Smiling? :)

[eeyore]

my gelding has a regular snaffle bit(but one of those yellowy plastic kinds instead of plain metal) with flash noseband (i don't like flashs personally but his previous owner said that he chews his bit without it.
he doesn't seem to be mind taking the bit when i tack him up and it's only really when i have to take much rein contact (for instance when he canters, as he tends to just run off!) he sticks his teeth out/smiles (but clearly not in a happy way!) and.. it's not pretty..

can anyone think of a reason that he does it/a solution on stopping it?


edit: OH! and he had his teeth checked in December. he was only limited to the right side, but he's fine now.

[Jessey]

Have you ever tried him without the flash? 'Mouthing' the bit can help them salivate which keeps the mouth moist and helps them sofen, my horse has a copper bit to encourage him to do this.
I don't know why he would bare his teeth but he obviously isn't happy about something, Personally I would find a safe place and try without the flash and maybe experiment with different bits aswell, snaffles can have quite the nutcracker action on the jaw when pulled on, (he could be objecting to this) a french link is milder or a mullen mouth even more so. When Qaboos would tank around I upped to a stronger bit and a flash etc and it just got worse, he is no ridden in a 'Myler' snaffle with a copper roller (which stops the nutcracker action) and because it dosen't hurt him he now has no reason to fight it, what this did highlight though was that his balance wasn't very good which often caused him to rush when cantering but with this worked on hes now much better.

J