bitting a baby

[blitznbobs]

So I have just started bitting my 3 year old.(for 3 weeks) She is a big girl (a good 17 hh now) and I wanted to get some in hand work under way. It has been going very well (she is a very mouthy person) but she is now starting to put her tongue over the bit. She is in a shires equikind loose ring snaffle. Would you get a bitting person out at this stage as I don't want to tie her mouth shut but equally I don't want this habit being consolidated either... or would you just persevere for a bit longer. TBH its years since I did any of this stuff and we just stuck whatever in their mouths back then and hoped for the best. I've always used a plastic type bit then switched to a NS team up but I'm aware things have changed. this horse is a bit special so don't want to upset her nor do I want to pussyfoot around her... so a difficult balance needs to be struck.

 

[GrassChop]

Sorry, I don't have any advice but I've just started bitting mine so will be interesting to see what others suggest in case.

 

[ycbm]

I've never used a bit fitter but when mine was putting his tongue over the bit my instructor at the time (Kate Earthy) told me to lower the bit in his mouth, and it worked even though it felt totally counter intuitive.

 

[maya2008]

Fit's wrong. Check the cheekpieces - up/down a hole perhaps. Check bit size in mouth. The problem is usually there somewhere.

Also check if the plastic bit now has sharp edges from being chewed.

 

[SpeedyPony]

You could try eggbutt/hanging cheeks? It may not solve the issue, but it's an easy thing to try - sometimes they can be looking for a bit more stability.
I have one who went into a hanging cheek as the loose ring was too mobile in her mouth and that made her fuss with it.