Pony holding the bit when un-bridling

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laura_1983

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My new pony arrived at the weekend, 13hh, 13yrs, welsh section b. Not done much all winter and only been ridden a few times in the school recently, very laid back pony, nothing phases him!

Tried his new bridle on yesterday and when i was taking it off again he held the bit in his mouth for a few seconds before dropping it, i know he'l need his teeth done so il be organising that soon, any other ideas as too why he might do this? Im thinking maybe he's had his teeth hit by the bit on more than a few occasions so he holds on to it to drop himself if that makes sense?
 
we have one that does this! we found basically putting your thumb in his mouth like you would to get a bit in for a difficult horse means he doesn't do that, he has no physical probs
 
Mine does that too - hates metal bits so have him in a straight bar happymouth snaffle. I let him do it (has his teeth done every year) I just take it as one of his many quirks and thank that he is lovely! He likes to have a chew on it on the way in too!! but he likes putting everything (and anything) in his mouth so I think its just a habit (he is 8, so not a baby really!)

Having said that, if he is new I would get his teeth etc checked as you never know, but otherwise I wouldn't let it bother you - if he is nice every other way.
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I've know 2 who do this. Never thought of it as a problem, its only an extra couple of seconds to hold the bridle up untill they "let go" so no skin off my nose. Worse when you have a 16.3hh (and that wide) boulanais/brabant who spits it out and thows his head up at the same time so no matter what you to it hits his teeth. blooming sado-masakist
 
mine does this
to putting your thumb in will help open the mouth so you can slide the bit out without banging the teeth cause if you bang teeth then your have a problem with putting bit in after a while he will get use to opening his mouth
 
Probably due to rough unbridling in the past. Sometimes riders arent so careful and they whip the bridle off pretty sharpish and knock the horses teeth as they do so.

Gentle patience will help a lot in this case.
 
I've seen a lot of young horses doing it, which I took as a sign of babyness, but which clearly doesn't apply to your case. He could be playing, a bit nervous or just gotten in the habit of doing it - I wouldn't worry about it and would not make a big deal about it.
 
my horse does that, i think because he loves the bit (it has a roller and he is constantly playing with it - always has to be chewing something) so i just put it down to him being a bit thick at realising instantly that i've taken his bridle off and also because he'd rather have it in his mouth
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