What some will do to win

[CanteringCarrot]

Sometimes we might think that a horse “likes a flash” but often a horse can do just fine without one and “like it” if we change the bit or analyze our riding.

There are some bits that offer more tongue relief, more bar relief, or stability. I had a horse that valued stability and preferred a fixed ring over a loose ring. I could absolutely see someone thinking that he’d prefer a flash or drop, but I rode him without a noseband for awhile (due to something healing on his face where the noseband would be) just fine. The key, for him, was switching to a single jointed, fixed ring, titanium bit.

Sometimes I think the statement of, “a flash offers stability for the bit” is a weak argument and potentially covering up for training, bit, or contact acceptance issues.

Please note that I am using the words sometimes and potentially, so if this doesn’t apply to you (general you) then I am not talking about you

I just don’t feel all that great about my horse needing a tight piece of leather around their nose to offer “support” I just feel like it’s a bandaid of sorts in many cases. It’s like, yeah, your horse’s mouth will be more quiet, still, or closed because it has to be. There’s literally a strap keeping it shut. So do they like it or is it just preventing them from objecting?

It’s just what we, as good horse(wo)men have to think about these things.

[MsM]

Yeah, I’ve got one of those. He is a very busy boy and can get distracted playing with a bit. Tried various bits, but the most effective is a fairly loose noseband and flash (and eggbutt bean bit). Then he cant move it so far and he will quietly mouthe it. And accept and eat treats! He hated mullen mouth, rubber bits etc.
Could I ride him with no noseband? I have at times and he has learned how to carry the bit more quietly. (I dont like buckles in the winter!) But I still often ride with the complete bridle to prevent issues and to keep him used to it.

[CanteringCarrot]

I did like riding with no noseband because it was just one less piece of tack to clean, tbh

[Arzny]

His mouth is just as quiet in a plain noseband, but the tension he carries is certainly less in a baucher or eggbutt with a flash or drop. He could open his mouth with the flash or drop if he wanted to, it’s there to stabilize the bit, not hold his mouth shut.

@CanteringCarrot

Sometimes we might think that a horse “likes a flash” but often a horse can do just fine without one and “like it” if we change the bit or analyze our riding.

There are some bits that offer more tongue relief, more bar relief, or stability. I had a horse that valued stability and preferred a fixed ring over a loose ring. I could absolutely see someone thinking that he’d prefer a flash or drop, but I rode him without a noseband for awhile (due to something healing on his face where the noseband would be) just fine. The key, for him, was switching to a single jointed, fixed ring, titanium bit.

Sometimes I think the statement of, “a flash offers stability for the bit” is a weak argument and potentially covering up for training, bit, or contact acceptance issues.

Please note that I am using the words sometimes and potentially, so if this doesn’t apply to you (general you) then I am not talking about you

I just don’t feel all that great about my horse needing a tight piece of leather around their nose to offer “support” I just feel like it’s a bandaid of sorts in many cases. It’s like, yeah, your horse’s mouth will be more quiet, still, or closed because it has to be. There’s literally a strap keeping it shut. So do they like it or is it just preventing them from objecting?

It’s just what we, as good horse(wo)men have to think about these things.

[CanteringCarrot]

@Arzny

His mouth is just as quiet in a plain noseband, but the tension he carries is certainly less in a baucher or eggbutt with a flash or drop. He could open his mouth with the flash or drop if he wanted to, it’s there to stabilize the bit, not hold his mouth shut.

Ok. As I said, if what I said in my post doesn’t apply to you, then I’m not talking about you. It was just general musings about the utilization of a flash.

If something genuinely works for the horse and is benefiting them, then use it. It would be stupid for me to say otherwise!

I’m glad that you have a set up that works for your horse and that you observed that he carries less tension.

[Mondo]

@Arzny

it’s there to stabilize the bit, not hold his mouth shut.

THIS. Nosebands (and a flash) have a purpose.

[CanteringCarrot]

I will say that a flash, Micklem, and/or drop could help a horse that perhaps prefers the but more “on the corners” of their mouth. I think these styles of noseband can “mute some noise” for the horse as well.

There are many horses that do just fine without a noseband. Horses for courses and all that.

I once had a horse that did not like sheepskin things you go with what works for that horse.

[chestnutmarebeware]

Neither! Buy these from Amazon—they completely eliminate scratching on furniture. I can recommend them enough. Here they are on my new couch.

Amazon.com : Stelucca Amazing Shields Sofa Protectors from Pets - 6-Pack of...

[CobJockey]

Just commenting to say that this is eerily similar to one I had a couple years ago that ended up having part of her tongue amputated due to a massive abscess that ran nearly the length of her jaw under her tongue. No points of entry or tracks that we could see on CT, we never did learn the cause. The pressure from the abscess caused the tongue to start to die off and also affected her swallowing nerves. She set a record for longest stint on a feeding tube at Purdue, during which we weren’t sure if those nerves would come back or not. They did after 3 weeks, thankfully, and she was eventually back to a normal riding career before life as a broodmare. Still the strangest medical malady I’ve ever dealt with in horses.

[Mondo]

@CanteringCarrot

There are many horses that do just fine without a noseband. Horses for courses and all that.

Western bridles don’t have a noseband usually. So yeah, it’s fine without.

[Mondo]

Those are cool, ChestnutMare. Back when I had cats, I found some transparent, wide, double-sided tape. You tape it to the furniture you are trying to protect, and when the cat goes to sharpen its claws, their paws get stuck to the tape. They HATE that. Eventually, it trains them to leave the furniture alone and you can remove the tape.

Another solution that my sister uses is driftwood logs. I guess this is only sensible for people in coastal areas. But she learned by accident that cats will prefer driftwood to almost anything else for claw sharpening. It lays horizontally and they can stretch while they do it. They have never bothered her furniture and at the present time she has 3 indoor cats.

[PaddockWood]

@SillyHorse

Spaying is done almost always for the convenience of the pet’s owner.

Are you effing serious right now? How many millions of animals are euthanized because of overbreeding and the mental TORTURE for the animals and the people that have to do the procedures. Jesus.

[SillyHorse]

@PaddockWood

@SillyHorse

Spaying is done almost always for the convenience of the pet’s owner.

Are you effing serious right now? How many millions of animals are euthanized because of overbreeding and the mental TORTURE for the animals and the people that have to do the procedures. Jesus.

I don’t think you understand what I wrote.

[PaddockWood]

Ok. Sorry. I must have misunderstood.

[Ardara]

Worked at a vet clinic in high school - after witnessing the declaw procedure and the pain the cats were in after, I would NEVER put my cat through that - it’s barbaric and cruel.

[Pippigirl]

Agreed. Also cats are experts at hiding pain. They very well could be in pain of some degree but no one sees it.

[Willesdon]

Declawing is illegal in the UK as is docking and ear clipping. All those dog breeds that used to have docked tails look lovely with their tails carried proudly and doing their job.

It is interesting to look at how Dobermen dogs are posed for photos with their ears clipped vs with natural ears.

[shall]

The Pincshers look appealing with their natural ears, thanks. The article on equine tongues hit the spot, too.

[MsM]

I wonder if the Dobermans have it in their gene pool to have naturally erect ears.

[Willesdon]

Never seen one: it is clipping that makes them stand up, poor animals.