Bit advice

[aimee24]

Hi there,

I am currently bringing my cousins horse back into work for her. They bought the horse from the field at the beginning of the year, he'd had 12 months off. I did some work with him in the beginning and then unfortunately he was on box rest for a long while. So, we're starting again now he is sound and ready for work. 
I have an issue with his bit though. The horse will lunge / free school with a steady head without a bit in his mouth. As soon as he is wearing his bridle, he becomes quite unsettled, and if you have any pressure on the bit, be it from taking even the lightest contact when mounted or attaching a lunge line, he starts to throw his head and he always gets his tongue over the bit. He is quite clearly unhappy in his mouth. He also tends to back right off and sit behind the bit. And I am not prepared to strap his mouth shut.

He has had his teeth and back checked very recently, and due to his box rest, has had a lot of attention from the vet, who can see no physical problems to cause this. 

He is a heavy cob with a big, fleshy tongue and lips. He is currently in a continental / three ring gag / dutch gag - whatever you want to call it! With a french link. 

I need something that is going to leave room for his tongue and allow him to be comfortable. I've been thinking of something with a small port, half moon link, a slimmer mouth piece etc... Does anyone have any suggestions? 

We also have an issue with napping - but that will be another thread! hahah! 

Thanks!

[acshowing]

Have you tried using a flash noseband? It might solve him putting his tongue over the bit as its more difficult! We had a pony who was unsettled in the head also and i found a wilkie bit worked the best, its a plastic link with a losinge and i find it works great! Also for the napping you could try riding with two whips, one in each hand, this works good if you have a pony that doesnt like to go where you ask him or if they nap!

[roxy93]

My mare was very funny with bits in her mouth has a big fleshy mouth thick tongue, after spending so much money on bits and dentist i bought her a Neue Schule tranz lozenge beval, she has never gone so low loves the bit and she is now very light in the hands.

[lisadundee]

I had a big heavy cob and a very similar problem, he had a big fleshy tongue, I tried a flash but all a flash will do is clamp his mouth closed giving him even less space! Get a good dentist to start with, I had a bit specialist and tried the bombers happy tongue loose ring bit!! AMAZING difference! It has a large port to make space for the big tongue! A nice soft bit, not cheap but we spend fortunes on saddles and never thing about the importance of a Correct bit for a specific shape of mouth. I would advise anyone who has a horse with a big fleshy tongue to try a happy tongue bit, you can trial one from the bit bank

[flo1]

The happy tongue bit (which I'd never heard of until I just googled it ) is similar to the Sprenger correction bit which is what I was going to suggest, it worked wonders with my gelding.

[aimee24]

Thank you for the ideas everyone. 

In regards to a flash, he used to have one and hated it - and STILL got his tongue out. And I personally don't want to put one on him, he is telling me he is uncomfortable in the mouth, so strapping it shut and forcing him to be more uncomfortable just doesn't make sense (IMO), I want to help him, not mask the problem, plus, as mentioned, it leaves less room for an already colossal tongue! haha! I understand a flash will work with some horses for some problems, but not for problems of discomfort. I am sure this is not a habit, he really is trying to tell me he isn't comfortable!

I will certainly research the bits mentioned, thank you very much. 

His teeth are in good condition, he just has poor conformation in his mouth! 

Thanks again everyone! Any other bit ideas are more than welcomed. 

[fanfarefan]

Thinking outside the box aside from what is in his mouth a three ring gag will create poll pressure !!!! When his back was done did they check his jaw alignment and poll ?

[aimee24]

Oct 22, 2013 17:49:57 GMT fanfarefan said:

Thinking outside the box aside from what is in his mouth a three ring gag will create poll pressure !!!! When his back was done did they check his jaw alignment and poll ?

Oh I forgot to mention that didn't I ! Yes, poll pressure has been thought about. I'm hoping to find something along the lines of a snaffle actually, take him back to as mild a bit as possible and go from there. But looking for a mouth piece that allows room for that tongue.

He is not my horse, I was not there when he had his back checked, but I would imagine everything would have been checked thoroughly, I know his vet and she is fantastic, wouldn't miss a beat. 

[winterwood]

I think you are going down the right route with considering a thinner bit with a port. You could take a look at the Mylers. Have a word with Elaine Sutcliffe here is her website link elainesutcliffe.co.uk/intelligent-bittingcall-today-free-advice/

[aimee24]

Oct 22, 2013 18:38:17 GMT winterwood said:

I think you are going down the right route with considering a thinner bit with a port. You could take a look at the Mylers. Have a word with Elaine Sutcliffe here is her website link elainesutcliffe.co.uk/intelligent-bittingcall-today-free-advice/

Brilliant! Thank you very much.