REMOUTHING A 6 YO - ADVICE PLS

[lea]

I think I need to go back to basics with my mare. I bought her very green over a year ago and she still struggles to salivate and relax her jaw. I really believe that she was not mouthed properly as she throws a strop when you ask for a contact. Her teeth have been checked and her bit is a lozenge neue schule. I would like to try to remouth her and wondered if anyone had any tips. Many thanks

 

[northeventer]

the first thing you need to do is to make sure your dentist is good the best way to do this is to get a vet to reccomend one to you also 20 pound charge crap dentist, 65 pound charge amazing dentist. also i find that horses that are already established find kk and neue schule bits of help where as a horse with a complex mouth may need somthing like a rubber bit untill it chills out. a lot of lunge work with side reins and draw reins will help because horses only become hard in the mouth if you are hard with you hands. hope this helps

 

[sallyg84]

i used a leather bit with a slightly older but complex horse, it was soft, never cold, she really relaxed and i found she softenened and mouthed. to begin with i worked her in it on the lunge so she had nothing to pull against or stress about. Then slowly built up the time with the bit, she looked happier in days!

 

[0ldmare]

Its interesting that you have the same problem as me - I just bought a 6 year old who is the sweetest little horse, but has a mouth like a plank of wood. She doesnt salivate at all, just like yours. On advise I have just bought a mouthing bit (looks like a snaffle but has three 'keys' in the middle). Apparantly they are designed to get the horse to play with the bit. You dont ride in it, just put it on for eg 15 minutes in the stable. I have only tried it once so dont know how well it will work, but can let you know if you are interested?

 

[sallyg84]

wanted to say that once she is settled and more happy with her mouth i would not keep her in a leather bit but move up to something more conventional. I always think that bit changes should be done gradually especially with something that has had mouth issues, it can be quite confusing for them, from the leather i would move to a rubber which is soft but with more substance, then if desired to a metal bit.