Tongue over the bit

[Tootsie4U]

Can a horse have his tongue over the bit without the rider knowing? Can he be OTV, pushing, and with his head low but still have his tongue over the bit?

And an update: Bonfire and his games.... its is NEVER a dull moment!

His reputation has followed us to the new barn. Already, they are calling him Mr. Hot Shot. They put him in with two fizzy barrel racers in hopes that Bon will "knock them down a peg". :rolleyes: Im so blessed :rolleyes:

[Tootsie4U]

He doesnt look like a little devil, does he? :D:D He knows how to work it ;)

[Mehitabel]

they can, yes! highly annoying it is too.

[Tootsie4U]

If there is no consequence, then whats the big deal?

:confused:

[Mehitabel]

there usually is a consequence. the horse shouldn't be uncomfortable or resisting when the bit is on top of the tongue, and also with the tongue over the bit has much less and quite different effect. if they pull, it's quite easy to break the skin under the tongue - it's much more sensitive there.
it's generally a sign of discomofort or tension somewhere, unless it's a habit that you know 100% has another root. i used to know one whose owner had used the mouthign bit with keys too much, and the horse had just gotten into the habit of playing with the bit and it couldn't be broken. she'd stick her tongue over while playing, then couldn't get it back again and would rush off in a panic!
denim did it to begin with as she has a tiny tiny mouth and until we found a suitable tiny tiny bit, was uncomfy with it in her mouth against her palate.

[IrisSilverMoon]

I actually watched (olympics i think it was) a dressage rider ride his whole GP test with his horses tongue over the bit...poor him! he pretty much dropped the reins and rode from the seat, not the prettiest test, but I have to applaude the fact that he did the whole thing basically bridleless. hehe...his horse had its tongue sticking out of its mouth the whole time.

[Miriam]

If your horse gets its tongue over the bit then you have no control of your horse. Rhi has done this in her old bit and I knew when she had done it cause I had no control over stopping her. I have been old that it could slo mean that your bit does not fit your horse peoperly.


ISM - A girl who was once on our yard used to dressage with herhorse and Lucy always hung her tongue out ofteh side of her mouth. She was told at a dressage test that this was a sign of a distressed horse. I've never seen a more relaxed horse :confused:

[Tootsie4U]

Originally posted by Miriam
[B]If your horse gets its tongue over the bit then you have no control of your horse. [B]
Thats what I thought too. But, I had all my aids and unless she told me, I wouldnt have known. I dont get it either.

[IrisSilverMoon]

Originally posted by Miriam


ISM - A girl who was once on our yard used to dressage with herhorse and Lucy always hung her tongue out ofteh side of her mouth. She was told at a dressage test that this was a sign of a distressed horse. I've never seen a more relaxed horse :confused:


yeah, the horse i saw in GP didn't look particularly distressed although he might have been under some stress I would have to imagine big competitions like this to be pretty standard and it was probably *not* a normal occurance for this particular horse.

[chapsi]

Pegs used to get the tongue over the bit when he started to use a mullen pelham. He could move his tongue (over and under) whenever he felt like it, i.e. bored with schooling or deciding to evade work.
Heather mentioned that it was quite normal, but that eventually he would stop playing with his bit, which he did.

In school this never got me worried, only hacking.

[Miriam]

Before I changed her driving bit Rhi cuold do this with her last one. That was scary especially as we were just learning. yes it wlways seemed to happen when we were on the road :eek: