Advice on why my horse is biting the bit?

[LadyGroom]

Hi there

I'm currently riding a 4 year old ID mare she was broken last year but she was late accepting the bit so made for difficult handling both with putting a headcollar on her head and a bridle! I rode her on saturday morning and she was lovely however today I rode her today and she has started biting the bit and pulling her head down which means when im trotting her around its difficult to get any shape out of her that doesn't look like a blackpool donkey!

Any idea why she may be doing this?

Cookies for anyone who got to the end

 

[Herts05]

Has she had her teeth checked? Should be done every 6 months until they are around 10 years old.

 

[LadyGroom]

I think she could be due for it. I ride for a breeder so he books the dentist but I may ask..it did cross my mind though. Thanks!

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

How fit is this horse? She could be trying to put her head down because she's tired. Especially if you're trying to ride her in a round outline and she's not used to it.

Also, she could have teeth coming through, which may make her mouth sore in general.

Have you checked the obvious - that the bit and bridle fit? Young horses grow, including their heads!

 

[Sugar_and_Spice]

How strange! Don't know why I have the wrong thread title in my reply above :/

 

[warmbloodcrazy]

It does sound like a teeth check up is the next move if she hasn't been doing this before. Good luck

 

[dollymix]

A dental check is never amiss, however, I would also look at your bitting.

My Welsh D mare bites her bit if it's a lozenge (i.e a french link), but is perfectly happy if it is a single jointed bit and rarely chews that. It's worth playing around with a few different bitting combinations to see what she likes best if the dentist doesn't show anything up.

 

[florayG]

Then again, it may be nothing to do with her mouth at all - it might be her way of objecting to something else you are doing to her or asking her to do for you. Very difficult to diagnose something like this without seeing it occurring