Nose band help please?

Question

I use a crank noseband and flash on my horse, do you think it would be okay to swap to a grackle when jumping so it is less restrictive for her breathing when she is working hard, or is this too harsh?

Thanks :)

Answer 1

A grackle is fine.  But so is the crank noseband (never heard it called that before), had to look it up.  I called that a flash in my day.

Answer 2

If any noseband restricts breathing then it's fitted wrongly.

If you prefer the look of the grackle for jumping then there is no reason why not.

Answer 3

I would say that neither noseband has a different impact on the horse's breathing, I would go for whichever gives you the best results/control.

Answer 4

A grackle (more commonly known as a figure-8 noseband) would be a good idea. It really is less restrictive for the horse's breathing, and isn't harsh at all... in fact, I think a flash is more harsh, because the figure-8 doesn't really clamp down as hard on their face as a flash, and gives them a little "wiggle" room to chew a little bit and salivate.

Answer 5

Yes, it is okay to use the grackle for jumping. It is not harsh if properly adjusted. Adjusting them properly does take some time, but it's something you should be able to learn quickly.

Niether noseband should be restricting her breathing if adjusted correctly.  

Answer 6

if a crank and flash are correctly fitted they will not restrict its breathing