Tb opening mouth when ridden?

L&B

L&B

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My tb is 5yo & coming back into work after 5months off with foot/hoof issues. I've owned him 8months. His last race was may last year.

He has always opened his mouth when ridden & now we are back in routine I really want to fix it & make sure he's comfy but don't know what else to do:

He opens his mouth sporadically, even when I ride buckle end.

He has had his teeth done regularly (a month and a bit ago) by a very well qualified and highly recommended dentist, has regular physio (every 3months) and has had his saddle checked only the other day (currently with prolite underneath as good saddle fit but soooo under muscled he's not holding anything up).

He is currently in a standard caverson bridle with or without flash (I've tried both ways and he still opens his mouth).

Hes had several bits from the one he came with: a 3ring gag snaffle, a happy mouth with peanut snaffle & now a Neue Schule tranz angled lozenge bit as recommended by a local knowledgeable bit bank.

The dentist commented that he has a very flat/low pallet and whilst he is a 5.5in fit, says he has a narrow mouth.

I don't believe I am a particularly 'handy' rider and he does open his mouth even for more experienced riders than myself.

Any ideas now guys? I tried him bitless and he doesn't open his mouth at all (whether that is obvious or not idk). Please don't tell me I need the dentist out - I have a very well trusted dentist.
Physio due out in a month...
 
My little gelding did this. I've got him in an S hackamore now and he's so much happier (and easy to control with very light aids). I will try him bitted every nown and again (mainly when I'm able to borrow different bits to try him in, just incase I find something that he likes), but I will accept it if becomes obvious that bitless is the best option for him.

If your horse like his bitless bridle and you have full control, would you be willing to stick to that?
 
@faracat I would of course be willing to stick with bitless, however as it stands I don't believe he enjoys it.
We didn't like the pressure I don't think and had a lot of headthrowing and tantrums wanting it off (I presume). As for full control no amount of steering with my seat could get him to listen to it either. He had his head, he knew he had his head and he took full advantage of this by making his mum feel like she was in an out of control bumper car... :l just being a baby I guess :) but I would like to keep him bitted for now until the.schooling is there a little more.
 
however as it stands I don't believe he enjoys it.
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That's no good. :( What type of bitless bridle was it? I had lots of help on here when I was looking into it as there are so many different types of bitless.
 
I've had a similar issue with my boy and the last week has been a breakthrough - we've been using a loosely applied crank noseband. Not something that I've ever wanted to try but he's been unbelievable to ride with it on.

We've tried all types of snaffles, loose ring, eggbut, D ring, single joint, french link, lozenge, varying width of mouth piece and combinations of metal, rubber, copper etc plus combinations with cavessons, drops & flashes but it appears that a NS training bit with a crank flash is the key at the moment.

I would still like to find a bit for him that he would go well with in a plain cavesson but he's a cheeky wotsit and having had everything checked to the nth degree if fairly certain that the main factor is now his attitude!
 
I'd be tempted to try and find a quite thin mouthpiece, and see how he reacts to that- it seems like he doesn't like his mouth being filled too much.

And please keep the gag away from him. The idea of a baby in one of those horrors is genuinely upsetting.
 
L&B said:
My tb is 5yo & coming back into work after 5months off with foot/hoof issues. I've owned him 8months. His last race was may last year.

He has always opened his mouth when ridden & now we are back in routine I really want to fix it & make sure he's comfy but don't know what else to do:

He opens his mouth sporadically, even when I ride buckle end.

He has had his teeth done regularly (a month and a bit ago) by a very well qualified and highly recommended dentist, has regular physio (every 3months) and has had his saddle checked only the other day (currently with prolite underneath as good saddle fit but soooo under muscled he's not holding anything up).

He is currently in a standard caverson bridle with or without flash (I've tried both ways and he still opens his mouth).

Hes had several bits from the one he came with: a 3ring gag snaffle, a happy mouth with peanut snaffle & now a Neue Schule tranz angled lozenge bit as recommended by a local knowledgeable bit bank.

The dentist commented that he has a very flat/low pallet and whilst he is a 5.5in fit, says he has a narrow mouth.

