Help Pls, tongue issues!!!

[Eccles]

My 4, rising 5yo, has just started lolling his tongue out. He is an ISH. He started it out hacking (towards the end of the hack - he seems to think its a "game!!") He has no issues, and is ridden in a loose ring snaffle with a plain cavesson noseband.

He seems to do it more when he is getting tired or finding something a bit difficult. He is a lovely horse but this is something that I think needs nipping in the bud now. I have tried putting a flash on, but tbh he doesn't need it and doesn't go as well in it. He is working well on the flat, but can be sharp.

A dressage judge suggested a "tongue dummy." Now I have no idea what these are but surely they can't be BD legal? I wonder whether it is a bit issue, but I am not keen on changing bits, everything I've had gets ridden in a loose ring snaffle!!

Any suggestions as to alternative bits although they must be BD legal pls.

Please help me, I don't want this to become a habit, he starts his eventing career this year.

 

[tagalog]

try a myler. See discussion this week on 'does the bit really matter' it may just work!

 

[Eccles]

Thanks I'll have a look.

 

[melv1lle]

or speak to Neue Scheule. My horse does the same thing and I tried loads of different bits. The only thing that worked was switching to NS - I think they use a special type of metal.

 

[Eccles]

Thanks SCostello, they'll be next on the list.

 

[melv1lle]

The Neue Scheule demi anky is very good and it is BD legal (usefully they put on their website which ones are).

As a matter of interest do you know if your horses sire did a similar thing? I found a video of my horses sire racing (Be My Native) and his tongue is going everywhere the whole way through the race! Although he did win it. Ridden by Lester Piggott (not that I am at all of a sad proud mother

)

 

[Eccles]

Right I'll have a look now.

Unfortunately I don't know his sire and am not aware of what he has done - he is by Fair Democrat. Very interesting your horse's sire did the same thing though. Has your's stopped doing it completely now?

 

[melv1lle]

He has when I ride him but he does it in his stable when he wants attention and looks quite mad. One of the grooms at the yard has started calling him Special (as in special needs

)

 

[Eccles]

Well mine only does it when he's ridden at the moment!

Special, I like it!

 

[flyingfeet]

You need a shaped lozenge snaffle - Neue Schule Verbindend, Team Up or starter or Sprenger conrad (sorry no cheapo versions of this yet)

The tongue lolling out is a sign that they do not like the pressure

 

[Eccles]

I've just seen these on a bit bank website, I'll order the NS one I think too! Thanks for your help