any ideas about bits..?

[oliviacharley]

I have a snaffle bit for my 5 yr old which is quite thick, however whenever I return home from a ride I find that he has a wet patch behind the bit which I am not too sure about....he tends to chew on his bite while out riding and I have had his teeth checked so im not too sure what is going on really...
has anyone else had this problem before...? I did not have these issues when I rode him in a cheek snaffle...so not too sure what it is...?
The pic shows the wet patch...

 

[random_rider]

Just an idea but could it be where he cant close his mouth properly because the bit is there so saliva slips out there?? If that makes sense lol!

 

[RachelB]

Do you wash your bit after every ride? And dry it properly (getting all the water that "sticks" inside where the ring threads through the mouth)? I always noticed when cleaning my loose ring bit that it would get black and mucky in the hole where the ring goes, and if I got water in there it would "stick" until I shook it out and ran the ring around a few times. It looks to me as if you've had water in your bit ring hole after cleaning it and it's only come out when you've ridden in it as the horse will shake the bit dry for you...?
Just a guess!

 

[kerilli]

you've got him bitted pretty high, i'd have the bit lower (should only just wrinkle the lips, not make the horse smile!), and personally, i'd try a bit with a thinner mouthpiece.

 

[KatB]

Dislike thick mouthpieces, there are very few horses with mouth comformation that these suit. Personally would try a thinner and more "anatomically" suited bit than a single jointed snaffle.

The JP bits are very good as they are single jointed but curved to allow more room in the mouth, and are also cheap!!