horse with very fussy mouth

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mjcssjw2

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i have a horse who is very very fussy in the mouth, she has a very tiny mouth, and messes with the bit most of the time.
She is currently just in a thin cavesson noseband and a neuscheule verbibend.
I am currently riding her and telling her 'no' everytime she starts faffing lol.
I think she needs something small and light.
Am trying to stay away from crank nosebands and flashes as i think she may resent them.
What bits have people tried with these sorts of horses.
Her teeth have been done and are fine and her back is fine, her saddle has been fitted for her.
 
I have not had a horse fussy with the mouth but if she is messing with it most of the time and it is a loose ring, you could try her in a fixed bit either an eggbutt or full cheek so it is more stabilized in her mouth if you are trying to avoid flashes etc.
 
I've noticed a lot of people who've had difficulties with bits have found straight bar bits to work. You can get thin ones that might suit a small mouth.
 
I’ve found the verbindend a very “sharp” bit due to the narrowness of the cannons..the extreme bend in the cannons may also interfere with the tongue and bars if your mare has a very petite mouth.

You could try a baucher which suspends the bit in the mouth, it is very stable, and she may be more comfortable with it?
 
Who did her teeth? A horse with fussy mouth, 9 times out of 10, has had teeth done by vet. And the vast majority of vets are USELESS at teeth. Ask them to find a misplaced wolf tooth - they don't. And a displaced 310 - they'd figure it out (maybe) when it is SO displaced its developed an infection and diastema!!
 
mjcssjw2 said:
mmm, no not the vet, a horse dentist, but that has got me thinking
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Yep - there are good and not so good of them too. But ANYONE could miss the problem a youngster of mine had - he would NOT let the tongue below the bit. So got my EDT in. He found them, 2 wolf teeth, lower jaw - but not in the 'right' place - they were snug inside the 6's and a sharp bit protruding above the 6. Had to get the vet in to sedate - it was a risky one. Vet had never seen it before so he was happy just to administer dope and watch, lol. This horse had already had a 'tooth in ear' removed. Luckily he is a VERY nice youngster and worth spending money on - it will take time before he 'forgets' the pain the bit caused.

 
My boy isn't overly fussy in the mouth but tosses his head like a gooden as and when e feel likes it (allergies included in this head shaking). I have tried a lose ring single joint and lozenge snaffle but wasn't keen on either. I find the eggbut to be best and I have a Bombers lock up snaffle which to be honest has been amazing. Because it locks he cant play with it and he has something solid to take forward (the difference on he lunge was amazing, literally as soon as the bit when in he went from nose out tossing his head to head down using his back.. sounds like i'm fibbing but honestly I couldn't believe my eyes! He obviously likes it!
 
I can sympathise. I've just spent a fair bit of money on my mare investigating unlevelness. 2 different vets, a EBW and physio later I now have a bouncy pony. Thinking that the treatment may have solved her fussiness with the bit too, I decided to try switching back to a cavesson (had dropped noseband) and other bit.

BIG mistake - she has discovered that her tongue can go back over the bit again😥. I got the equine dentist to have a good look at her for me yesterday and had a feel myself! He couldn't find anything untoward but she does draw her tongue back which makes it go thick and wavy.

I'm back to the drawing board and restarting to try and find something she will settle in. We've only just commenced circles as been working in straight lines as physio instructions.

I did have a curved eggbutt snaffle in my collection which I found she went well in, for a while, then she started leaning a bit so switched to a loose ring.

I'm wondering if it is the pressure on her tongue which causes her discomfort. I had tried a half moon snaffle which she absolutely hated. I have put a D ring comfort snaffle back on with a drop to try next as I want her to be happy! Running short of options I feel at present.

I hope you find a solution for yours.
 
Horsekaren said:
My boy isn't overly fussy in the mouth but tosses his head like a gooden as and when e feel likes it (allergies included in this head shaking). I have tried a lose ring single joint and lozenge snaffle but wasn't keen on either. I find the eggbut to be best and I have a Bombers lock up snaffle which to be honest has been amazing. Because it locks he cant play with it and he has something solid to take forward (the difference on he lunge was amazing, literally as soon as the bit when in he went from nose out tossing his head to head down using his back.. sounds like i'm fibbing but honestly I couldn't believe my eyes! He obviously likes it!
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I love the lock up snaffle. I bought the knock off version just to try as my youngster wouldn't settle with a loose ring, eggbutt, fulmer or a hanging cheek. I put the lock up snaffle in and she settled straight away. She moves lovely with this bit and obviously finds it very comfortable :)
 
I don’t know whereabouts you are based OP but I also have a very fussy mouthed pony and I had a bit specialist come out. She showed me the confirmation of my pony’s mouth and how different bits would sit and feel to her. Then she watched me ride in my current bit then changed to one she recommended and the change was instantaneous. Her whole body relaxed and she started really tracking up. Ever since I’ve thought, why do we get a saddler for saddles without thinking about it but hardly anyone gets a bit person to check their bit? It’s a pretty essential bit of tack! (Pun intended)
 
i had a horse with a large tongue which he hung out of the side of his mouth in any jointed bit. i changed him to a half moon snaffle and he changed overnight, never hung his tongue out again...i would suggest either a straight bar or a half moon if yours is fussy in her mouth...
 
I have found that the Myler Comfort snaffle works well or those who wan the bit to remain still in their mouth. The last Appy had a little mouth amd the myler was the best mouthpiece for her, she went really well in the pelham version of the same mouthpiece too.
 
