Major bit issues...

[manes&muzzles]

I have been re-schooling a native coloured for 12 months now for a friend after they had a bad accident where he received an electric shock through his bit, he used to whizz round and bank on the corners, however he has slowly collected himself, yet we still have issues with his head carriage and relaxation. The issue is last April he reared and we got the dentist out who took out a wolf tooth, then I had him in a Wilkie snaffle...he was far to Bolshy and he would lean on my hands. So I changed his bit to a Waterford hanging cheek snaffle so he couldn't grip it and it takes a good 30 mins to get him to work from behind. When I began showing him I tried him in a Waterford and French link Pelham but you cold see the stress in his neck and I had a feeling it was due to the curb action. I put him back in the French cheek and have worked all winter with him in this bit and this week I tried him in a Tom Thumb because there was no curb. He really liked this bit however there is one problem I cannot eliminate, his mouth his always open as if he's evading it. This happens in any bit. I've tried a flash then as soon as I take it off it's open again. He chews and grinds the bit in his teeth when we are stood. I was wondering if anyone knew of any technique to keep his mouth shut in the nicest way possible x

[sarahp]

Poor boy, what with the wolf tooth and an electric shock, no wonder he distrusts bits, as far as he's concerned they're going to hurt him. What about a bitless bridle, not sure you can show in it though, you'd have to ask? Have you tried an ordinary double jointed snaffle - and a wilki is not a snaffle? Everything you've mentioned above has poll pressure and/or curb action. Perhaps wrapping it in bit wrap might help, or something like a happy mouth with a different, non-metal texture?

[lisadundee]

He's probably got a big fleshy tongue, try the bombers happy tongue, amazing bit for horses with big fleshy tongues that tend to open their mouths

[manes&muzzles]

Oh I rode him for 3 weeks in a standard eggbutt snaffle and I may aswell have not bothered haha...he does really relax now in both his hanging cheek and Tom Thumb with sweet iron mouth piece, it's just that his mouth is always open??x

[sarahp]

If his mouth is wide open then the jaw is not relaxed - try it yourself! Mind you it won't be if it's strapped shut, again, try it with your own mouth and jaw. You hadn't mentioned the snaffle in your original post. Double jointed? Many hate single joints. I still think though he's afraid of more possible pain, horses have amazing memories, and I don't really know how to get him over that.

[diadem]

take him back to the start, re mouth him, perhaps he needs to re learn his behaviour, perhaps its all in his head? stuck in a loop?

[Em5]

You could try a myler hanging cheek low port comfort snaffle. This gives tongue relief and no pressure in the bars. Each side rotates individually so there is no but cracker action.

The other thing i would be doing if you haven't already is have a Physio out as he may be tight in his back or poll with what your describing

[gillwales]

try a vulcanized pelhan with an elastic curb chain, this will remove the metal out of his mouth and a far more gentle curb.

[fanfarefan]

having read through this ppost i would certainly get him poll and jaw alinment checked it sounds like a pain evasion ,,, however suggestions above all worth a try , a french link happy mouth would be worth a try eliminating both metal and the nut cracker effect of an ordinary snaffle

[Em5]

If you want to save all the guess work and the cost of trialling lots of bits I can highly recommend elaine sutcliffe
From informed Bitting. elainesutcliffe.co.uk/news/

Elaine came out and saw my little pony, she assess their mouths and the problems you are having then tries a range of bits. My ponies problem was that every single but I tried was causing sores. This was due to his very small mouth and fleshy lips. He's in the myler low port comfort snaffle that Elaine tried him in and we also add an elastic curb to keep the bit still in his mouth. This has worked brilliantly and no more rubs

[Em5]

Just to add due to Elaine's knowledge this bit was the first one that elaine recommended after assessing him so it was more a case if getting the right size to suit his preference

[sarahp]

That myler snaffle worked well on a horse of my daughter's, suggested in a bitting clinic given by myler. And I'd second getting a really good physio to check head, jaw and poll as suggested too. I was given an Welsh A mare, middle aged and done nothing all her life but sit in a field, with odd muscle development, more like an un made up baby. Wonderful physio treated her poll, and it had referred all down her back too, and then I just suck her back in the field, where she made up to look like a normal pony! She was also VERY ear shy when she came, which completely disappeared without me doing any special work on her, I'm sure it was because her poll hurt.