Horse snatching at the bridle

[clevelandbay]

Hi all, I wondered if anyone could help me with a problem I'm having with my mare?

I've had Rosie 3 years and she's 15, in good health, teeth done last month, back and tack all checked recently etc.

She was previously ridden in a happy mouth single jointed snaffle but when I noticed the sharp bits on this I replaced it with a similar type metal bit (although the new one is a bit larger in her mouth). She accepted this no problem and I didn't really notice any difference for riding her.

Recently however (and this is probably 3 months+ since the bit change), she's been snatching at the bit and violently pulling the reins out of my hands when out hacking. She only does this in walk (thank God, cos I don't rate my chances of staying put if she starts it in canter!!) and if I try to correct it by gently moving the bit, she'll continue to snatch and eventually over bend the other way (ie still evading any sort of contact).

My question is - any ideas what to try first? I've tried all the ideas my riding instructor has given me (riding strongly forward and moving the bit in her mouth, not pulling back and just keeping the contact consistent). Would a flash, drop nose band etc help, or should I maybe try a French link type bit.

Just wondered if anyone else had encountered this and had any success in dealing with it.

Whew - well done if you got this far!!

 

[Eriskayowner]

I would never put a single jointed bit in a horses mouth due to its action. If your horse was previously happy in a rubber-type mouthpiece, then maybe go back to that and see if that helps. If not, then try the French link/lozenge mouthpiece.

I wouldn't go to strapping her mouth up as you might just be "trapping the pain" rather than relieving it.

 

[Ginger Bear]

Is she tucking her head under & sort of 'hanging' on the bit & pulling the reins out of your hands? If so when I first got my boy he was ridden in a rubber pelham (he has a nasty scar of the corner of one side of his mouth) the PO said that she road him in a rubber pelham as it was softer on his scar??? Well as soon as I got him home I knew he hated this bit & also the scar was so dead & had no feeling in it that he dribbles his carrotts out of it, I couldn't see how a metal bit could do any harm so I switched it for a Waterford bit..it's like a loose bobberly chain that moves in their mouth & stops them hanging on the bit.. I also started Dressage lessons with him, it compeletely changed the way he works & now he's ridden in a snaffle..

 

[Sare]

My old CB came to me with a single joint and used to fling his head up everytime an aid was given. I changed sharpish to a french link which was better and then when I found a myler big enough used that- he was perfect in it! Just had a low palate so when the single joint bit came into action the joint moved upwards hitting the roof of his mouth- poor boy. Myler completely prevented that so he was so easy in it

So my advice is change bit to frenck link, lozenge or myler mouth piece