Noseband Vs bitting issue - tongue over bit again...

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Ranyhyn

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My mare is still farting about with her mouth. This started last June (she'd been with me a few months by then) and hasn't stopped.

The fact file:

Back, saddle, teeth have been done. Twice in fact since she started.
The height of the bit has been altered (from HIGH to low and everything in between)
The bit is the same as she was ridden in previously (with no issues by myself and previous owner til June) the only difference might be bit thickness?
She does the same for me AND for anyone else that rides her.
She'll do it while hacking, while schooling - any activity.

So here we are, I'm in talks with the bit hire place, but looking for some opinions.
I know some of you have said your horses just one day started doing this and never stopped - so I guess we're looking at a noseband change? What is the softest noseband choice that will keep her from doing this?

However if there's something I could be missing, please feel free to suggest.

Thanks and a nice cuppa to all who read!! :cool:
 
I think I would try taking her nsoeband off completely first, just in case it's that she is objecting to. Failing that I would try a drop first. They are not nasty at all when fitted properly.

Sounds to me she has learned to do it and decided it's fun!
 
Yeah she's a pretty smart mare, she quite possible HAS worked out that generally we stopm readjust and continue - great evasion technique...
Thanks P :)
 
The first thing to try if you havent already is to do the cavesson more tightly, this is sometimes enough before changing to something else.

I would then probably use a grackle rather than a flash, combined with a bit that gives her more tongue room, you dont say what she is currently in but a simple change to thicker/thinner or a curved mouthpeice can make a lot of difference.
A roller in the middle can be good for horses that play with their tongues.

I have a good range of different snaffles, rarely need anything else, and often find changing to a slightly different one makes a huge difference to the way a horse goes, much more than you would expect.
If you want to try a flash you can get an adapter for not very much money before spending to get a whole noseband.
 
What's she like without a bit? Is she controllable? Is she happy? It might not be a bit/noseband issue but it'll help to diagnose it?

If she's still fussy then try back with a bit - something nice and basic. I love the MB02 loose ring snaffle. I'd try it without the noseband. Then keep on changing things until you sort it!!
 
be positive said:
The first thing to try if you havent already is to do the cavesson more tightly, this is sometimes enough before changing to something else.

I would then probably use a grackle rather than a flash, combined with a bit that gives her more tongue room, you dont say what she is currently in but a simple change to thicker/thinner or a curved mouthpeice can make a lot of difference.
A roller in the middle can be good for horses that play with their tongues.

I have a good range of different snaffles, rarely need , and often find changing to a slightly different one makes a huge difference to the way a horse goes, much more than you would expect.
If you want to try a flash you can get an adapter for not very much money before spending to get a whole noseband.
Click to expand...

Oops wrong quote
 
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We had a pony that was terrible for doing this, he came to us in a Dr Bristol, flash and the old owner also used a tongue tie. We tried loads of different options, including nosebands, bits, tongue grids etc (all relevant checks done!) and the only thing we found he went well in with no issues was a Myler combination MB04; I dare say that the MB04 mouthpiece would have worked just as well on him without the combination noseband.
I'd have a good look at mouth conformation as it can help a fair bit with getting things right, if your horse has a shallow mouth, thick tongue etc.
 
My mare puts her tongue over the bit when she's bored, she's got quite an active brain and always has to be doing something. She wont accept a flash so I ride her in a bit with a port to stop her doing it.
 
My mare is a bit mouthy and has a sensitive mouth, she tries the same, ive tried various bits and use NS team up with drop noseband for dressage and grackle xc and sj. She can be to whizzy sj and We're using schooling exercises for this, but im looking at a NS elevator for comps as she can get a bit wired
 
She is currently ridden in a NS team-up.

My bit lady has checked back and said I have the thicker version, could be perhaps that she was previously ridden in the thinner one?

She's not strong/rude at all really, so when I look at a bit change, it's not to something stronger. Rather something more comfortable for her, that is assuming it's discomfort.

I will try the slimmer NS team-up and then look at different bits entirely, then finally will try some noseband combinations, I'm not overly fond of the flash so was thinking grackle/mexican however wondered if that was too much of a jump.

I find it really hard to accept she's just started being naughty (might be rose-tinted owner disease) but she's just such a good mare really, so I'd like to explore everything before I change anything.

Thanks all who've replied so far!
 
what about a cambridge ported mouth piece to the bit? And a grakle/flash/drop nose band?

The higher port would make it more difficult for her to move her tongue over the ridge, and more uncomfortable if she does manage it. Personally- if possible- I wouldn't stop to sort it out- just make her get on with it!

Is there a pattern to when she does it- does the session get boring for her so she tries to interest herself, or are the sessions to intense and she's trying to give herself a break from it?
 
Have you asked your EDT to check out her mouth confo. as they may have some advice. My EDT said that when it came to breaking and riding my youngster to watch out for him getting his tongue over the bit as he has a short slim tongue! He was right as well! I don't have any suggestions of bits other than something with a port or a tongue "loller", I use a french link full cheek, which is an exact fit (ie not slightly too big which is hard these days with standard sizes) fitted slightly high.
 
My boy will also get his tongue over the bit. He's now in a NS full cheek lozenge snaffle & elasticated grackle, I also didn't stop & readjust if he did it - that would be teaching him that if he does it work will stop. Instead I sent him forward & constantly moved the bit about to make it uncomfortable.
He soon learnt that tongue under bit was much nicer :)
 
Tinsel Trouble said:
Is there a pattern to when she does it- does the session get boring for her so she tries to interest herself, or are the sessions to intense and she's trying to give herself a break from it?
Click to expand...

Not really, it can be at the beginning, during and towards the end. However she could well be bored in general as she's been in and out of work over the last year (however doesn't really explain why she started in June-ish when she was IN work...) But thanks, I lunged her today and she didn't do it at all....weird.
 
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