Sorry... but..

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Grey_Eventer

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please can i have some bit help.
my horse is very strong,but has a vvery sensitive mouth. he tends to fiddle with his toungue a lot so opens his mouth and occasionaly locks his jaw.
my current bits are:
snaffle for dressage and hacking
pelham for SJind and XC
double reined polo gag for hunting
i can control him in the snaffle but he always tries to get his toungue over the bit and i feel he is just not entirely capable of relaxing his tounge.
I have tried a kimblewick and various other snaffles, including rubber and happy mouth bits, none of which have improved his way of going. IMO it was worse with these other bits in.
He wears a flash, and i have tried a grackle but he just fought it.
so is there a bit that will help him lay his tonuge flat, that offers brakes but not harsh on the mouth.
Preferably a snaffle and another type of bit for XC and SJing.
thank you
smile.gif
 
have u tried a butterfly bit with the tongue lay on it? stops them putting their tongue over the bit.
 
Try him bitless. There would be nothing for him to fight against. Have you had his teeth checked recently? Everything about the thread says discomfort to me, sorry.
 
When did you change your name?!

Is he a 5.5inch or a 5? If he is a 5.5inch then you are welcome to try my Myler, various waterfords too, and I would have been more than happy to lend you my Myler Combi but some bastard stole it
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Teeth check first.

Have you tried him in a lozenged snaffle - I find most horse are much better in these than single joints/french links.
 
teeth etc. checked, all fine. he has always been "funny" about his teeth. His can be head shy, especially around his jaw. have talked to vet, definitley not pain related. also tlaked to instructor. he does go very nicely when hes not thinking about it, but when hes in a bad mood he just throws his head about and opens his mouth, trying to get his toungue over the bit...
thank you for the suggestions, will try those.
 
check his teeth if not been done in the last 6 months + then i would try a snaffle with a tounge lay on it. i know shires make them so it should b easy 2 get hold of.
 
Some horses just can't handle having something in theor month, almost like when you have too much food, you gag!
Does he have a large tongue or narrow mouth?
I would try him bitless and go from there. I knew someone who had a VERY strong mare, and she completely changed when she went bitless!
 
and hes a 5/5.5..so would LOVE to try out some bits...S suggested myler bits, but never got round to trying any... will have to arrange to come try... will get some bits from my tack shop and have a huge trying out session.. lol
hes sucha pain about bits :/
 
id like to add, he doesnt ALWAYS fight the bit, when he is working, he doesnt, just when hes being a pr@t he fights it, throws his head about and tries to get it over this toungue. ill try him bitless, but i think he will be very difficult to control!
 
I would second Weezy with the myler, I wouldn't try to force the tongue down with a tongue lay. Mylers give much more room for the tongue AND give more control as cannot be hung onto:)
 
Mine was the same, always trying to get the tongue over the bit and would end up with cuts at the corners of his mouth from so much fighting and fiddling. After much trial and error it turned out he hates jointed bits. He's now in a hanging cheek mullen mouth myler snaffle for flatwork, a hanging cheek waterford for jumping and a waterford belgian gag for xc and exciting stuff. Although people claim a waterford is harsh, my horse is much happier in it than any other mouthpiece so there's no hard and fast rules, try lots and don't rule things out for being too harsh before trying them. If you'r horse is comfortable in it, it will be less harsh than a 'gentle' bit that doesn't suit him.
 
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