Bit suggestions for horse that sticks its tongue out?

Fulmer french link and drop noseband. Always a good baby bit and they definitely are less likely to wave tongues with a full cheek, plus the drop will discourage this too. It is the combination used by the SRS on their young horses so tried and tested by the best!!!
 
Ditto fulmer french link but try with keepers to hold it still in the mouth before trying drop. Personally do not like flashes.
 
First of all, do not strap mouth shut to keep tounge in - it will lead to proper resistance (but im sure you know this
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Use a cavesson and try a narrower bit, as sounds as though the horse feels like no room for tounge so is sticking it out!

Personally I would use a snaffle with a low port (like the cambridge snaffle) to allow the tounge in, and maybe put a tounge guard on that if she tries to get tounge over.
or I would go for a french link type bit that sits stiller in the mouth, but my first bets would be on a narrower mouthpiece.

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Cheek happy mouth and flash or mexican noseband works with some or neue schule starter or team up snaffle. I would definitely shut his mouth as if the habit becomes established it is very hard to put right. Also be sure to ride him to the contact to encourage him to take the bit forward.
 
just been reschooling one of these, former racer, and i would try this.
as someone said above do not strap its mouth closed to start, change the bit first and then move onto a drop if ness.
try not to go for extra links at first as horsey might have started messing cos the jingling amused it!
hanging cheek bits are good for ones with tongue out. generally the mouthpiece is thinner and the bit sits higher on the mouth allowing more room for the tongue. Adjust it a hole higher than usual to start and see what happens.
whoever said ported bits help is right for the same reasons. You might try a fillis mouthpiece as give plenty room and have an extra joint so harder to get hold of but not jingly like french links.
you might well just have to live with it, but if head shaking and fussing as well as tongue out, probably discomfort started it so remove that and then you will remove the consequence if you see what i mean.
 
I'm interested in your replies as my 5 year old does this in various snaffles with various mouthpieces. She also does it in a myler comfort snaffle. I've just got an NS verbindend to try as they're also designed with this problem in mind. I don't know if it will work or not though, horse is on holiday at the moment.
 
Thanks everyone for all the replys.

I had her in a french link fulmer with no noseband and she was nice in it but just very tongue out! Really dont like the idea of shutting her mouth as she is obviously finding something annoying/uncomfortable so would rather fix that first.


Teeth are being done next week and sure we will find something as she has probably never had them done.

Thought maybe a single jointed mouthpiece might be better as less fussy, but then thought might put more pressure on the tongue so not a good idea...
 
I would try to avoid the question until her teeth have been done then. No point causing, exaggerating an existing problem.

Can you use a rope (parelli (don't mention that word!) halter in the meantime and work from the ground. A traditional lunge cavesson will probably also put pressure on the sides of her mouth where she possible has sharp edges.

Not ideal though as I think you said something about a week trial.

If you have to ride her bitted then I would go for a small and slim nathe type bit.
 
I found that a half moon snaffle (not sure if this is the right name!!) worked well for mine who always did this! Its a double jointed snaffle but the lozenge in the centre is slightly ported and i feel it allows for his tongue more. It is also quite a narrow bit. He still sticks his tongue out a bit when getting tired schooling but i think this is to avoid the work rather than any discomfort. See what your dentist says next week.
 
Ditto Thistle's advice. I have to say, I've never had a young horse start sticking out its tongue for more than a day or so (which I don't panic about and have not had one leave me with the habit yet) without there being an underlying cause and I've never found a bit that takes the pressure off the places they're likely to hurt because, well, that would defeat the purpose of a bit.
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I found it interesting that, from my observations, western horses, which traditionally do their early work in a "side pull" (a kind of straight pull hackamore) and then don't wear nosebands when they start in a snaffle have, on average FAR fewer "mouth faults" over the short and long term than young horses started in English riding methods. Which is not to say the latter is bad in any way - many talented people obviously make lovely young horses using various permutations of that system - just interesting to note and store away.
 
It goes to show that there are many roads to Rome and at the end of the day it's trial and error to find what works. Once her teeth are done it will be easier to find what works but it would appear she needs more room for her tongue. It is a difficult habit to correct.
 
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