A bit of bit advice please peeps........

Hippona

Hippona

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My 5 yo highland came to me with a single-jointed snaffle and a flash noseband '' because he opens his mouth''....well, so would I if I was being prodded in the roof by a single jointed bit ...so I changed to a cavesson noseband and a straight-bar snaffle ( rubber)...which seemed to be too thick ( he has a large tongue and not much room in there)...so I tried a thinner one. Result? Tongue over the top.

Since that I have tried a cambridge snaffle ( small port)...still tongue over.

Then... a sweet iron, copper peanut snaffle (loose ring) - tongue over that too.

Currently using a french-linked hanging cheek snaffle which has been the best so far as the bit is suspended in his mouth , doesnt squash his tongue or prod his roof. However...took daughter out at the weekend and lo...the git has worked out how to get his tongue over that as well.

His bit is at the right height....its not clanking on his teeth and neither is he grinning at me like the cheshire cat....

SO....any ideas on what to try next??? I'm at a bit of a loss as my other horses have been boringly easy when it comes to bits.

His mouth is very soft, he is very responsive and yes teeth are all up to date...EDT says he has a lovely mouth. His is very mouthy but better than he was...I think its just his age, bless him.

Cheers muchly.

Mince pies all round.
 
What about sticking with the FL but using a drop noseband? I use a drop sometimes on my boy and you don't do it up tightly like most people do a flash, it just encourages them not to open their mouths. Mine goes nicely in it. If he likes the bit generally, I would just play around with nosebands.
 
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If he likes the bit generally, I would just play around with nosebands.

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Ditto. I'd put the flash back on with the french link. My mare sticks her tongue out to the side. She's had her teeth done by a vet EDT and been through a fortunes worth of mouthpieces. I'm resigned to living with it.

You could try a verbindend or myler comfort snaffle, but IME they are not a great cure for the problem.
 
If the only way of getting him to accept a bit is by strapping his mouth shut (and it does sound like you've tried most of the usual things) have you considered bitless of any sort?

I'm not a super-expert but have ridden (English, Western, hacking...) using Dr Cooks and hackamores quite happily. Seem to suit some horses and there are a few experts on here who should be able to offer better advice.

Edited to say: does he find the bit annoying or is he just bored/avoiding work? If either of the later you could stick with somethign simple and try more varied work to keep his mind occupied...
 
Try a shaped mouthpiece. The NS starter bits are lovely and will help as will reove any tongue pressure.
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Tickles....no- he doesnt avoid work...he's a lovely steady lad who we are bringing on slowly. I've never used the flash on him as I dont like the idea of strapping his mouth shut- I would prefer to find something he is comfortable with...I thought we had cracked it with the hanging cheek snaffle. I think the problem is his tongue is sooo thick.....plus he like a good chew of anything and everything he can....he likes to hold the leadrops and pulls zip-tags up and down....which is irritating but he's much better than he was last year.

KatB...I was thinking of something to give more tongue room too, but I may have to use a bit bank as they are pricey arent they? Dont mind paying if it works though.
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Pricey ish... but not too bad. Actually CotswoldSport do a version for about £29 now which are identical to the NS versions but a £10 cheaper!! Otherwise Shop4bits hire them I believe
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My fussy mare doesnt like loose rings and so is in a KK dynamic. Now THAT is expensive
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Sorry to say this but it is VERY cute when they do zip tags :-)

I quite like watching (10yr old so, sorry, yours might not grow out of it!) share horsey 'helping' with bits of grooming kit or my crop in his naughty mouth :-)
 
Thanks for that Tickles
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Actually- I have a feeling he will never fully grow out of it....he is so cheeky and inquisitive. OH was putting up a chain guard in the next door stable- they have half-walls....ponies nose was almost touching the drill, he was so helpful I wouldnt have been surprised if he had passed a screw over
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Don't know if you can still get them but my mother's Exmoor had the same habit when I was little - he had a rubber thing that went over his bit in the centre and was spoon shaped, lying on his tongue and up his mouth, so it was very soft, but he couldn't bring his tongue up high enough to get it over.

Can put it on any bit, so you can keep him in whatever bit/noseband combination works
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Don't know if you can still get them but my mother's Exmoor had the same habit when I was little - he had a rubber thing that went over his bit in the centre and was spoon shaped, lying on his tongue and up his mouth, so it was very soft, but he couldn't bring his tongue up high enough to get it over.

Can put it on any bit, so you can keep him in whatever bit/noseband combination works
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Yes! I have seen this...didn't want to suggest it, just wanted other peoples opinions. Might give that a try also.,......would be cheaper
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What about a Myler high port comfort snaffle?

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Yes...someone else has advised me to try a myler for a highlands thick tongue, and I have also been advised me to check the current bit is high enough in his mouth.

Gonna have a try at raising the bit...and if thats no good I may have to try a myler or similar.

Cheers everyone.
 
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