New Horse With Tongue Promblem! Help!

[ILUVEVENTING!!!]

I got a new horse, well I guess she's not that new anymore, but still trying to adjust from my little pony. She's a young bay thoroughbred mare off the track. She is an amazing little event horse with a lot of potential. Although, while I'm riding her she sticks out her tongue on the left side. She's not trying to evade the bit, it justs flops around while I'm riding her. It relaxes her. If it's in she gets very tense, but we have been getting bad marks on our Dressage because of the tongue. My trainer and I have tried everything to get her to hold it in, but nothing has worked. We tried cranking her crank noseband and flash, a drop noseband, giving her sugar and peppermints to suck on while I'm riding, and dropping the bit low in her mouth so she has to hold the bit in with her teeth. NOTHING HAS WORKED!!!!!:mad: She is incredibly smart and now won't even take the treats because she knows she can't eat them and stick out her tongue and she's a PIG!!! I have never seen her pass up a treat. Please tell me any ideas that you have. Thank you so much!:)

[Kate F.]

I'd get a vet to check her out and find out why it's happening.

I also have a horse who's tongue hangs out - but it's because he has a paralysed nerve in his lower jaw and he doesn't know it's hanging out - he just can't control it. If yours is similar, there's nothing you can do in terms of gadgets or training.

Mine's previous owner said there is a way of tying the tongue in with a cotton thread for the competition - basically you tie the tongue to the teeth. It's only for a short time, and doesn't hurt the horse. I think technically it's against the rules - but then so are a lot of things that go on in dressage - and how often does the judge look in a horse's mouth? She offered to show me how to do it, but I didn't take her up on it, as I took him because he's a really interesting character, and I'm not that serious about competing!:D

What level are you competing at? I think if you have a vet's certificate that this is not a disobedience and the horse has a veterinary problem, most judges will take that into consideration, especially at lower and unaffiliated levels.

[LMayhewtx]

I'm afraid I don't have any suggestions, but thought you might like to know that other horses do this too! One of my barn's lesson horse's always sticks his tongue out when he gets going - hence his name, Frog. They do mostly jumping with him, so it hasn't been a problem at shows, and haven't tried to change his behavior at all.

[jaydevon]

forgetting the dressage if you can get her out of the habit long term thats what id aim for, in racing they would tie the tounge down, normally with tights, it can also be done to horse that have large tounges, as it keeps the tounge flat and helps them breath, ie get more air in.... could be worth having the vet check her breathing,.

there are tounge guards that go on a bit, normally used for horses that put the tounge over the bit, but it may help

[Flash Harry]

IMO, if your mare does hang her tongue out,this is not uncommon for racehorses. I worked with several grade one horses,winner of a derby who always worked with his tongue out to the side - this never stopped his ability to gallop and win! Another common practice is to`tie ` the tongue down. This was done ,believe it or not,using a stocking - but only for the duration of a race to help with breathing,forgive me as i am no dressage guru, but this is not anything to worry about,good luck - sorry if this is useless info, but i`m sure you are not alone!

[puzzles]

It could be because it's too big for her mouth and she has no room for it ... linked to an unsuitable bit that makes her tongue feel trapped. Covering it up qwith gadgets and force will do nothign as she still feels the ned to do it, and the problem is not found and treated, only the symptoms.

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