Pushing tongue out to one side

[nato]

My horse pushes her tongue out to the right side of her mouth when she finds an exercise difficult or is put under pressure on that rein. Her lip also quivers at the same time which tells me she's worried. She finds it hard to bend on that side (through her left side) so I try to build everything up gradually with her rather than putting her under too much pressure from the get-go.

She's getting her teeth done next week and has already had the physio (who said she's in super condition and very supple), brand new saddle fitted so she's well cared for! The only thing I can think that might cause it is muscle memory from spavin in the left hock which was treated about 6 months ago, so we are trying to get her used to a new way of going.

She has a low palate and fat tongue, so I have switched her from a loose ring french link to a Myler Hanging Cheek Comfort Snaffle and she loves it, much more consistent and accepting! However she's only in this bit about a month - should I give her more time to get used to it?

Any advice or opinions appreciated!

ETA: She doesn't actually stick her tongue out or get it over the bit, you can just see it poking out from the side of her mouth when it's open, a bit more on the right than the left!

 

[Cortez]

Horses which displace their tongues are usually though to be exhibiting a pain response. Does she ever grind her teeth? (another pain response). I used to ride a GP horse which performed beautifully, but could not be shown because he lolled his tongue. He later had spavins diagnosed in both hocks.

 

[nato]

Horses which displace their tongues are usually though to be exhibiting a pain response. Does she ever grind her teeth? (another pain response). I used to ride a GP horse which performed beautifully, but could not be shown because he lolled his tongue. He later had spavins diagnosed in both hocks.

Thanks Cortez - no she doesn't grind her teeth. She just pushes the tongue more to the right side (even without contact it just sits more on the right side) and wobbles her lip when put under pressure. I was concerned that maybe it was the spavin causing her the trouble but even when she softens and loosens up the tongue does poke out simply because it's so big in her tiny mouth. You can't actually see it sticking out per se its only if you're standing right next to her you can see a bit poking through her teeth.

 

[spookypony]

Cortez, that's really interesting. I know of a young endurance horse that pretty much always sticks his tongue out the side of his mouth. Not just being ridden (he trots along with it flapping in the wind, it looks very relaxed), but also just standing there wearing a head-collar. He doesn't seem upset about the universe in any way, is going well and unproblematically up the gradings---which would seem to suggest that he's ok, given how often he's seen by vets et al.! But the GP horse you mention must also have seemed ok!

The horse I know does look incredibly silly, though; bit like the classic image of the lab with his head sticking out the window of a car with the tongue flapping.

 

[JennBags]

Mine sticks his out a lot of the time, mostly also when he find something difficult, but also when he's feeling annoyed about something that he doesn't want to do. I changed to the same bit you're now using and he was better for a while but has got the habit back again, I've just got a different bit so am giving that a go. He does quite often get his tongue over the bit, one instructor has told me he's got a double jointed tongue hence why he can do it. It's very frustrating as we drop lots of marks in dressage.

Cortez, interesting that you're saying it's a pain response. G is definitely fussy in his mouth, but I don't "think" he's in pain. He has his teeth done regularly, saddle checked regularly, physio every couple of months, and he had a recent lameness work up at the vets (for something else, and he came out sound).

 

[nato]

Thanks for all the responses so far. We get lovely marks in our dressage (high 60s/low 70s) as her tongue doesn't come outside her mouth at all, just pokes through her teeth - I'll try get a pic!

JennBags - it's interesting that you say it happens when it's something difficult or in frustration. That's what my coach is telling me she is seeing from the ground, that it's a level of frustration as she finds it hard and isn't quite sure what's being asked of her. This is all a new way of going for both of us and so I make mistakes in how I ask too! We just take it down a level, ask at what she finds easier, then ask for more difficult movements just a step or two, then back to easy again. It seems to work.

I just wanted to make sure that I wasnt missing a trick - might be worth trying a few other bits, it's a shame the port isn't dressage legal as I think it would really suit her!

 

[NZJenny]

A friend of mine has a OTTB and he hangs his tongue out when he is worried too. He's a bit of a stressy TB and does it a lot - when dinner is late, being ridden or schooled, loading on the float ....

 

[Goldenstar]

It's my view this sort of thing is almost always a pain response .
OP it worth considering if the horse has hydoid pain which can cause to due issues but I think even that often is secondary to other discomfort .

 

[rotters13]

Just to add my two pence - we had a horse who did it all the time (out hacking, in the stable, tied up) etc etc etc... I think it's just what some horses do?