Question # 90: There is so much conflicting advice out there on flash nosebands. What is your opinion on them? Should we use them? And how tight should they be? (Mary)
Hi Mary!
I do use them. I feel that they are useful for keeping the bit more consistently still in the corners of the horse's mouth. And they can help to prevent major bit evasions like crossing the jaw, sticking the tongue out, or getting the tongue over the bit from becoming a habit. In using a flash noseband right from the beginning of the horse's training, I can hopefully prevent any of these bad habits from developing in the first place.
The reason that there is so much controversy over the flash, is that so many use it (or a crank noseband) to clamp their horse's mouth tightly shut, in an vain effort to disguise the fact that their horse is not accepting the bit. Those who do this are not fooling anyone. The judge doesn't need to see a horse's mouth gaping open to know that he is not accepting the connection. It is readily apparent in the horse's body and way of movement. The horse that has his mouth clamped tightly shut cannot fully relax his jaw, softly chew on the bit, or swallow. All of these things will serve to prevent the horse from being happily and honestly connected.
For the horse to be comfortable and truly on the aids, the flash noseband should be loose enough... (Click on Question Title above (in blue) to read full answer)
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