flash? Or no flash?

"Serious question: flash? Or no flash? And please explain why. TIA!"

My response:

I used to ride with a flash and use all the same reason above to justify it such as stablising the bit etc. Then I learnt how to teach a horse to accept, understand and feel confident with the bit...and to create contact....

Hard mouth, Busy mouth, Tongue lolling, Head tossing, Sucking behind the contact....I can solve...and now teach people full time how to do it.

It took me making a horse’s mouth bleed to realised I was doing things wrong 😞. But at least now I help other horses not have to endure negative associations, discomfort and a lack of clarity of the bit and contact 😊

Bottom line to your question is no, it is best not to use a flash noseband and restrict the horse's ability to open its mouth and resist the bit....in fact you NEED to listen, see and feel what the horse is doing with the bit in the mouth....this is them TALKING to you about what they know and how they feel and how they have learnt to cope with the bit....you don’t want to silence that feedback as it’s the information you need to help them!!!

I don’t mind Micklem bridles but I only use them AFTER I have them good in a regular bridle and loose cavesson or no cavesson at all. In fact, I dont even put a bit in their mouth until they are good in a sidepull or halter minus a bit!