I have a mare with a small mouth and large tongue who used to be very fussy - have tried many different snaffle bits including in no particular order:


Mullen Mouth Eggbutt
French Link
Peanut
Hanging Cheek (jointed)
Ordinary Eggbutt
Ordinary loose ring

Hated all those 🙄

Racked my brains & found that she is really happy in a bit with a port so we have:

Slotted Kimblewick for hacking etc.
Pelham with port for posh stuff

Tried a Cambridge (Magic) snaffle because of port but that didn't work 😏

Finally have recently had success with a curved loose ring snaffle for schooling (yay) 😁

Cavesson noseband with everything 😉
 
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Pressure tests have shown that a crank, as long as it isn't overtightened, actually exerts less pressure than a cavesson.

Bit wise I'd look at a hanging snaffle, personally I like the Myler low port comfort mouthpiece though I also had one who preferred a mullen mouth. Unfortunately it can be a case trial & error, but I'd certainly be looking at either a hanging cheek or egbutt side & a slim mouthpiece that gives a fairly still feel.
 
Nari said:
Pressure tests have shown that a crank, as long as it isn't overtightened, actually exerts less pressure than a cavesson.

Bit wise I'd look at a hanging snaffle, personally I like the Myler low port comfort mouthpiece though I also had one who preferred a mullen mouth. Unfortunately it can be a case trial & error, but I'd certainly be looking at either a hanging cheek or egbutt side & a slim mouthpiece that gives a fairly still feel.
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How can a crank noseband exert less pressure than a Cavesson which is correctly fitted?
 
Rosiejazzandpia said:
I love the lock up snaffle. I bought the knock off version just to try as my youngster wouldn't settle with a loose ring, eggbutt, fulmer or a hanging cheek. I put the lock up snaffle in and she settled straight away. She moves lovely with this bit and obviously finds it very comfortable :)
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Do you mind if I ask where you got a cheaper version from? Have had a quick look, can only find Bomber or Trust ( which are even more expensive!)
 
I have one ergo I don't think likes metal. You could try a plastic one, mines a different horse in it. He used to bite any metal bit constantly but there isn't a mark in the plastic one.
 
I've tried many bits (metal and non metal, straight bar, single and double jointed, lozenged, ported...) with my fussy-mouthed boy, and have settled on an eggbutt Myler comfort snaffle. He is still fussy and gurns, and occasionally gets his tongue over the bit, but nowhere near as much - he is definitely noticeably more settled in the mouth in this bit. I also don't like to strap his mouth shut with a flash (in fact one one bridle I don't even use a noseband) - the eggbutt has definitely given more stability and he doesn't fiddle as much.

Once I'm back on board I'm going to get a bit consultant out and get them to check the fit of his bridle, and try a few bits. As someone said above, we get saddle fitters out at the drop of a hat but bit fitters seem less common - the horse has so many nerve endings and sensitive spots on the head, not to mention how sensitive their moths are and how differently they can be shaped; it doesn't make sense really, that we tend not to seek advice on this!

I THINK his bridle fits well, and as far as I can tell this bit suits him better than any other I have tried, but for my own peace of mind I'm going to get this checked by a professional.
 
mmm, thanks everyone for your replies, i have tried none metal, she bit the happy mouth and then i was worried about the plastic having round edges.
I am based in Yorkshire.
I did find a tiny straight bar leather covered snaffle, which i broke her in.
I lunged her last night in a loose ring snaffle and she was very quiet in her mouth - wonder if i am upsetting her - doh its hard
 
I never found the answer so ride bitless in an English hackamore - it was a revelation; she is never mouth fussy now. Her problem is a small mouth and large tongue. A Bomber Tongue Relief was the most successful of the very many bit options I tried.
 
Have you tried a nathe? They are a really flexible rubber bit, not hard like the happy mouths, and a straight bar which is slightly thinner in the middle. Often suggested for starting you horses and fussy mouths. Think they're quite expensive but I picked one up on Facebook for £25.
 
Tihama said:
How can a crank noseband exert less pressure than a Cavesson which is correctly fitted?
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It's because there is a front & back strap to the noseband & the back strap runs through metal rings on both sides thereby allowing it to move with the jaw more & when it does move it doesn't have as much impact on the front of the nose. Well that's the simplified reason anyway, I'm sure some googling will get you it in far more accurate detail.
 
I had terrible trouble with my boy - it took me 18 months to find a bit he was happy in. We ended up with a Myler hanging cheek, mullen mouth snaffle. You can get cheaper ones and I only ended up with the Myler as he needed a 6" and couldn't find a cheap one in that size but I really like it. It's nice and thin so suits his huge and slightly deformed tongue and the curve is more pronounced than cheaper ones which I think he likes too.

The biggest breakthrough, though, was a Micklem bridle. I thought they were just a gimic and any results seen by riders were a placebo effect but I was persuaded to give it a go and, despite my cynicism, I couldn't believe the difference in him. He stopped arguing with me and because everything was so muich quieter, when I did need to use a bit of hand, he could actually tell that I was asking for something and respond (usually) appropriately. I've discussed it with my instructor and her theory is that the claims about not sitting on nerves etc aren't that accurate but the bridle holds the bit very still in the mouth and this is what prodcuces good results in horses who are fussy in the mouth. This would also explain why they make a big difference to some horses and no difference at all to others (who aren't bothered by the stillness issues).
 
Gloi said:
I found a little 'magic bit' worked well for mine with a tiny mouth.
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Those bits are surprising harsh so should only be used with the softest of hands (which I'm sure yours are).

My fussy mouthed mare was in a Nathe for years and now the mildest ported Myler.
 
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