Sticking Tongue Out When Ridden ... WHY?

[HBII]

My mare when ridden sticks out her tongue. Now her teeth were done around 2-3 months ago - they were rasped. She is ridden in a loose ring team up Neue Schule snaffle with a flash.

I have also discovered that she prefers her noseband and her flash rather loose.

However she must be doing this for a reason. Are her teeth bothering her? Have I got the wrong type of bit for her? Didnt I read somewhere that someone's horse on HHO did this and it was due to incorrectly removed wolf teeth?

As captured in the photographic evidence below ...

Thanks

 

[Tempi]

I think incorectly removed wolf teeth can make a horse do that, but dont always - Bloss had hers incorrectly removed and when i got her had to have them done properly, but she never stuck her tongue out.

Have you tried her in a drop noseband - also i think doing the flash up tighter would help, otherwise its not really doing anything and you might aswell not be using it!!

Hope you had a lovely weekend

x

 

[Tierra]

How is her mouth structurally? Is there enough room for her bit?

Theres a common tendency for people to buy quite thick bits because they are, in general, milder. However not all horses have the room in their mouths for such bits. Connemaras, for example, have notoriously little room in their mouths. If you then stick a big thick snaffle in there, although trying to be kind, it can result in them physically struggling to close their mouths. So do keep that in mind

You could have a second opinion on her teeth to make sure there arent any sharp bits poking at her which could make her reluctant to close her mouth.

Is the tongue poking consistant? I mean, does it always just hang out like that or is she doing it more intermitently? It can be a sign of tension when being ridden and my boy can have a tendency to do it when I start to collect him up more, until he settles again.

Also for how loose that flash is, you may as well remove it

 

[HBII]

Howdi PG

Weekend was grand thanks, lovely to have some sunshine to ride in

Vet is due out soon, so Ill get him to have a search to see if they have been done properly.

No, not tried a drop noseband. I shall tighten the flash first so it is actually doing something.

Hope your weekend was good?

Hb

 

[FMM]

One of ours pushes his tongue out when the noseband is too tight. Did you see the Derby on Saturday - the winner's tongue was virtually flapping in the jockey's face!

 

[Law]

Mine sticks his tongue out when he has to use his brain

I noticed it when he was working hard being ridden by someone else the other day. He also has issues about his noseband and flash strap. He doesn't like either being tied at all pretty much.

He doesn't do it unless is having to think very hard indeed!

 

[kcgibson]

i would be reluctant to tighten the flash and/or noseband until you have ruled out any discomfort. Many horses open their mouths cos they are uncomfortable and/or in pain and clamping the mouth shut with a flash only masks the problem and doesnt get to the bottom of the cause. i would get her checked over (?by a vet and dentist) to ensure the problem isnt medical before i tighten the flash. As tierra said, large bits are not always better cos horses dont always have muh room in their mouths for the larger bits so worth checking that too.

 

[Weezy]

I deffo would NOT tighten or attept to close the mouth! P does it when she is concentrating and she does not have a lot of room in her mouth. She has to have a thin bit (she is in a fulmer french link ATM) and that has deffo made an improvement, but I would never close her mouth, even tho she likes to go around with her mouth open

 

[HBII]

Hi Tierra

Well she takes a 5 1/2 inch bit length wise and I think that is the 16mm snaffle, she does have quite a fleshy tongue though. I shall have another look tomorrow night to see if I think there is sufficient room.

I shall definatley get the vet to check, just so I know that she isnt hurting.

Out of 20 or so photos there are only 2 where she is sticking her tongue out, and this was early on in the schooling.

I was probably a bit tense as we were in the jump field and she was on her toes, so she could be compensating on my tensesness.

Thank you very much for your advice.

Hb

 

[HBII]

Law: LOL

Mr. Darcy is a dude

I suppose it could be like me when I am trying to concentrate!

kat_g: dont worry when the vet is out to do jabs Ill get him to cast an eye over her mouth.

Hb

 

[HBII]

[ QUOTE ]
I deffo would NOT tighten or attept to close the mouth! P does it when she is concentrating and she does not have a lot of room in her mouth. She has to have a thin bit (she is in a fulmer french link ATM) and that has deffo made an improvement, but I would never close her mouth, even tho she likes to go around with her mouth open

[/ QUOTE ]

See by having the noseband and flash loose she doesnt lean half as much.
I shall re-evaluate my use of bit, I might try her back in the eggbutt snaffle and see if she is happier with that!
Might give Neue Schule a call and see what they suggest.

Will certianly get her tegs looked at in the meantime.

Thanks for all the advice.

Hb

 

[Theresa_F]

Personally I hate seeing horses with mouths strapped shut - one of my top hates is being horses strapped up tightly.

I don't possess a flash noseband and have only ever used one once for a mare that had would cross her jaw. Within 6 months it was gone and never seen again after some experimenting with bits and schooling.

I had a TB with a small mouth and fleshy tongue - if I used a double her tongue would hang out. I changed to a rugby pelham when showing and used thin bits which resolved her problem.

I would have teeth checked and look for any sign of pain and start trying bits to see if she stops this with a certain type.

 

[I_A_P]

my old boy did it all the time..nothin actually wrong it was alomst like a habit tbh! anythin we tried didnt help!

 

[haybales]

my friends mare sticks her tongue out when being ridden, they were told by the previous owners that she had problems with her teeth as a youngster and got into the habit to alleviate the pain. even though her teeth are now fine she still does it.