Young Horse Getting Tongue Over Bit

Yes, second Eggs - maybe put the bit up a hole or two? Other than that and if it is a persistent problem (many young horses muck about with their tongues until they have figured out what to do with it) you might try a rubber tongue......thingy..........(don't know what the official name is) that fits on the bit temporarily. There are metal ones too, but I've never used one, they look like medieval torture instruments (don't actually hurt the horse).
 
Cortez said:
you might try a rubber tongue......thingy..........(don't know what the official name is) that fits on the bit temporarily. There are metal ones too, but I've never used one, they look like medieval torture instruments (don't actually hurt the horse).
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Do you mean a tongue depressor? ;)
 
Sick to an unjointed bit for the time being and make sure it is high enough in the mouth. Also check there are no sore places in the horse' s mouth (teething?).
 
I have just had the same problem with my young cob. For her, the problem was a fat tongue and low palate. Jointed bits were hitting the roof of her mouth so she put her tongue over to stop it hurting. She is going nicely in a mullen mouth eggbutt now. Take a look in his mouth to see if he has a low palate.
 
Ugh. Such an annoying habit. Have you had teeth checked? My lad does it a bit as he's just a very mouthy sort of chap in general, but it really kicks up a notch when it comes around to teeth doing time. He's ridden in a Sprenger Ultra Snaffle (the gold one with the lozenge/roller combo) and I think the warmth and the roller calm things down a bit. He's also better now with a drop noseband, once I close it he stops; bear in mind it is not cranked shut by any means, but I think he has realised when he opens his mouth he feels pressure so he shuts it again - which has pretty much ended the messing with the bit while ridden.
 
We have tried putting bit up 2 holes and also had vet come out to do teeth and check mouth so running out of ideas hence post. He is a horse that needs careful handling as think someone slapped him about at some point. It has taken a lot to get his trust back.
 
My boy does this, as an ex SJ'er and at 12 years old and with a chunk out of his tongue we think he's been severely mishandled at some point. He likes to hold his tongue to the back of his mouth until he fully relaxes and any kind of proper 'work' makes him try to slip it over the bit!
He's much better in a neue schule verbindend. He goes better jumping in a grackle and to school a drop noseband has worked wonders :) good luck!
 
I have had several young horses do this in the early days of training. Use a tongue guard on a separate head piece and this will stop him doing it. I always found that as training progressed this stopped the habit and it was not needed any longer. I have not had such satisfactory results with the rubber lozenge 'thingy' that you attach to the bit as it slips around too much.
 
Depending on where you're at with schooling, you could also go a training route with this issue and just loosen the bit in the horse's mouth and allow it to do as it pleases with its tongue. Having the tongue over the bit is less comfortable for them and they figure out that it's nice to keep it underneath. Just make sure the bit doesn't hit the teeth and that you aren't harsh with your hands as it can be very painful to the horse if you pull back while the bit is under the tongue.

I'd first check it's not a dental/mouth or bit fit problem though!
 
Do check the horse does not have a hyoid bone issue as if it does no amount of bitting options will stop the horse putting the tongue over the bit .
The hyoid bone attaches to the muscles of the neck and tension / pain in the muscles in the neck can cause the horse to draw the tongue back in an attempt to relieve it .
 
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