for years, could do that kind of damage.
My trainer prefers a crank noseband because the pressure is even, but we don’t do them up that tightly…
Ironically, I just bought a crank, because it had a larger padded area then my regular cavesson and creates less pressure. Of course, I’m not actually “cranking” it either.
I’m sure any strap good, tight, long-term could create an indent. Shoot, I have friend’s that are very well endowed and they have permanent strap marks from their bras.
I once had a pony that had a dent in his nose from a tie down (western) that was affixed far too tightly all the time.
A project pony I used to have had a dent in her nose from wearing a halter that was too small left on 24/7 while she was still growing. Had a horizontal line of white hairs as well. I imagine if anything was put on at a ridiculous tightness it could cause that.
a horse in a standing martingale that continues to stargaze will do the same thing to their nose
I think anything really tight could do that. A crank would probably be better, it’s more padded.
a- its ill fitted and b- its heavy in the hands
I have a dent in my nose where my glasses sit. Abusive would be asking me to perform without my glasses.
[QUOTE=SkipChange;4583124]
A project pony I used to have had a dent in her nose from wearing a halter that was too small left on 24/7 while she was still growing. Had a horizontal line of white hairs as well. I imagine if anything was put on at a ridiculous tightness it could cause that.[/QUOTE]
My mare’s got the same thing. One gross, nylon, cob-sized halter on her thoroughbred head for several years before I got my hands on her. I’d imagine the noseband could do the same.
My flash and crank are lose enough where I can pull them off. Should they be tighter? The flash is just cosmetic, BTW. She doesn’t really need it.
If the flash is that loose, you might as well take it off because it will just be an annoyance to the horse flopping around his mouth. I can’t imagine how it could be ‘cosmetic’.
If you are going to use a flash, it should be adjusted properly to be of any use and to be more comfortable for the horse.
[QUOTE=egontoast;4583513]
If the flash is that loose, you might as well take it off because it will just be an annoyance to the horse flopping around his mouth. I can’t imagine how it could be ‘cosmetic’.
If you are going to use a flash, it should be adjusted properly to be of any use and to be more comfortable for the horse.[/QUOTE]
The flash isn’t loose enough where it’s flopping. It’s fit snug, but loose enough that I can pull it off (with a bit of resistance). I used the word ‘cosmetic’ to imply that I think it serves no purpose for us, but I leave it on anyway because it’s a part of the bridle and doing no harm.
I’ve seen horses ridden in Hackamores with both dents and bony lumps on their noses.
Anything fixed too tightly or used with too much pressure can cause it.
I’ve also seen a lunge cavasson cause the same issue as it was done up very tight to try and stop it twisting round with the outside cheek piece ending up pushing against the horses eye.
On the whole a padded noseband will distribute pressure better than a non padded one and an ordinary noseband is just as capable of being over-tightened as a crank is.
I used the word ‘cosmetic’ to imply that I think it serves no purpose for us, but I leave it on anyway because it’s a part of the bridle and doing no harm.
It’s easy to remove it if it has no purpose. I’m not anti-flash at all and sometimes use one with some horses but I don’t get why anyone would leave one on loose for cosmetic reasons because “it’s a part of the bridle”.
Makes zero sense to me.
[QUOTE=egontoast;4584351]
It’s easy to remove it if it has no purpose. I’m not anti-flash at all and sometimes use one with some horses but I don’t get why anyone would leave one on loose for cosmetic reasons because “it’s a part of the bridle”.
Makes zero sense to me.[/QUOTE]
Like I said, It’s not ‘loose’ flopping around and it looks a lot better than an empty loop up there. You might ask, why not cut off the loop? Because it’s an expensive bridle and who knows if I will require the flash one day.
For now, it’s damn cute :winkgrin:
Thanks everyone for the answers!
Usually crank nosebands don’t come with a flash. That being said, cute is for ponies.
[QUOTE=Gry2Yng;4592650]
Usually crank nosebands don’t come with a flash. That being said, cute is for ponies.[/QUOTE]
Hm, funny. Then why when I google “crank noseband” 95% of the images have flashes?
soooooooooo my Friesian is a pony then? Cool, dude.
Well, when I google it, I get six images, 3 have a flash and three don’t. So I was wrong in my use of the word “usually” and your math is bad.
soooooooooo my Friesian is a pony then? Cool, dude.
Do you school her in pink polos, too? That would be sooooooo cool dude.
Any tight strap could do that… maresy got a “nice” rub on the bridge of her nose from a jumping hackamore, and it took forever to go away.
Anyway. Topic highjack, but any tips for getting a horse out of a flash? Before I bought her, maresy was ridden in a plain cavesson, though a flash was used occasionally for a few rides to remind her of her manners. When I put her into dressage training, she went into a flash within days (as is the trainer’s practice) and has worn it ever since. I’d like to do some activities where a flash is not allowed, but after 18 months in a flash she’s kind of scary without it.
