Tounge over bit - Esp TB owners

[Magicmillbrook]

I have a 5 yo TB who came with a drop noseband. Have taken the noseband off and discovered she really pokes her tounge out. Teeth are fine, saddle issues have been adressed. Back checked (due to other problems LOL).

She is currently ridden in a french link hanging cheek, she has quite a small mouth (5 inch) - in general she is soft and we do not have any brake issues, I just don't like to crank her mouth shut as she cannot relax and give her jaw (hmmm thinking about the future!) , I feel there must be a reason for why she does it.

Any ideas before I head off to the local bit bank?

 

[Magicmillbrook]

Sorry folks read that as - pokes tounge out of the side, I dont think she gets it over the bit.

 

[KatB]

Try a thinner curved bar bit, sounds like she hasnt got enough room in her mouth! Neue schule do some lozenged bits which dont dig in like french links do, and may offer more tongue relief? The John Patterson curved bits maybe worth a try too

 

[Paint it Lucky]

My horse used to put his tongue over the bit all the time when i first got him! He was originally in a very severe bit which he hated,(dutch gag on bottom ring), hence why he was so fidgety in his mouth. I tried a few bits (various snaffles) until he learnt they weren't going to hurt him. Now he goes in a mullen mouth loose ring nathe snaffle and is so much happier. He does wear a flash though it isn't too tight (i also hate the idea of clamping horses mouths shut), just tight enough so he can open mouth alittle to chew bit but not so much he can get tongue over bit. Cos he is in such a mild bit now he is much happier and so much quieter in mouth. I think having him in a flash made him realise he was in a mild bit so didn't need to fight it, if i'd just put him in a mild bit and allowed him to open his mouth he would have put his tongue over it anyway because it's a bit so he'd assume it was bad.

Sorry to go on! Basically i think put her in a nathe or similar snaffle, as she's soft mouthed she should be easy to control still and put a flash on her for now until she learns to stop fiddling with bit. Even though she's soft mouthed it she puts her tongue over the bit she probably still isn't happy, prehaps she dislikes linked bits? Horses aren't meant to have bits in their mouth at all so think how much more uncomfortable/annoying one in loads of moving peices must be compared to just one piece?! I am quite passionate about this subject! Nathe bits are brilliant, my old horse was never completely happy in his mouth until i changed him to a nathe snaffle, then he became so much softer and more willing to ride. He was doing canter pirouettes, half pass and simple changes in it in no time.

Sorry this is such a long post, hope it helps!

 

[flyingfeet]

I like nathes and have one horse that goes well in one

However the one that poked his tongue out was looking for more space. He goes super in a Neue Schule Verbindend, which gives him the space he requires.

Both of mine are in cavessons, and do not require their mouths shutting as they like their current bits (granted I'm a saddlery and it took me at least 20 bits before finding the ones they liked and they are full brothers, but don't like each other's bit)

 

[Magicmillbrook]

Thanks - thats two more avenues to try, my current TBx has a myler comfort snaffle, thats curved and less jingly/mobile than a french link so will give that a go also.