Tongue over bit aaargh

[RedVendetta]

My horse is (almost) perfect. But give him 5 minutes standing about and he tries (and sometimes suceeds) to get his tongue over the bit. When he does succeed he becomes unrideable (no contact, feels like driving a car with no steering) and I have to get off and flick his tongue back and get back on! This has only happened a few times and it's always when he's a bit fresh, but is there any way I can stop it? He's ridden in a kimblewick with a cambridge port (which he loves, put him in anything else and he goes round like a giraffe) and a flash noseband that is done up tight enough already! aaaaargh it's so annoying. I hate complaining about him because he is amazing in every other way but it's also stopping me doing dressage as I can't do it in a kimblewick! GRRRRRR

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Experiment with different bit and mouth pieces. My mare started getting her tongue over double jointed snaffles, but is fine with single jointed bits.

 

[laura_1983]

And my pony is the opposite, he hates single jointed bits but goes perfect in his french link, if it helps i think he was putting his tongue over the bit to stop it hurting the roof of his mouth!

 

[Cop-Pop]

My mare used to get her tongue over the bit so I started using a flash noseband then she discovered she could do it in that. I rode her without a noseband yesterday and she was perfect in it!

 

[lpenaluna]

My gelding had the same problem. I used a jointed bit which had a tongue grid built in.

Assuming all is ok with bit fitting (it sounds like it is) and your horse already has a bit preference and since it only happens when you are standing about it may be that hes just amusing himself and playing with it! Not very helpful for you though.

To stop this habit its possible to buy a seperate tongue grid (often called a W-wire) It has its own slip head and you pop it on before your bridle and it lies flat on the tongue - should be impossible to get his tongue over and doesnt interfere with your current bit.

Then its just a case of him finding another way of occupying himself for those 5 mins! Hope this helps!

 

[suzysparkle]

Don't use a flash! Once they get their tongue over they can't get it back. Far better with a high ring grackle or a drop which allows them to put it back. You could try a hanging cheek for dressage.