Fussy mouth

dixie

dixie

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I've had my horse for over 7 years now and in all this time he has been constantly fussy in the mouth. He regularly has his teeth checked by an equine dentist and his backed checked too, so I am certain there are no issues in this area.

From time to time I change bits in a vain attempt to try and find one he is comfortable in, mainly for dressage.

I hack out in a hackamore so that's fine and jump in various bits but mostly on the lozenge style. I can mostly ignore the fussing but it's not helping with the dressage.

It's not just with me either, so I don't think it's my hands that are the problem

so - any futher suggestions?

I have tried, KK ultra, Neue Schule, happy mouth straight bar, french link, Myler.

I have read a little bit about a Scrob Snaffle which is meant to be good for fussy mouths but I don't see how this works as there is a link for him to play with?

He is super in other respects but this issue keeps bugging me from time to time. Any suggestions appreciated.
smirk.gif
 
Difficult to describe, but he constantly chews & opens and closes his mouth.

When he works in a contact it's not consistent because he sorts of drops his jaw and then jerks it back out again. So my reins are on a contact and then all of a sudden loose. Not sure if that makes sense?
 
Do you use the nose net all year round then? It's worth a go - not thought of using one, which is silly as my friend always uses one - duh!
 
I've only been using it for the last couple of months, I'll feel a bit silly using it in the snow as I mutter *cough* allergies *cough* but I don't know why she does it. It doesn't sound the same as your horse. What Daisy used to do was poke her nose out and then jaggle her head up and down making it impossible to maintain a contact or any sort of brakes. I had assumed it was a teeth or bit issue but I put the mask on her for the flies on her eyes and it solved the bit jaggling as well.

I don't really know why nose nets work but if your friend would lend you theirs then you've lost nothing and its hardly an intrusive gadget
 
My boy does the same I think. Ive tried all the bits you have and also a flash and drop noseband but he still opens his mouth even without any contact on the reins and the noseband rubs him if used for any length of time as his mouth is just so active.
My boy is drawing his tongue back and opens his mouth as he does it, I dont think he is trying to get his tongue over the bit though. I think its now a habit. I will be watching this post for any ideas. Thanks for posting it.
 
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