tobiano1984
Well-Known Member
Hopefully someone will have a bright idea about this as I'm stumped..! One of my friends/liveries has a lovely big traditional Irish cob who she predominantly does dressage with, as well as hacking and jumping. She's spent a fortune on trying to find a bit he likes, but nothing seems to work!
The issue - he gurns all the time when being ridden in a contact - lips flapping about, jaw crossing, tilting head. Nothing extreme but just not right. He does the same with any rider so it's not her. He's ridden in a drop noseband at the moment and has been for a year or so, previously in a flash. Fine in a bitless bridle, although obviously no use for dressage.
I rode him in a ported Pelham and he was better, although again no use for BD. He's tried Myler, Bomber, NS, french link, eggbutt, single joint etc. All tried for a good length of time as well, not just chopping and changing. Has his teeth checked every few months, never really has an issue. Has had Osteopathy regularly, including thorough checks of head and jaw - no overdevelopment or anything. Does occasionally get stiff on the diagonal hind, probably linked to his jaw crossing. The only comment the dentist has was that he was a very fat tongue and big lips that fold inwards. But so far every bitting expert his owner has spoken to has failed to come up with a solution.
Any bright ideas here? As above, must be dressage legal. But he has a loose ring high ported Bomber snaffle and that doesn't seem to make it any better so I don't think that's a solution anyway. Just a bit stumped!
Anything else to check?! He's also a funny character - when he has a new bit in he clamps his mouth shut and looks very strange, like he can't possibly open it. It's frustrating as he's very well schooled and does a lovely test, bar all the gurning!
The issue - he gurns all the time when being ridden in a contact - lips flapping about, jaw crossing, tilting head. Nothing extreme but just not right. He does the same with any rider so it's not her. He's ridden in a drop noseband at the moment and has been for a year or so, previously in a flash. Fine in a bitless bridle, although obviously no use for dressage.
I rode him in a ported Pelham and he was better, although again no use for BD. He's tried Myler, Bomber, NS, french link, eggbutt, single joint etc. All tried for a good length of time as well, not just chopping and changing. Has his teeth checked every few months, never really has an issue. Has had Osteopathy regularly, including thorough checks of head and jaw - no overdevelopment or anything. Does occasionally get stiff on the diagonal hind, probably linked to his jaw crossing. The only comment the dentist has was that he was a very fat tongue and big lips that fold inwards. But so far every bitting expert his owner has spoken to has failed to come up with a solution.
Any bright ideas here? As above, must be dressage legal. But he has a loose ring high ported Bomber snaffle and that doesn't seem to make it any better so I don't think that's a solution anyway. Just a bit stumped!
Anything else to check?! He's also a funny character - when he has a new bit in he clamps his mouth shut and looks very strange, like he can't possibly open it. It's frustrating as he's very well schooled and does a lovely test, bar all the gurning!
