Horse getting her tongue over the bit

[0ldmare]

My young horse is a magician at getting her tongue over the bit. It doesnt seem to matter what bit I put on her, nor how high up in her mouth it is (if I raise the bit any more she will look like she is being cut in two!). As I say I have tried several styles of bit from loose ring snaffle, french link, kimblewick and pelham. The noseband in each case is just a cavesson although I do have a crank noseband somewhere. Do you think it would help? Just as an aside she has the LONGEST tongue of any horse I have ever seen - the horse dentist couldnt stop laughing as it was lolling out about a foot long when he had the gag on her!! Any ideas?

 

[fairhill]

Might be worth trying a flash with her? Mine is constantly fiddling with the bit and trying to get her tongue over (has only managed it once) and the dentist told me to use a flash, and it's made a huge difference.

 

[Madam_max]

Could try a drop or a Grakle, my mare hates a flash but is great in either of these.

 

[CSYMolly]

Ditto with the flash, I rode in a cavesson for years but when the work started getting harder she stared getting her tongue over the bit, put a flash on and she's stopped.

 

[StaceyTanglewood]

Id change the noseband not the bit !!

 

[0ldmare]

Thanks for your help, my only problem is she likes the pelham and the kimblewick much more than the snaffle options, (much more settled) but I cant use a grakle etc with those bits!

 

[Loupride]

You can use a grackle with a pelham, Can't you???
Maybe I'm having a blonde moment

 

[0ldmare]

Ooh, I always thought you couldnt. Will investigate. Thanks

 

[Madam_max]

http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:zp4kQ...;cd=1&gl=uk

 

[Loupride]

Blonde moment it is so

How did I forget about the curb???

 

[Madam_max]

But it says people do?

 

[Loupride]

I have no doubt that people do

I've just copped on as to why I wouldn't be able to....

 

[Halfpass]

My dressage trainer say that he thinks that a flash noseband should be a basic part of everyones tack for this very reason. Even if the flsah is not done up too tightley it acts as a support to the bit meaning it is difficult for a horse to get its tongue over. I would try this. I ride all my horses and my youngster in a flash and have never had this problem.

 

[Donkeymad]

What sort of mouthpice do your bits have? Would a ported mouth piece help? You could also consider a Worcester noseband rather than a flash.

 

[PaintboxEDT]

i used a grackle and kimblewick on my boy as he use to do it for a past time,down main roads etc !!
also i put a rubber gadget on his bit !! dont ask me what it was called i cant remember it was so long ago !!
it looked like a flat dummy thats the only way i can describe it lol !!!

 

[katie_and_toto]

Paintbox - do you mean a tongue guard?

Oldmare - Maybe she'd be happier going bitless?

 

[PaintboxEDT]

just seen something similar to what i was trying to describe and its called a juba tongue port,it worked wonders on keeping his tongue under the bit !!

 

[PaintboxEDT]

http://www.brighteyesandbobtails.co.uk/acatalog/Bit_Accessories.html

its just over half way down this page,it was fab my boy was 19 at the time the little monkey