Bit for horse with massive tongue

[MrRoo]

Hi all, I’ve been stumped on bits for my horse for years. He has a large tongue which kind of bulges out between his teeth when his bridle is on. The only bit this doesn’t happen with is a Neue Schule show Pelham but I need something dressage legal.
I’ve tried a bombers ported snaffle, expert bits comfy barrel, neue schule verbindend and turtle top and many others over the years but he still has the tongue bulge. He’s currently in a ported BR loose ring snaffle which is probably the best of the lot but he needs bit guards with a loose ring which aren’t dressage legal. Any help at all please would be great

 

[nutjob]

My fat tongue horse has a myler comfort snaffle. It comes in Eggbutt style but I have the loose ring version. The mouthpiece is thin which suits him. The tongue bulge is difficult though as mine has it without a bit just behind the front teeth. He is fussy in the mouth and constantly plays with his teeth if stressed at all, with or without a bit.

 

[Ratface]

One of my previous horses had a thick tongue in a small mouth. I found the Sprenger range of bits suited him.

 

[blitznbobs]

N S verbindend has a
Mouthpiece shaped to relieve tongue pressure and is dressage legal

 

[Auslander]

I have an old single jointed snaffle with a curved mouthpiece in my bit box, and it works a treat on horses with big tongues. The curved mouthpiece reduces the nutcracker action of the single joint, and gives the tongue plenty of room

 

[ycbm]

When you say you've tried a Bomber ported snaffle, was it the Happy Tongue? If not, try that, it's got a huge port and comes in an eggbutt version.
.

 

[Quigleyandme]

Have you considered consulting a bit and bridle fitter? I had one youngster that was extremely agitated when bitted and another that refused to be bitted and both now happy and accepting. There is more to it than a large tongue. Other anatomical features also inform fit.

 

[Kaylum]

Yes a bit fitter will look where the bit sits, is it hitting the teeth, is it in the right groove, does your bridle fit etc.

 

[MrRoo]

When you say you've tried a Bomber ported snaffle, was it the Happy Tongue? If not, try that, it's got a huge port and comes in an eggbutt version.
.

Yes it was the happy tongue one, no good sadly

 

[MrRoo]

Have you considered consulting a bit and bridle fitter? I had one youngster that was extremely agitated when bitted and another that refused to be bitted and both now happy and accepting. There is more to it than a large tongue. Other anatomical features also inform fit.

Yes a bit fitter will look where the bit sits, is it hitting the teeth, is it in the right groove, does your bridle fit etc.

Interesting…the NS show Pelham he doesn’t have the tongue bulge with is used with a plain double bridle for showing. His snaffle bridle is a fancy ‘ergonomic’ type thing. Think a bridle and bit fitter is a very good idea, I hasn’t considered the bridle could be the culprit

 

[Birker2020]

The only thing that fitted my horse really well (she was a Dutch WB and they are prone for thick tongues) was the NS trans angled lozenge pelham. They had two mouthpieces sizes and I opted for the smaller of the two. NS was the recommendation of my EDT.