Constant bit chewing! - any ideas

[kellyanglin]

Hi,
I am just bringing my 6 year old mare back into limited work after 3 months box rest after tendon injury. She has almost regressed back to the baby I bought last april but I'm sure she'll settle given a few more weeks. She is a real 'chewer', anything near her around the stable and most annoyingly her bit. She chews it all the time which means I am not getting a whole lot of concentration from her when I need it. She has had her teeth done very recently and whilst advised to have them done every 6 months there are no problems.
When I first got her she did the same, I tried a few bits and after a couple of months she settled into a hanging cheek jointed snaffle quite well. I am hopeful that after a few more weeks she'll settle into it again but just wondered if anyone has experienced similar and had any bits which cured this problem for them more quickly............

x

 

[Shilasdair]

Maybe try a French link snaffle...eggbutt...in my experience a lot of horses, particularly TB types, like them.
Perhaps try lunging her with a bridle (no noseband) and cavesson, with side reins so she can find her own contact.
Playing with the bit isn't always a bad sign...as long as she's salivating, but you could try to deter her a little by tightening her noseband or using a flash or grakle.
S

Edited as keyboard full of crumbs

is having negative effect on typing accuracy

 

[summertoots]

I have a TB who had a chewing habit. He was in a french link eggbut, and it did help to improve him, but he could still fall into the chewing thing when he was a bit hyper or stressing. I got intouch with a bit bank and got a eggbut sprenger KK with a losenge. He doesnt chew at all now.
Dont know if its because he likes the taste, if its warmer or just that he knows it cost me money I didnt have so thought he better get on with things!! Either way is fine because it has done the trick and has improved his way of going