Advice on a bitting issue - bit sounds like its hitting teeth maybe

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Hello

Advice on a bitting issue would be super.

I have a nice little rising give standardbred mare who is a big of legend in all respects. Taking it slow as she is a forever horse but she is a nice honest type that likes to go. Great manners bold and brave and a complete angel. I have had her since three and backed her myself.

She is ridden in a simple snaffle, with no noseband ( one that came with bridle too small lol) and she has always been in a big loose ring French link and happy with that.

About august time I notice when in the school on one rein I could here a ticking sound from her mouth, only in trot. Little mare showing no signs of discomfort but teeth vet out ASAP and she had a massive wolf tooth that had started to erupt. Such a big tooth she had to go to vets to be knocked out and pulled out - happy days out fine and gave her a good two weeks off work then another few weeks riding bitless. Wolf tooth came out in November and all tooth out no problem.

So little mare back in full work which is charging about local bridleways and schooling three four times a week in small short sessions. She has a well fitted saddle and baring being a bit bum high shows good balance and nice paces - likes work etc.... And no odd head carriage But the damn ticking noise is back agrrrhhh!!!! It drives me mad and must be the bit tapping on her teeth. Vet says her teeth are in the right place etc so all good there. Tried a few different bits and she seems happy in the all happy bitless - just a happy chappie.

There must be something I can do to stop it. Bit is right size in the right place - asked a billion ppl theirs thoughts and most ppl say "put a flash on her" but she doesn't open and close her mouth or fight or lean. I get regular lessons and don't get told my hands are too high or low or **** contac etc... And have the other horses and this doesn't happen.

There must be something I can do to stop it - its a tiny tick noise on the diagonal in trot more on the right rein than the left.

Has anyone had this issue before and can talk me through there situ and outcome.

Anyone any ideas - I MUST be doing something wrong.

Thanks in advance
 
If the bits in the correct place and nothing else is going on and its just making a noise then have you tried a happy mouth bit it might reduce the noise.
 
Not tried a happy mouth but would this be classed as masking problem, or is this acceptable. Might sound like a dummy but just want horse to be comfy as sage is the type to just get on and suffer quietly etc.... Thanks
 
It might just be the link tapping the other parts of the bit. Considering that; she isn't opening her mouth or evading, teeth are fine now and the bit is sitting in the right place and is the right length for her mouth.

A synthetic bit might not make a tapping noise so could be worth a try. It's not masking if the problem isn't with the horse...
 
Thanks mashnut - it was clicking with a nutcracker bit today though too. Fannied about with it, lower, higher still no joy. Poor horse. I will keep trying more bits however. I don't mind the noise just worried for the mare
 
Sorry don't really agree sugar and spice, it's not supposed to make a noise and the horse is the type to not complain therefor I am looking for other people experiences of this issue. I won't leave it as is - I owe it to the horse she is just such a good mare. It doesn't happen out hacking so got to be something I am doing wrong in the school
 
It makes complete sense as I don't ride on any form of contact when hacking, I ride totally differently when schooling. The school is different as I will pick up a contact and the horse is being asked to do different movements. The bit is making a sound and that is likely to be due to it hitting teeth or like what another poster said the bit itself which might indicate its moving more than i thought so i will try rubber bit stops or a smaller bit so great advice from that poster. I am asking people if they have ever had this issue and what they did to solve it so I can glean from other peoples experiences, I am just trying get get advice instead of trapping my horses mouth shut or ignoring the problem as half the horses I encounter these days have sore mouths and sore backs from awful riding and awful tack not to mention the amount of man made lameness issues and I would always want to be the best I can for my horses and for now I don't believe I have done all I can hence why getting extra advice on here.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend - many thanks
 
I have recently got my mare a mullen mouth hanging cheek snaffle (for when we cannot use the myler pelham) She goes very very well in it, I think because of its stability in her mouth. When I got her she was in a single jointed dutch gag (awful thing) which she resented hugely and which she had learnt to evade by playing at being a griaffe. I do think some of them need the bit to remain very still in their mouth, this might help with your problem in the school. :)
 
YorksG said:
I have recently got my mare a mullen mouth hanging cheek snaffle (for when we cannot use the myler pelham) She goes very very well in it, I think because of its stability in her mouth. When I got her she was in a single jointed dutch gag (awful thing) which she resented hugely and which she had learnt to evade by playing at being a griaffe. I do think some of them need the bit to remain very still in their mouth, this might help with your problem in the school. :)
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Thanks Yorks G !!!! This actually makes alot of sense and is a stillness issue etc.... I am really grateful for your input. I am going to give this a go and see how we get on as I havnet tried a mullen yet but its certainly going to stablilise things if thats the issue.

thanks once again for your input
 
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