Tongue over the bit-leadrein pony

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evegrace

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We have a 11.2 sect A leadrein pony. She has just started getting her tongue over the bit when out showing. She's rode in a snaffle, what else could I try?
I've just been looking at the Wilkie any thoughts?
 
I have just had to swop our leading rein shetlands bit for the same reason.

I have bought a straight bar with loose rings and a small mullen in the bar.

It has so far worked a treat and jockey now has steering.

Not sure if you are allowed to use this for showing though.
 
Ooops! You must correct this as soon as the pony does it, or it will become a habbit for life and difficult to sort once established.

Some horses can not tolerate single link bits, some will not tolerate a bar or a double jointed bit. Borrow as many bits as you can with different mouth pieces and thicknesses and see if the pony is happier in any of those. There is no hard and fast rule about which will suit, because horses have different mouth conformation.

Check to make sure the bridle fits correctly and that the bit isn't too low in the mouth. Also check that it isn't annoying the pony because it is too high. Silly thing, but sometimes it can just be that someone has put the bridle back together incorrectly!

Get your EDT to check for discomfort in the mouth.

If all fails, and the pony is just doing it because it can... try a bit with a high port, or one with a tounge layer, both of which prevent the horse getting its tounge over the bit... however, you must have a good bash at discovering the reason for this behaviour before resorting to such things... they are just for horses that do it for fun (some work out that if they do it, the rider gets off and they can stop working!)
 
I have just thought, her teeth were rasped this week. I wonder if her mouth is abit sore?
confused.gif
 
perfectly possible she's just sore. Still check everything out tho. Our 19yr old shire will not work with his tounge under the bit. To be honest you'd never know he was over when working him under saddle or harness and its a bit late to change his habits now
 
my pony started doing this because his single jointed snaffle was hitting the roof of his mouth and hurting him, he's now in a french link and i no longer have this problem with him!
 
Once any inflammation has settled after rasping, (we had same prob) use one of the rubber dummies that wrap round bit. We only needed to use ours for a couple of days and he soon got out of the habit!
 
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