Foaming at the mouth - good or bad?

[Chico Mio]

Would somebody please explain. I am talking a bitted horse being worked in any discipline.

 

[TS_]

I've always thought it meant they were excepting the bit and working nicely, so a good thing. Although when they get strong and try to pull on the bit they can foam, which I guess would be bad?
I would say in a horse that's being schooled (or worked in an outline) foam is good, I may be wrong though. I'm sure it probably depends on the situation and horse.

 

[katie_and_toto]

I thought a little froth was ok, as it meant he horse is accepting the bit and engaging from behind, but loads, like dripping all over their legs and chest was bad as it meant that the horse can't swallow very well, like in a double brible at top level dressage

 

[Ashgrove]

[ QUOTE ]
I thought a little froth was ok, as it meant he horse is accepting the bit and engaging from behind, but loads, like dripping all over their legs and chest was bad as it meant that the horse can't swallow very well, like in a double brible at top level dressage

[/ QUOTE ]

Ditto this.

 

[FrodoBeutlin]

Yep - a little foam is a sign that the mouth is active (essential in dressage, a horse shouldn't have a dead, immobile mouth).

HOWEVER, excessive foam (white stuff dripping all over chest and legs) is a sign of tension and therefore negative.

 

[ester]

^^ ditto

 

[Ranyhyn]

I don't think foam or froth = engaged hindquarters neccessarilly!

 

[FestiveSpirit]

[ QUOTE ]
Yep - a little foam is a sign that the mouth is active (essential in dressage, a horse shouldn't have a dead, immobile mouth).

HOWEVER, excessive foam (white stuff dripping all over chest and legs) is a sign of tension and therefore negative.

[/ QUOTE ]

Generally agree with this, although some horses (like mine) just do foam/froth/dribble more than normal

Well I think he is abnormal anyway

 

[Chico Mio]

Thank you! I was having a discussion with a (Spanish) friend who said that foaming all over the place was a sign that the horse was 'comfortable and relaxed' and I said a little foam showed a moist mouth and acceptance of the bit but a horse who appeared to be covering itself in bubble bath was not entirely happy. Surely, I asked, a wild eyed, sweat covered horse with rowel marks on it's sides, a bit with shanks 15cm long and foam flying in all directions is not 'happy and comfortable' and it's more an indication that the rider is a berk with a heavy hand rather than a 'good rider'. He counteracted with the top dressage horses/riders at which point I had to explain double bridles to him (!!) and the fact that the horses can't swallow so easily with two bits, especially if they are overbent, hence the foaming.

ETS - not all top dressage horses are overbent!!

 

[Natch]

I'm interested in this "cant' swallow so well with 2 bits" theory: are there any scientific studies that have proved this?

 

[milliepops]

I didn't think it was necessarily having 2 bits that makes it more difficult to swallow, obviously provided the horse has enough room in its mouth for a double. I thought it was more caused by having a tight noseband (e.g. crank, which is common on a double) that means the horse can't open/relax its jaw at all to swallow. Being overbent wouldn't help either. Or something like that!!

 

[Chico Mio]

The explanation was needed because said friend wasn't aware that a double bridle had two bits - he thought it was just two reins on one bit. I suppose I used the word 'more' as I ride bitless and to me any bit in the mouth makes swallowing more difficult, especially with overbend.

Thank you everyone for your replies

 

[PaintboxEDT]

the horse has approx 38ltr of fluid going round the mouth a day,so no the horse isnt accepting the bit it is because when the bit is in it cant swallow as well,its like us being in the dentists chair with our mouth open all we want to do is swallow but cant,its the same for a horse,we put a bit in and flash/drop noseband shut its mouth and it is unable to get rid of all the saliva so it foams out of the mouth !!!

 

[Chico Mio]

Thanks paintboxedt. As an experiment, people could try putting a spoon handle in their mouth, over the tongue, bit style and then try swallowing. It's actually quite difficult as the back of the tongue wants to seal against the palate to prevent food/liquid entering the windpipe and the spoon handle prevents this to a degree. It's easy to dribble. Obviously not all bits are straight bars but there is still an element of obstruction between tongue and palate, whatever the shape. With a double bridle there are two bits and, I would assume, more obstruction.

 

[HumBugsey]

QR White lipstick= good
Froth and foam= Normally bad (there is the odd horse is is just a dribbler!

)