Chomping at the Bit! Long and quite boring I expect

P

Parkranger

Well-Known Member
Joined
21 May 2006
Messages
10,546
Visit site
I'm bringing the boy back into hard work again now to get him fit now that we're at a yard with a decent school!

So I'm doing 30 mins schooling a day (for first couple of weeks) and then trying to hack out twice a week (bear in mind he's bloody unfit and looks like Hannah did about a week ago
frown.gif
)

He's always been a bit of a bit chomper but I actually found it quite embarassing the other night - all you could hear in the school was chomp, chomp, chomp, chomp.....
grin.gif


He's quite tense when you first get on so I'm working on getting him relaxed properly before I start getting him into an outline etc...wondering if it's a nerves/tension thing?

I'm very light with my hands (as he does 'snatch' alot when excited and frustrated) and he can be steered solely on leg so it's not me being heavy handed.

Just wondered if anyone had come across this?

He pulls on the reins in trot but not walk/canter and stops it when I school in sitting trot as I think he knows that I have more control then.....I've stopped schooling in canter at the moment as he gets so excited and has now managed to coin his own 'lame trot' where he bobs his head so much through excitement.

Any advice mucho appreciated! x
 
I'm not sure if this is the same as you or not but Mr D chomps on the bit a fair bit too. He tends to do it when we are standing around doing nothing like in a lesson when we are standing to the side letting other people do their thing. He does it after work too. I had the dentist come out and look at his teeth and he did a little work but said it probably wasn't teeth related. It's not pain related either. It just seems to be a 'darcy' thing; he is impatient and likes to amuse himself. He's in a german silver training bit with a chunky mouthpiece, hollow loose-ring with a lozenge. He does it whatever bit he's in.

not sure that this helps but you're not alone!
crazy.gif
 
my lad used to chomp, until the vet took his tush tooth out, (sorry is it tush or wolf teeth)

he only had one on one side so it made him uncomfy in the mouth so he chomped and chewed and head bobbed
has your lad had teeth seen to?
 
Teeth were done not long ago. He did have bridling issues but they have resolved now that he's in a plain chunky loose ring snaffle.

Think he's just using avoidance tactics - any reason NOT to listen to me!
 
It does souns like it is born out of habit! Maybe you could try a Neue Schule type bit as the metal seems to be warmer. Maybe you could also try some honey on the bit to try and allow him to accept it better?

Hb
 
[ QUOTE ]
It does souns like it is born out of habit! Maybe you could try a Neue Schule type bit as the metal seems to be warmer. Maybe you could also try some honey on the bit to try and allow him to accept it better?

Hb

[/ QUOTE ]

He takes the bit fine, I think perhaps because he's not being made to think all the time he's getting bored?

I'm starting lessons again soon so atleast we'll have something to work on! x
 
[ QUOTE ]
jay does that if you put his french link or normal snaffle on but not with his mullen mouth pelham
confused.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

mmm, problem is that he's kind of going back to basics with schooling so I don't really know if I want him in a straight bar at the moment.....his bending is going so well in a jointed.
 
[ QUOTE ]
horses eh
grin.gif


could it be the metal he doesnt like?

[/ QUOTE ]

He's always been a bit of a chomper - even with a happy mouth snaffle - you just couldn't hear it!
grin.gif
 
My boy does this as an evasion tactic for about the first 20 mins of schooling - once he has settled into work he's fine - it usually takes about 20mins to get his attention fully, then he's good for about 20 mins and then his concentration wanders again - think he's a part bred goldfish!!! (his other evasion tactic is coughing & blowing his nose - never does it at any other time!!) He's much worse with the chomping in the dressage legal bit (Neueschule sweet iron comfy contact) - never does it in the pelham (hacking /jumping bit). Pesky!!
smirk.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Have you tried him with a flash noseband?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes but I'd rather get him paying more attention that strap his gob shut - or is that a rubbish tactic?

PMSL to the nose blowing thing - Ty does EXACTLY the same thing.

Bloody TB's
grin.gif
 
Meg went through a similar thing, and also kept her mouth open a lot of the time, so my RI said to pop a flash on so that she gets out of the habit. I only needed it for a few weeks, and now she doesn't wear one, and is mouthing the bit quite nicely.
Just sounds like as he's doing it as an evasion, it's going to be much harder for you to get his attention whilst he's distracted by chewing on the bit.
 
Does he chomp the whole time, or just initially when he is a bit tense? I'd be wary of using a flash if it is a tension thing, he might find an alternative outlet. Find a quieter bit!
 
Hello
I think its one of those habits that once they start it they keep doing it. My scatty scatty thoroughbred mare, when she was ridden in a loose ring french link used to chomp like mad. eventually because she started getting very strong and doing the whole bit evasion thing i changed to a myler low port comfort snaffle. she still chomps when bored or nervous but isnt at all strong and no evasion and works well although there seems to be alot more dribble!
 
I agree with Sooty one of ours chews out of stress bit like biting fingernails in humans. IMO if he does it all the time and is not stressed then try a flash and see if it makes a difference and if not bin it!
 
I tried a flash to stop my boy - didn't help - made him poke his nose and dance from one front foot to the other 'can't move can't move - got nasty snake round my nose!!' He's such a plonker!
grin.gif
 
Is it this kind of behaviour you are talking about Stimpy:

http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=256...medium=text_url

My boy does it for about 30seconds when you first ride him.
I think its just babyishness with him though, and the fact he is 6 but hasnt been ridden for a year!
I just give him his head and ask him to work to take his mind off it. As you can see once you ask him to do something he forgets and behaves!

Have you tried that, just giving him something else to think about?
 
[ QUOTE ]
Teeth were done not long ago. He did have bridling issues but they have resolved now that he's in a plain chunky loose ring snaffle.

Think he's just using avoidance tactics - any reason NOT to listen to me!

[/ QUOTE ]

If you are using a chunky loose ring snaffle, maybe it is too thick for his mouth. Although considered milder some horses especially TB's just don't have the room in their mouths. Happy mouths tend to be quite thick too. I would consider changing to a thinner loose ring, like a racing bit, just to see if he prefers to have less in his mouth..

Love your discription of chomp chomp chomp echoing round the school LOL..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top