Playing/Chewing on the Bit

[Lynne78]

My mare is very noisy in the mouth, constantly trying to chew her bit and always ends up tugging the reins out my hands.

Initially, I put it down to stress/anxiety as she was being ridden again but we are now riding daily and she is still doing it.

She is just in a plain snaffle.

Has anyone any experience of this and/or advice, bits I could try?

Thanks

 

[Miss L Toe]

Have a look at mouth conformation, is it fleshy tongue or narrow jaw, do the teeth need doing, or are the gums inflamed, or is she needing more length of rein?
First thing I would do is have an EDT rasp the teeth, and work from there, if you get an instructor out BHSII or similar they will probably tell you the problem straight away.

 

[Lynne78]

Her teeth are due to be checked again in August..were done in February. I will try lengthening the reins tomorrow and see how that goes...her normal reaction to less contact is to career off and panic.

Thank you!

 

[jenniferharland]

i used to ride a welsh D mare who used to chew the bit a lot and also used to bronc and rear. sometimes she would cut her mouth although getting her teeth checked did help, the issue still remained. eventually she was sold on as she wasn't suitable for her owner. an 11 year old girl now owns her and the mare never puts a foot wrong! in this case, not having legs wrapped round her tummy and having a light weight on her back fixed this problem, but every horse is different

 

[Ali27]

Our Mare came to us in a Pelham and comped on the bit constantly. She was better in a roller snaffle but have now changed her to Hillary Vernon square mouthed loose ring mullen and chomping has disappeared! Our new dressage instructor advised it!

 

[Mizzbecx]

Mallie used to do this and she still does a little when I first put it in, I changed her to a hard rubber straight bar snaffle and a flash only because she naps to test me