Foaming at the mouth

Tiarella

Tiarella

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Is it normal for a horse to foam at the mouth when accepting the contact?

Shpug has (FINALLY) just started to work into a contact, but foams a lot from his mouth, it ends up all over his chest, legs and face
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He obviously didnt do this before as havent really asked to work on the bit.

His teeth are all good, had EDT couple of months ago.
 
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Most horses get a wet mouth, but this sounds like he is struggling to swollow. What bit are you using?

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just a normal french link snaffle what he has always had. He has only started doing it since working on the bit.
 
It sounds as if he's just relaxed in his jaw being that he's working on the bit.

Hard to tell really though without pictures what is 'too much!'
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It sounds as if he's just relaxed in his jaw being that he's working on the bit..

Hard to tell really though without pictures what is too much!
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He does feel a lot more relaxed in his jaw actually. Erm, its not bucket loads
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Just goes all foamy and when trotting drips onto his legs etc
 
horses have approx 38 ltrs of saliva in the mouth a day and they need to be able to swallow,if the mouth is locked up a bit plus they have a bit in they find it harder to swallow,also made harder if you use a drop/flash noseband ? if its not something you have notice before then maybe get the teeth looked at again or keep and eye on it and see how it goes
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I've always been told that when a horse excessively froths at the mouth (eg splatters its front end) it is struggling to swallow, as a horses tongue has to move up to the top of its mouth to do so, and with a restrictive bit it may struggle to swallow. Obviously, if they cant swollow all the slobber, it has to come out somewhere! It could be because you've changed your style of riding to get him to to accept the bit, and he is finding it more restrictive than what he is used to. Maybe a change of bit (thinner mouth peice) could help.
I may be wrong though
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Do you have anyone who can look at you riding and give you an experienced opinon? Or, even some video people could see if you are brave.
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It's just that I think this is a tough one to comment on without actually seeing what is going on.
 
Everything you say makes sense Soph, if it carries on I will change to a bit with a thinner mouth piece to see if things improve.

Its certainly not excessive, I will get pic/video when I next ride
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Mine will foam althought not to the splatter his chest/anyone in sight - I as always told that was the sign of a good mouth? he certainly does it a lot more than when I first had him - EDT is upto date too!
 
Foaming at the mouth IS ALWAYS saliva which isnt....or cannot be....swallowed. There are several reasons why it isnt or cant be swallowed. Whilst the bit may be restrictive., it may also be that since the horse has discovered that being "on the bit" helps his self carriage (you cannot put a horse on the bit.....they learn to use the bit that way for themselves), that his conformation is restrictive to swallowing....e.g. the space between his atlas (1st vertabrae) and the rear curve of his jaw is reduced when his head is in his "on the bit" position to the extent that his swallowing mechanism is restricted. The horse may find that scarificing swallowing (remember he can still breath ok through his nose) is preferable to a head carriage which assists him working in this manner. Dental pain or imbalances which restricts swallowing, often promotes resistance. If you cannot feel resistance and you feel that the horse is working willingly and freely but is still salivating excessively, or foaming it may just be due to the above problem...or similar. Dificult to assess without seeing though.
 
Good morning to you too. Hope this makes sense. What i am trying to say is that each horses own individual "on the bit" head position is different and some may just choose not to swallow when in this "easier way of working" position. You will probably find that the majority of horses who do have "foamy mouths" are actually working very well and "on the bit"....which may be why this is often seen to be the sign of a happy horse...or one with a "good mouth" (whatever that is?).
 
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