fat tongue small mouth bitting help please!!

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I have a TB with a mahoosive tongue and a relatively small mouth, whenever i peak inside his mouth there doesn't seem to be much room!

He came in a loose ring snaffle dutch gag but it was a bit small so i swapped to a NS lozenge snaffle (not sure exactly which one, a simple one) but he didn't go well in that. I tried a loose ring thin french snaffle but he didn't like that either.

Currently i have in the loose ring NS verbindend but he doesn't go as well as i would like in that either! He has a very dry mouth, tends to lean on the bit or at times throw his head up, in downwards transitions to halt he just opens his jaw and keeps walking!

I am trying to work on the schooling but he isn't really helping me out!! He is in a looseish flash (have tried just cavesson) and all the usual checks have been done.

Any suggestions please please please?! I am starting to think we will never have a harmonious ride :(
 
Has the dentist confirmed he has a large Tongue etc, I only ask as I thought this about my resistant ID, dentist looked and said his mouth was totally normal, he has improved with loads of schooling. :)
 
What thickness is your ns? My one with thick tongue went well in their thinner one 16mm
 
Have you considered either a french link hanging cheek (NS make one too) or a bradoon with a lozenge or french link as these are much smaller bits.

I would carry on doing loads of transitions to get him forward and lighter in the contact, the more active the hind leg, the less they can lean-and what about a play with different nosebands ie no flash, tighter flash, or a correctly fitted drop noseband can be good too.

Good luck with everything!
 
Cupcakes and Horses said:
I would look at something that is no thicker than 14mm and something that gives tongue relief. My connie has quite a big tongue and hates all lozenge bits
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I agree with this. Lozenge bits are usually resented by horses with little room in their mouths. I have found a single jointed 14mm NS demi anky bit suit these horses. Even though it is single jointed, it is shaped so that it does not hit the roof of the mouth or squeeze the tongue. The thinness of the mouthpiece also helps a great deal.
 
Wagtail said:
I agree with this. Lozenge bits are usually resented by horses with little room in their mouths. I have found a single jointed 14mm NS demi anky bit suit these horses. Even though it is single jointed, it is shaped so that it does not hit the roof of the mouth or squeeze the tongue. The thinness of the mouthpiece also helps a great deal.
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My tb has a biggish tongue, she has a hilary vernon losenge bit, it is a shaped bit to compliment the shape of the mouth but the losenge is flat to the tongue when you take up the contact, its slim and light weight and my girl is going really well in it, worth a try
 
Wagtail said:
I agree with this. Lozenge bits are usually resented by horses with little room in their mouths. I have found a single jointed 14mm NS demi anky bit suit these horses. Even though it is single jointed, it is shaped so that it does not hit the roof of the mouth or squeeze the tongue. The thinness of the mouthpiece also helps a great deal.
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Really glad to hear this, because this is what I've been considering for Star.

She can't abide lozenge bits, has a fat tongue and a small mouth also. I was going to suggest a mullen of some sort,as I've had sucess with those.
 
Rather than rush out and try an excessively expensive bit, I'd go for either a Cambridge snaffle (I hand these out like sweets they are so good) or a loose ring half moon jointed snaffle. Both have tongue room, and horses which tend to lean on other bits really lighten in them.
 
My cob has a large fleshy tongue but a really small mouth (as confirmed by dentist). His mouth is so small that I was told any bit would be uncomfortable for him. I now have him in a bitless bridle and he is one happy chappy!
 
Rowreach said:
Rather than rush out and try an excessively expensive bit, I'd go for either a Cambridge snaffle (I hand these out like sweets they are so good) or a loose ring half moon jointed snaffle. Both have tongue room, and horses which tend to lean on other bits really lighten in them.
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Rowreach Is the cambridge snaffle dressage legal ?
 
I have same problem. Youngster has really big fleshy tongue and most bits just seem to thick for his mouth. Ive just ordered a french link that is made much thinner than normal to see if it makes a difference.
 
No, sadly it's not :( which is such a shame as so many horses go so sweetly in it. It's really useful though as an interim for horses who are unhappy in their mouths for whatever reason, or horses that lean. I use them for starting youngsters too (mainly IDs with fleshy tongues) as they are comfy and very steady in the mouth and give them an even feel. I personally don't like single jointed bits but do use double jointed ones with the half moon, which also give tongue space :).

A lot of people tell me their horses are "strong" when in fact they are leaning, and the Cambridge is often a complete instant fix for this.
 
i had this problem and tried all the mylers with no luck... then tried a "rocking s snaffle" for my boy, he has a very soft mouth and this worked wonders. he used to put his tounge over the bit all the time and i tried everything. i don't know how to post a picture of it on here but google it, and give it a try.. its a very gentle bit and i had an amazing result with it.... its an american bit.
 
wow, thanks for all the replies, loads of suggestions!! :)

I borrowed a myler comfort snaffle yesterday from a friend to try and he did seem slightly less resistant and to it. It had eggbutt cheek pieces and he did seem to have a steadier head carriage (although at times was leaning) so I do hope if i can find the right bit he will be better.

I will have to do some investigating and then get hiring! I have never heard of some of these bits so thanks again for the suggestions. I did also wonder about trying a drop noseband so might do that too.
 
if you go onto http://www.horsebitbank.com/ and contact them, tell them your issue they will help and alot of the bits you can trial at a fraction of the price before you buy, i sent them an essay regarding my 2 horses, they been very helpful both times, my TB they got right first time around, made such a difference for him.
 
natalia said:
Try a Pee Wee. magic bit for those with tiny mouths and big tounges!
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Yes a friend has a pee wee and suggested I try it. She is going to bring it at the weekend so I can have a go, the pics looks a bit gruesome because they are so thin but hopefully if he is happier i would have to fight him less!

Colleen_Miss_Tom said:
Cambridge snaffle for me .....
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I might get one of these on hire as there are quite a few recommendations, i never would have thought to try one. Thanks!
 
blue&whitesRock said:
if you go onto http://www.horsebitbank.com/ and contact them, tell them your issue they will help and alot of the bits you can trial at a fraction of the price before you buy, i sent them an essay regarding my 2 horses, they been very helpful both times, my TB they got right first time around, made such a difference for him.
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yes, i have hired a couple of bits to try. I sent them a few emails previously and had no reply :( I spoke to them at YourHorseLive and they recommended his current bit which is better but still not right. I might email them again though.
 
My TBxWB mare had similar issues, fat tounge small mouth and threw her head up at any pressure. I tried lots of NS bits, myler comfort snaffle, happy mouth and your normal single jointed and French link snaffle. Nothing worked until I tried the Sprenger Dynamic RS, very expensive, but totally worth it as she was instantly so much happer!!

I got mine on eBay for much less than you'd pay in the shops :)
 
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