Spoon bits

[saskiahorsey]

Does anyone use one.... Do they help with tongue over the bit ?

 

[Dave's Mam]

A spoon bit as I knew it is one used for trotters, with a "spoon" like bottom half of a fulmer.

 

[Shay]

They are said to help - but a rather blunt instrument IMO. If the horse is getting his tounge over the bit he is usually saying he is uncomfortable. Squashing his tounge down under a spoon isn't the most nuanced response. So far as I know they are not competition legal either.

Might it be worth looking at bridle fit - is the bit in the correct place in the mouth? They type and size of bit in comparison with the size and shape of the tounge and lips? How the rider uses the bit - have they light independent hands? What is the horse trying to escape?

I know some horses do develop a habit of getting their tounge over - usually as an evasion. But I've never had to resort to a spoon bit to resolve the issue. Theres always a first time of course - but for me I'd look at other solutions first.

 

[saskiahorsey]

Off the track racer in well fitted micklem ... Did it in racing and had some rubber thing on have been recommended a spoon bit but i had never heard of them just wondered if anyone else used one ... I gather its a short term solution to settle the tongue and poss break the habit ... He was in bridle before when i first got him with no noseband and ns bit which were all fitted correctly but still did it .... Teeth all been checked one month ago hes done every 6 months ?

 

[Shay]

Racers do use spoon bits - or a tongue tie which is a rubber strap to hold the tongue down. Not the nicest thing - but completely understand the need to have control at speed! I'm not sure continuing to tie his tounge down will help him break the habit - but I don't have experience of retraining racehorses straight off the track myself - I've only taken them on once re-trained. Might it be worth contacting someone like Racehorse welfare to know if using this type of bit is usual in the re-training process?

 

[saskiahorsey]

It was a race horse group which recommended the spoon bit looks like a simple snaffle with the flat bit attatched doesnt look harsh to me ... infact looks like a key bit but with flat spoon shape instead of keys lol ... Oh well we can try and see

 

[Lanky Loll]

They're not harsh We used to use them occasionally on the harness race horses usually on a driving snaffle, on some horses they are extremely effective and indeed only required short term.

 

[saskiahorsey]

They're not harsh We used to use them occasionally on the harness race horses usually on a driving snaffle, on some horses they are extremely effective and indeed only required short term.

Thank you for info iv ordered one to try ��

 

[Walsh20]

They're not harsh We used to use them occasionally on the harness race horses usually on a driving snaffle, on some horses they are extremely effective and indeed only required short term.

I have one to try and help my mare break her habit. Yes she has had teeth/back/saddle etc checked. She just has a habit of doing it.
Mine has a larger and smaller spoon on a swivel. Would you recommend having the larger spoon towards the tip of the tounge and the smaller spoon towards the back of the month? As the bit somes with no fitting instructions.
Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[Lanky Loll]

I have one to try and help my mare break her habit. Yes she has had teeth/back/saddle etc checked. She just has a habit of doing it.
Mine has a larger and smaller spoon on a swivel. Would you recommend having the larger spoon towards the tip of the tounge and the smaller spoon towards the back of the month? As the bit somes with no fitting instructions.
Any help would be greatly appreciated

Hi sorry not here much and only just saw this. Yes that would be the way round we would usually use it.