mouth/bit trouble

[Canter]

Hi,

At the stables where I teach, we have recently purchased a beautifully trained 8 yr old quarterhorse mare to add to our slew of school horses. I've been saving her for the most advanced riders in the school because of her obviously sensitive mouth. However, I can't help but wonder if there is anything I can do to make her more comfortable.

You see, she was left in a field as a filly to the point of being seriously neglected. Her halter actually grew into her face, permanently siezing her jaw so that it cannot open more than a few inches. The halter had to be surgically removed once she was discovered at nearly two and a half years old. Her face is now beautiful, after years of TLC and pampering, however it seems that the jointed bits must push up into the roof of her mouth far more than most horses.
We saved her from a small muddy field where an elderly farmer had recently aquired her and had tossed her out, thrushy feet and all, and his grand-daughter was riding her, but was soon to be moving away. I hate to see her used as a school horse after her already traumatic life, but it's the only way we could take her on - and I know that we will continue to love and pamper her.

Anyways - what do you think of a rubber bit? Any other suggestions...?

Thanks,
Shelley

[Allie]

Shelley- as she is a western horse and is already well trained, why not us a hackamore? If you do not want to use a mechanical hackamore, you could use a bosal, although you would have to reteach her a little if you went with that option.

Are you using a snaffle on her now or a curb? If you get a curb bit with a very low or flat port, that might help as there is no joint to press on her gums. It sounds like she has had a very hard life so far, and she is lucky she is with you now. Good luck!

Allie

[Susan B.]

Dear Shelley: Unfortunately cannot offer you any advice but did want to wish you lots of luck rehabilitating this horse
Susan B.

[Horselover2]

Hi Shelly,
Good advice from last poster, but bear in mind that mechanical hacks can be severe, depending on length of the shank; longer-more severe, shorter-less. These types operate on poll/chin pressure. There is also what's known as an english jumping hackamore, which would be your best bet for students, unless they have very good hands. It is very much like a noseband, and the reins attach to the rings on the sides. Hope this helps, good luck w/the mare and bless you for taking her on!

[Horselover2]

Hi Shelly,
Good advice from last poster, but bear in mind that mechanical hacks can be severe, depending on length of the shank; longer-more severe, shorter-less. These types operate on poll/chin pressure. There is also what's known as an english jumping hackamore, which would be your best bet for students, unless they have very good hands. It is very much like a noseband, and the reins attach to the rings on the sides. Hope this helps, good luck w/the mare and bless you for taking her on!