Horses who get their tongue over the bit

tabithakat64

tabithakat64

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My gelding has managed to do this a couple of times now whilst having a strop about being schooled by my instructor. He's ridden in a NS trans lozenge with cheeks and cavasson (sp?) noseband.
Why has he suddenly started doing this? How do I stop him doing this?
His bit is high enough in his mouth and the correct size and his teeth aren't due to be done for another three months.
 
My mare used to do this all the time so I put a flash on her (as advised by RI). She worked really well in it and I'm starting to try her in a cavesson again (don't really like the look of flash nosebands
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I would be cautious of strapping his mouth shut as a solution. My youngster started doing this all the time - she would flap her tongue over the bit even while being tacked up! I tried putting on a grackle, but she was clearly unhappy. So I changed the bit to a thinner mouthpiece which had a slight port (Myler) which gave room for her rather fat tongue. She now never ever does it even though it would be very easy for her to do so. Might be worth just trying something like this before resorting to changing the noseband?
 
When were his teeth last checked? They might not be due for another 3 months, but it would be something I would get checked out as well as a saddle fitting.

Usually a horse does this when the bit is too thick for the mouth. Has he got a fat tongue and low palette?

I would suggest a thinner mouthpiece before a flash noseband. If the horse is in pain, a flash will make it even more painful for him.

I wonder if he could have a cut or ulcer on his tongue which could be the cause.
 
His teeth were only done 3 months ago and his saddle was reflocked about a month ago. I cannot see any sore bits on his gums or tongue.
I'm reluctant to use a different noseband as his wont sort out whatever is causing the problem.
He does have a fleshy tongue and I've been looking at some bits on ebay (including Mylers) with ported mouthpieces so will try a few out and see if they help.
His current mouthpiece is 18mm.
The vet is coming next week, so will ask her to take a look at his teeth and mouth then, just to make sure there isn't a problem.
 
Hmmm interesting, sounds like you have tried just about everything!

Would def be worth asking the vet to investigate when they are next up. If still cannot find a cause, go down the Myler route.

I hope you can sort it out easily.
 
18mm is a relatively fat bit in my book - I one of mine is in a 12mm lozenge for dressage as he needs the space.

Think ported myler or a shaped bit like a NS verbindend or Sprenger conrad is probably the way to go.
 
def get the teeth and mouth thoroughly checked again by the vet - had a similar issue with mine a few months ago, I get the teeth checked every 6 months so they were not overdue... however, turned out mine had chipped a molar tooth and had a sore high up on the inside of his mouth.
Make sure the vet has a good look, he needs to check right up at the back as well to be sure there is nothing
 
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