Tongue over the bit....

[dragonfarmgirl]

Hi Folks, need advice on bitting. My mare is 11, was broken 2 yrs ago but not done much until last few months. She accepts the bridle fine when tacking up but keeps getting tongue over the bit. It doesn't seem to affect our riding but might it make her harder to stop if I ever needed brakes ?
Is she trying to tell me she is uncomfortable ?
She is currently in a happy mouth snaffle, but someone has suggested she may be happier in a french link or a drop cheek snaffle. I don't understand how they work though. Any explanations or suggestions welcome.
She has had her teeth checked.

[Skippys Mum]

When my youngster got started I never ever did manage to get him to accept a bit happily - he was always putting his tongue over it. Turned out he had a lot of mouth problems which the vet has assured me he will grow out of - eventually.

I decided to go bitless rather than not be able to ride at all and I've never looked back. He is a happy horse and I have every bit as much control as I ever had bitted. No bother whatsoever with braking.

I've got a Dr Cooks. I had tried almost every type of bit imagineable and was at the end of my rope. Maybe worth giving it a go?

[dragonfarmgirl]

I would like to go down the route of bitless but my mare is up for sale (problems with a rigg) and I don't know how much time I have with her (not much interest at the moment). I just wondered if there was a bit that might be more comfortable for her so that if I do sell her she would be going off to new home happy with her bit.
Does it matter if she has her tongue over the bit ? Does it affect communication down the rein ?

[Skippys Mum]

Every time Arnie put his tongue over his bit he flung his head in the air and panicked. Imagine having a bit under your tongue - it must be awful.

There is surely no way you can get accurate communication if the tongue is over the bit.

I am hoping that I can reintroduce a bit eventually but I plan to stay bitless for hacking forever - he is such a changed boy bitless.

[dragonfarmgirl]

Thanks Skippys Mum. I think Daisy is a bit of a character though. She never panics and just slips her tongue over and under and back again. Could she just be playing ?
Does anyone else have this experience ?
Daisy managed a whole 2 day western clinic like this and tried her heart out for me, and managed good results. No arguements, refusals, head tossing or evasions. I could accept it as the norm for her, as long as I'm not hurting her.

[Clava]

My TB did this a few times in a recent lesson, then I realised I'd changed her bit for a slightly larger one but not raised the cheek pieces and it was too low in her mouth. I raised it a hole and no problems since. She always puts her tongue over the bit when I put her bridle on , messes about and then settles with everything in the right place and I do her nose band up then.

[moff]

Hi

I have known a few horses who put their tounge over the bit

the first thing i would do is make sure you have had her teeth checked. her bidle fits properly and if she has a nose band it is not too tight. Usually if a horse is putting their tounge over the bit they are telling you they are uncomfortable because of the presure on their tounge. Have you tried a bit with a curved mouth piece? as they put less preasure on the tounge.

how big is her tounge? sounds daft question but if her tounge is big (comes over her teeth) there wont be room for a bit with a chunky mouth piece so she will need one with a thin mouth piece.


hope this helps and good luck xx

[dragonfarmgirl]

Thanks Moff. Someone else suggested the big tongue thing, I'll check in the morning. I just looked in rideaway and robinson catalogue but can't find anything curved, just jointed. What would a curved bit be called ? Do you think a french link bit would give her tongue more room ?
I feel such a burk asking such basic questions but I only have experience of plain snaffles (but I do like learning).

[Luv 2 Trot]

We have had issues with our Morgans putting their tongues over the bits. Its really not a good thing to have happen. Like Skippy's Mum said, they get panicked. When we were breaking a stud to drive, he kept putting his tongue over the bit. We tried all sorts of things. He was then fine for a while, until we took him to a show in august where he decided to flip his tongue over the bit again. Whenever he did it, hed freak out. We then had to resort to tieing his tongue down. I know its frowned upon by many, but its a matter of safety at that point. And after doing it a few times, he is not quite fine with a bit in his mouth.

[moff]

Hi

you only learn if you ask

I think myler (sp?) do the curved bits

if you can't find one let me know and i will have a look

xxx

[xxhannahxjazzxx]

What about a flash noseband??
x

Flashes dont stop horses getting their tongue over a bit - a grackle might though, if it was done up to be effective not a fashion statement.

Best thing is a rubber tongue guard, non invasive and very effective.

[Skippys Mum]

S_F_S, I tried a rubber tongue guard and while it did stop him getting his tongue over, it ended with him refusing to let me anywhere near him with a bridle. I took it off the day he reversed in a panic and ended up sitting on his bum.

Would a drop noseband help at all?

[moff]

just checked myler deff do them. Think they are called "myler comfort snaffle" xxx