Horse Opens Mouth With Bit

[wrangler]

I have a gelding who opens his mouth with the bit. I have tried him in every snaffle imaginable, different mouth pieces, different thicknesses, rollers, etc (the only one I have not used is a myler, because I literally just got it lol. I have also not used anything twisted or a waterford, because he doesn't need them). He opens his mouth every time pressure is applied, and I have very soft hands. Even with the lightest pressure he opens his mouth. Multiple people have checked him out and he doesn't have a fat tongue or a low palate, and I am the one who started him so it's not a fear thing.

I don't want to crank a noseband or flash on him, I would ideally like to find the root of his issues, and he isn't mouthing the bit, he just opens his mouth.

The ONLY time he does not open his mouth is when I am using a leverage bit. He is not a strong horse, he is actually incredibly soft in the face. I have used a mullen mouth, and a 3 piece lozenge pelham, both with baby shanks. When I use the snaffle rein, he opens his mouth, but when I use the leverage rein, he seems very relaxed and keeps his mouth closed with both bits. He is literally so strange.

Are there some horses who just hate snaffle bits? Am I doing something wrong?
I have ridden and trained horses for a very long time and I have not come across this, unless it was created by bad training, harsh bits, or harsh hands.

 

[ycbm]

Have you tried a nathe?

Do you do stuff that needs a bit and can't be done in a hackamore?

If you don't need to ride in a snaffle for competition, then I'd just accept his preference for a shanked bit, since he's made it so clear.
.

 

[pistolpete]

My old horse was like this. He had a neck issue so anything that shortened him caused him to open his mouth went bitless and he improved massively.

 

[Sprat]

Is his saddle right? I know when my mares saddle isn't fitting right as she starts to faff with her mouth. Maybe worth a look?

 

[BSL2]

After trying loads of different, very expensive bits, my very fussy, very sensitive arab goes brilliantly in a cheap French link stainless steel small ringed eggbutt snaffle for schooling and for hacking/faster work he has a Pee Wee. No more head tossing, backing off, snatching. Just a lovely settled ride. And if I have to say, enough now, steady, he listens instead of fighting. Dont do it my way, get a bit expert to come and help you.? To add, I agree with others, get everything checked. Teeth ,back, saddle etc.

 

[Gloi]

The myler with the port was the answer to mine though a bomber might also be an idea. Mine hates any tongue pressure.

 

[Jaqa]

Some horses don't like the nutcracker action or the joints moving in their mouth. Can you just continue to use the mullen mouth bit?

 

[Zuzan]

I could pretty much guarantee this is an issue with the direction of contact.. see my comments in the French link thread.

 

[TotalMadgeness]

Mine faffs with his mouth because he has a twisted left fore as well as bone spavin in both hocks. He's also better with a pelham for some reason!

 

[YorkshireLady]

So that I think is leaning to him hating tongue pressure more than bar pressure? Let us know how he is in the myler. You may also find for none dressage work that he likes the myler port with hooks...

however also agree that if its not a dressage legal thing...use what he likes

 

[Cortez]

It baffles me why people think that snaffle bits are "good" or kind, and curb action bits are "bad" or harsh. IME most horses go better in curb bits or double bridles, but this, as with all things to do with horses, does depend on the training and sensitivity of the rider.

 

[My Boys M&D]

This is really interesting because my horse is very similar. Doesn't like snaffles but goes beautifully in a tom thumb with rollers. I persisted for so long with a snaffle because I thought it was the 'kind' thing to do but have accepted that he is showing me his preference very clearly!

I just swap him into a snaffle with a lozenge literally on the day we are competing for dressage. He's in the tom thumb all other times and seems very happy.

Edited to add, the one time I tried him in my trainers double bridle was the best he's ever gone! So light and supple and accepting of the contact. I just can't be faffing around with 2 reins on a daily basis.

 

[Kaylum]

have you looked at your bridle as well. Have you tried without a noseband and looked at how the bridle sits behind the ears and on the head. Those anatomical some of them are terrible behind the ears. Lots of people are reverting back to the basic bridles as they dont add as much pressure. Padding you might think is good but it really can be quite uncomfortable.