Getting tongue over the bit?

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bex1984

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After my final show class yesterday I passed one of the spectators who said "well done...but do you know he's got his tongue over the bit?!" ...well...I didn't know that!!
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He didn't feel any stronger than normal (but he is normally bloody strong) and I have no idea how long he had been like that...and now I'm wondering if it's something he does regularly?
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Although yesterday I was using a new bridle, so maybe I didn't have it fitted correctly?

How would I tell if he did have his tongue over the bit? And more importantly, how do I stop him doing it?
 
My horse does this as well. I posted about it yesterday in NL, got some good tips.
But when mine does it he goes from his normal chilled out self to unrideable so I can tell when he's done it!
 
Thanks, just had a look at your post. Murphy is in a straight bar pelham, he hates anything apart from straight bar bits, and is strong hence the pelham.

I had just galloped him in the championship class when the lady said his tongue was over the bit, so I'm guessing he had done it before that
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and I hadn't been able to tell... perhaps the little monster is doing it all the time and I just can't tell?!
 
Check the fit of the bit and bridle. You can get bits with tongue ports and rubber doo hickies (clearly not correct technical term!) to stop them doing it. The underside of the tongue is more sensitive so they can hurt themselves doing it. Is it the lovely looking blackie in your sig? If it is because he is a native type they can have quite thick tongues and maybe he doesn't have enough room in his mouth. I don't know if this would make him put his tongue over tho. Try taking a look at "Enlightened Bitting" by Heather Hyde, they sell Neue Scheule bits but it also has some interesting info on mouth conformation. PM me if you want the details.
ps just remembered rubber thing is called tongue guard i think!
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Thank you, I'll look up the Enlightened Bitting thing. I did have him in a kimblewick with a port and he didn't like it. He hates french link and single jointed bits too.

It is the one in my sig, this is a close up of his bridle yesterday, do you all think it looks OK?? http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t318/bexboo1984/100_2040.jpg

He has randomly started grabbing the shanks of his bit in his teeth and pulling hard on it (holding it still) when he's standing. I am getting his teeth checked next week because I'm concerned about why he's doing this, but maybe that's when he put his tongue over the bit?! ooo just found a pic of him doing it: http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t318/bexboo1984/100_2044.jpg

odd???
 
Oh he's a cutie! From what I can see bridle looks fine, my Welshie used to play with the shanks on his Pelham in the line up in exactly the same way. Yours is the only one I've seen do the same thing. I think he has a musical nature ans was keeping him self entertained listening to the tinkle it made when he did it! Just looked at the other post too if lack of manners/fiddling has started together would make sense he has some discomfort or something else going on?
 
well...he's started chewing his leadrope when I bring him in and pulling on his bit in the last two weeks so he's booked to have his teeth checked next week. I might ask the dentist about him getting his tongue over the bit. The pulling me around has happened before, he's just a bit full of himself I think.

I'm not sure how I tell if he has his tongue over the bit when I'm riding? Maybe he always does?! Or maybe yesterday was a one off?
 
Can't answer that I'm afraid if his head carriage and feel doesn't change I don't know. I guess you have to have someone on the ground watch you to see if and when it happens?
 
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