Tongue over the bit.

frazzled

frazzled

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Horse keeps getting his tongue over the bit whilst schooling. He doesn't do it when jumping or hacking.
He is ridden in a NS hanging cheek at the moment but also have used verbindend with him. We have put a flash on but this is not my favourite option. Any suggestions gratefully received especially if they are dressage/eventing legal.

His teeth /mouth have all been recently checked and done and are ok.
 
How annoying, my horse went through a stage of doing this but only in a mullen mouth bit, when I changed to a bit with a link he stopped.

I used to have to crank up the cheekpieces and clamp his mouth shut to stop him which really wasn't very satisfactory. I did find he didn't do it so much with a grackle but thats not much use to you if you need to be dressage legal.

Hope you find a solution. Sorry I'm not more helpful.
 
have you tried different mouthpieces?

are you sure you aren't using too much hand and making him resist (as he only does it in flatwork)?

have you tried a tongue layer for a few days to get him out of the habit?
 
With out a flash drop the bit down a hole or two.

This will help your horse put the tongue over and back again, so they can work out when it is more comfortable. Once the horse has made the decision to not put the tongue over they won't keep trying to. Then you can put the bit back up.
 
Please excuse my ignorance ,what is a tongue layer? It is my daughter riding him and I would say that she used to use too much hand but does not now so maybe established the behaviour then.
 
Actually yes, I think you can use a grackle in eventing dressage.

The suggestion of putting the bit down a bit without a flash strap so he can get his tongue over and back and work it out himself is a great idea. Wish I'd thought of that when I was battling with it!!

It's worth trying different mouthpieces though too as thats what solved the problem for me.
 
better half said:
With out a flash drop the bit down a hole or two.

This will help your horse put the tongue over and back again, so they can work out when it is more comfortable. Once the horse has made the decision to not put the tongue over they won't keep trying to. Then you can put the bit back up.
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the only concern i would have with this is if he is resisting the contact then he will be much more comfortable with the tongue over the bit- no incentive to put it back then!

most horses (apart from gobby youngsters getting used to a bit initially) put their tongue over to escape something uncomfortable.
 
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millitiger said:
the only concern i would have with this is if he is resisting the contact then he will be much more comfortable with the tongue over the bit- no incentive to put it back then!
Click to expand...

I see what you mean. Looks like it could be a matter of trial and error to find what he is most comfortable with and stop resisiting the contact.
 
Learning to make a better contact will never be as easy as strapping shut the horses mouth, but knowing it is possible is a start. Take a few steps back and try again rather than ploughing on down the wrong track.
 
My Andalusian was a master at getting his tongue over the bit. He did it all the time apart from when we were going to fast x-country for him to do it.

I opted for a drop noseband and it worked wonders, his head and mouth became instantly relaxed once he realised he couldnt do it any more.
 
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