Flash bridles are a combination of a cavesson noseband and a drop noseband. Flash bridles have a noseband attached to a slip head that passes through the browband and sits underneath the headpiece of the bridle consisting of a leather strap that fits around the horse's muzzle with a strap fixed to the front of the noseband that fastens under the bit.
The cavesson part of the flash noseband allows for a standing martingale to be used, whilst the drop part of the flash noseband prevents the horse from opening its mouth or crossing its jaw.
Most often the drop part of the noseband is not permanently fixed to the cavesson noseband but passes through a loop on the front of the noseband so the bridle can be used with or without the strap as required.
Fitting A Flash Bridle
The headpiece of the bridle should sit comfortably behind the horse's poll and the sides adjusted so that the bit sits comfortably across the toothless gap between the incisors and molars of the horse. The browband should lie across the horse's forehead and be positioned approximately two fingers' width below the ears to avoid it pinching the ears.
The noseband of a flash bridle should be adjusted so that the cavesson part of the noseband lies approximately half way between the corners of the mouth and the cheekbone of the horse. The cavesson should not be fastened too tight, but should allow two fingers to be easily inserted between the noseband and the front of the horse's nose. The second strap should then be fastened under the bit and tightened to prevent the horse from opening its mouth but still allowing one finger to be slipped underneath it.
The throat lash should be fastened allowing a hand's width between the throat lash and the horse's jaw.