I don't believe I am a particularly 'handy' rider and he does open his mouth even for more experienced riders than myself.

Any ideas now guys? I tried him bitless and he doesn't open his mouth at all (whether that is obvious or not idk). Please don't tell me I need the dentist out - I have a very well trusted dentist.
Physio due out in a month...
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5½" bit is really big for a TB - my Clydesdale only takes that. Firstly measure his mouth accurately. Place a piece of dowel in his mouth and mark where the lips are. Measure and add no more than ½" to the bit width.

A thinner bit would suit him better and I must admit I did try one of mine in a double jointed - he had hysterics and got his tongue over it within 45 minutes - then took 2 years to stop him trying to get his tongue over everything.

Try either a full cheeked bit with a drop noseband or a Grackle with an ordinary snaffle or use a hanging cheek snaffle. I find that some horses really don't like the flash strap as it lies over their sensitive nostrils. The Grackle and drop sit further away so are less irritating.

With steady schooling he should open his mouth less and less.
 
I was watching a 5 year old with the same problem last week ,the owner is quite upset about it and was asking about changing his bit ,out of interest I asked about his teeth ,she has a very good dentist and his teeth were only done a few weeks ago,so I asked does he have wolf teeth she was sure the dentist would have told her ,I looked and could not see any ,so felt along his gum he had 2 very small sharp points which must have only just broken through the gum ,so no wonder he was not happy.
We have a mare that had them ,she was not easy to ride she would tilt her head ,put her tongue over the bit ,we had them taken out and she was perfect .
If you can check your horse does not have wolf teeth.
Hope this helps.
 
Unless the horse has been sedated when it had its dentals it's teeth is the first place to look unless the horse has been checked in a gag under sedation you can discount discomfort caused by the very back molars so in this situation a dental qualified vet would be my first port of call.
Then I would try a micklem bridle , with your NS bit.
I would also try a simple myler snaffle , a sprenger turnado , various bomber bits a fulmer the list is almost endless.
I am confused by your comment about the narrow mouth and the 5.5 bit if your horses mouth is 5.5 it's a normal sized mouth not a narrow one are you sure your bit is not too big ?
Micklem bridles can make big differences to some horses well worth trying.
 
My TB was also like this and we put him in a hanging cheek which really seemed to help. He was previously in a loose ring, and the thought was that that the ring might be pinching him a little as they moved around. With the hanging cheek, the bit is steadier in his mouth and he is now steadier in his :) I went for the Neue Scheule as they have different diameter mouth pieces available. Would also agree that 51/2 " is big for a TB - mine is 5"
 
I have spoken again to the woman at the bit bank who has asked to see a video of my lad being ridden to sew if she can see something I can't. I'll hopefully get someone to film me & take that to her this wkend. I asked about the hanging cheek which she said is a nice bit but puts poll pressure on there too. Perhaps too much for the equation.
I also agree with the sentiment that he needs a slim bit & had thought also about trying something with no joints at all... Hmm... If I didn't know any better I'd think it was lack if schooling, is this a possibility?
 
Hanging cheeks/bauchers DO NOT APPLY POLL PRESSURE. Sorry for shouty capitals, it's just that this misinformation is infuriating as it gets spouted so often.

I don't think it's a schooling issue personally, rather a comfort one. Having said that I haven't actually seen your horse, just read your description.

Also just to clarify, as I hope I didn't upset you with an earlier post - when I was asking about keeping him bitless, I was wondering whether he was being aimed at a discipline (eg dressage) that requires a bit, rather than your 'willingness'.
 
Faracat said:
Hanging cheeks/bauchers DO NOT APPLY POLL PRESSURE. Sorry for shouty capitals, it's just that this misinformation is infuriating as it gets spouted so often.

I don't think it's a schooling issue personally, rather a comfort one. Having said that I haven't actually seen your horse, just read your description.

Also just to clarify, as I hope I didn't upset you with an earlier post - when I was asking about keeping him bitless, I was wondering whether he was being aimed at a discipline (eg dressage) that requires a bit, rather than your 'willingness'.
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ECHO Faracats post - THERE IS NO POLL PRESSURE with a hanging cheek!
 
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