Sticking tongue over the bit

emelia

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 August 2006
Messages
112
Location
Worcester
Visit site
My mare keeps putting her tongue back and forth over the bit - Apart from needing some urgent schooling, do I also need put a flash on or is the bit just too low in her mouth?

Any help appreciated......

thanks xxx
 
mine did this in a rubber straight bar, I think it is because his tongue didn't have enough room so I never used one again. Hope that helps.
 
a flash should help but if not a tongue guard (not sure if you can use this when competing though).
But firstly check the bridle fits correctly, if your not sure ask your instructor
 
Please don't strap her mouth shut with a Flash. She is trying to tell you something is uncomfortable - could be teeth, could be the bit, could just be tension from not being relaxed in her work. If you make her even more uncomfortable strapping her mouth shut then she could react in not a nice way.
I'd definitely go with having a good EDT out to check her teeth and mouth and let them advise you as to what bit would suit.
 
My horse always did this out of habit and it never seemed to effect brakes/steering/outline etc and his teeth were fine, so i just left him to it unless i was competing when i used a flash or grackle.
 
Hiya....Merlin does this at the end of a ride when his mouth is really frothy... I think he just likes the taste.

He has had his teeth done, the bit is in the right place and although he does wear a flash (its dead tight as I feel cruel strapping mouth shut)!!

He only does it at the end of the ride and very rarely when schooling so I dont think he is uncomfortable.
 
Hannah does this when she finds something too hard and tenses up... I do put a flash on her because it is a form of evasion with her as everything else has been checked. However, there was one bit that really helped, the Myler high port but I could not use it in dressage competitions.
 
Top