toungue over bit!! HELP PLEASE!!

F

francesca_S

New User
Joined
6 August 2009
Messages
6
Visit site
My horse gets her tongue over bit, even in the hartwell pelham!.
the problem is we do affliated showing and i keep getting pulled in first then moved to last because she gets it over in line up! i am going to try her in the hartwell pelham again but if that doesnt work what will!

can someone help!! thankyou!!
 
pull the bit up higher in her mouth so it is not possible to get her tongue over. or put a tongue guard on it to keep the tongue down. Normally horses put their tongue over because they can and it becomes habit, so by raising it in the mouth there is just not the opportunity - and you will probably break the habit. Young horses will often try it as a bit is something new but it is vital to stop it before it becomes the norm.

Some horses also put heir tongue over because there is actually no room for the bit and it is really uncomfortable so they put their tongue over to release the pressure
 
Could you try her in a dressage legal high port, eg Myler? She'd struggle to get her tongue over that but at the same time it might be more comfortable in her mouth if, as bosworth suggests, she's got not much room in there! Myler have a scheme where you can try a bit for a week or so for £10 and return it if no good x
 
Thank you.
my riding instructor has told me to get a crank noseband to keep her mouth shut, she is defiantly unhappy in her mouth. but im sure i will sort it out with every ones help!! x
 
Ignore your riding instructor - if the horse is unhappy in it's mouth cranking it shut is cruel and will make her more unhappy in her mouth. Have her teeth been checked? have you a photo of her with the bit in from side on.

A waterford mouth piece is also something I would be tempted to try, flexes throughout the mouth and no pressure at all
 
if she is not happy in her mouth then a teeth check is definetly in order!
smile.gif


if she is getting her tongue over the bit then mouth pieces with a raised arch in the middle often helps (sorry not sure of the correct name)

Or maybe a flash might help (bit nicer than a crank I think) but obv only after teeth and stuff have been checked to ensure anatomically everything is ok
 
I would suggest a waterford as well. My boy used to get his tongue over the bit and my instructor wanted me to put a tongue layer on him, but I was convinced it was because he was unfcomfortable so I tried a few different mouthpieces. The moment the waterford went into his mouth, you could see the tension in his lips disappear and he hasn't even tried to get his tongue over the bit again and it's been nearly 4 years!
If they do keep trying, it's also more difficult for them to do it as it moves with the tongue so they can't get their tongue over it as they could with something more solid and stable
 
[ QUOTE ]
Ignore your riding instructor - if the horse is unhappy in it's mouth cranking it shut is cruel and will make her more unhappy in her mouth.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well said Bosworth! Couldn't agree more!
 
totally agree with what bosworth has said. I have used a metal tongue guard and that worked. Then I moved to a waterford high in his mouth and all of that got him out of the habit. The only time he does it is if I put in a straight bar mouthpiece.

I have also used a crank noseband and he just fights it, stresses and is not a happy bunny.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top