Dressage horse just started sticking tongue out

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Madigan

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I hope someone can help me ... my dressage horse (5 yo mare) has just started sticking her tongue out when working - literally in the past 2 days. She did it in a test yesterday. What can I do to nip this in the bud???
 
This is a habit /resistance that you will want to nip in the bud. Get her back/ teeth/ saddle checked and get some good advice from a specialist in bitting as it will be harshly marked by a judge. Really feel for you. Good luck
 
I know someone who has a lovely dressage horse who does this from time to time. There are no other signs of resistance or discomfort, the horse is lovely and relaxed in all other ways - he just happens to have his tongue out... This is terrible for dressage tests. This horse wins at Advanced medium and it is a real problem they can't seem to get to the bottom with - although when the horse was on a respiratory supplement it seemed to improve.
 
My horse has always done this - at first I thought it amusing until I got into dressage. We had everything checked and changed bits a few times - she also grinds her teeth with a flash strap on. She is lovely in a bitless albeit not collected or 'on the bit'. I just leave her to it now with no flash and she is much happier - just stick the flash on for competition and she is working well. I am not too worried as I dont expect her to go to a high level and with the flash on she doesnt get it out
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I've tried most things as Bud starting doing it and he unfortunately hasn't stopped! he even does it in a Hackamore so not bit related had everything checked and all ok it's just one of his quirks! the only bit that stopped him doing it was a double spinner plate - a snaffle with a metal plate that sat above and behind onto the tongue - but obviously not dressage legal and i didn't have very good control he learnt on it badly.
Bud does go through phases of doing it more or less, less when he's really working well.
We feed him tonnes of Polo's just before go in then with so much white slobber we hope judge can't see his tongue! it does work.......
I'd get everything checked first to rule it all out then just try different bits and nosebands to see if can find somethig that helps - and if you do let me know!!!
good luck
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my friends horse does this when it is really relaxed but working very hard- i think it may be a concentration thing or something. she does BE and BD on it but she has never been marked down on it as it doesnt affect the testt or anything...
 
My mare does this almost all the time - even when she's really soft and "through". Have tried almost every bit out there and nothing makes a difference. I don't strap her mouth shut (she can still get her tongue out however tight her flash is and she just fights it). I think it's more of a habit than a resistance now - some judges don't like it but I have managed to get a 9 for a movement with the comment "tongue out" so obviously not every judge marks it harshly. Most annoying thing: people pointing it out to me - do you realise your horse's tongue is out...... you don't say, I really hadn't noticed! Fingers crossed you manage to find a solution. And if you do can you let me know?
 
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