HELP!! Opening his mouth

[jo1992]

Hi guys, just wondered if anyone can help. Ive had my section D for 7 years hes fab to ride works on the bit well and is well mannered. Ive always rode him in a flash as he opens his mouth really wide. yesterday i took his flash off to ride and he wasn't as bad as expected but is opening his mouth every time i apply contact. His teeth are checked regularly so i was wondering if it's something else that was causing pain.

I took him a walk just in his bridle when i got back. On the way there i asked him to stand, back up, trot to stand etc and he didnt open his mouth at all!!!! On the way back to the farm with the slightest contact his mouth was wide open!!

Surely it can't be because he's in pain because he would do it whilst going away from the farm aswell. He isn't nappy, fab on a headcollar and is good with voice command.

I rode again today with no flash and he was alot better but still opening his mouth.

Does anyone know why he is doing it?

He is in a loose ring french link snaffle, isn't strong and the only chance i get to school him apart from out hacking is in the field in summer. He's an amazing horse its just baffling me as its though hes just being a sod and wants to go home!

Thanks for reading hope you can help x

[elmere]

It just sounds like hes evading the contact, lots of ponies do it so dont worry. Schooling will help, have you got an instructer? A change of bit may also help, have you got any others you could try or perhaps borrow a friends?

[jo1992]

thanks

Unfortunatly I haven't got an instructor never had a lesson in my life neither has he.

I haven't got any other french link bits that will fit him, ive got jointed but he doesn't like these. I'll see if i can borrow one. I school him everyday out hacking its just we don't have a menage I can actually school in.
Thanks for your advice that's what I thought but just wanted to see other peoples opinions.

[123lauren098]

Maybe try a thinner bit? Usually natives have thicker tongues so they need thinner bits to fit in their mouths. My welsh D does the same, but his is now a habit due to stress.

[sageandonion]

I think you will find that if you have some lessons with a good instructor your problem will be on its way to being solved. Everyone needs lessons.

[jo1992]

thanks lauren. his jointed wilkie is alot thinner but he prefers the french link. will see if i can find a thinner 1.

I know everyone needs lessons, including me. I was just wondering if anyone else thought he was just evading the contact

[elmere]

Yeh I think an instructer would really help, its good to have someone on the ground that can see what hes upto and tell you how to work on it.

[sageandonion]

Of course only an instructor on the ground assessing you, the pony and his way of going will be able to pin down the reason, but a common one would be that the pony is not truly carrying himself and taking the weight behind and is leaning on the bit (sometimes it doesn't feel that way if you do not have absolutely the correct contact) and the bit then lies incorrectly so pony will open his mouth.

Some will clamp the mouth shut with the flash but it doesn't change the situation.

That's just a guess, instructor will advise.

[GinaGeo]

^^ This
S&O speaks alot of sense.

Flashes only hide issues, you've done the right thing getting rid. You just need to carry on in the right direction now, and it sounds like you really want to do it properly. Good Luck

[speedysally]

my pony at her old home had the same habit, she was in a loose ring snaffle though (which was too heavy and big) in her mouth! when i got her i changed her bit to an eggbutt (which is really light) and she never opens her mouth in it! make sure your bit 100% fits :-)

[jo1992]

thanks so much guys

[michelle22]

My show cob looks like he is chomping on sumthing when he's ridden and also in stable I had his teeth and back checked but after owning him for so long I noticed that it was an excitable thing if he saw a feed bucket or hay net or his tack he started chomping and he just has to c a jump and that's him away again