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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 304
Location: Up and over to the right | I'm a bit stuck on what to do at this point. I just got a new horse and have had him checked out by my farrier, vet, chiro, etc.
I'm currently working him in a 3 piece copper loose ring snaffle but he gapes his mouth every stride (I believe from anxiety). I have soft hands and he gapes under saddle, lunging and even left alone with the bit in his mouth. I don't think I can get a bit much softer than that but something's gotta give.
What do people recommend for horses that act like this with bits? He's fine with a halter/lead and is okay in a hackamore but I want to find a bit that might work better. Different mouth piece? (I won't do twisted wire with his fresh mouth) Different cheek piece? (full cheek, Myler, short shank w/ fixed or moveable mouth, etc.) |
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 Expert
Posts: 1631
  
Location: Somewhere around here | Use a caveson. If he isn't in pain and just doing it for the heck of it then close his mouth up and teach him to hold that bit in his mouth. I understand horses doing it when they're young since most grow out of it, but if he isn't real young it could be a learned habit. I think your bit is fine and soft enough for him too. |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| Is the bit too low in his mouth so he's uncomfortable and trying to spit it out?
I would also suggest the caveson if the bit is situated correctly.
You might also try a chain mouthpiece with a short shank, like a sweet six or a Jr. Cowhorse. Chain snaffles are OK, but there isn't much control if you need it. |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | Never hurts to get the second opinion of a dentist. In my experience, they are better equipped to find issues than vets. If it's just an anxiety thing, then a cavesson might help. The only other thing I can think of is maybe something with a fixed cheek. My horse lost his mind when I put a loose ring on him. He prefers something more solid so I ride him in a myler level 1 mouthpiece short shank or a sidepull, which he loves and responds just like he would in a snaffle.
ETA Also play with the height. My horse likes his bit way lower in his mouth than I normally put them and it took me a LONG time to figure it out.
Edited by cavyrunsbarrels 2016-03-18 9:31 AM
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 494
| Caveson & chain mouth. I had one that I was riding in a 2 piece and she hated the 2, switched to a 3 and even hated that. Chain worked |
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 Expert
Posts: 1898
| cavyrunsbarrels - 2016-03-18 9:30 AM Never hurts to get the second opinion of a dentist. In my experience, they are better equipped to find issues than vets. If it's just an anxiety thing, then a cavesson might help. The only other thing I can think of is maybe something with a fixed cheek. My horse lost his mind when I put a loose ring on him. He prefers something more solid so I ride him in a myler level 1 mouthpiece short shank or a sidepull, which he loves and responds just like he would in a snaffle.
ETA Also play with the height. My horse likes his bit way lower in his mouth than I normally put them and it took me a LONG time to figure it out.
This! Some horses like to pick up their bit and hold it rather than having it held by the bridle. I ride my snaffles so the bars touch the corners of the mouth when the horse is relaxed. No wrinkles, no constant pulling. It might take some time to get that adjusted. I would put it on and adjust it loosely, don't get on and let him stand and relax. Then start to pick it up until you get the fit you want. After it is adjusted you will notice that the horse might pick it up and hold it so there is a single wrinkle, the bridle may be a little relaxed on the cheeks but that is OK.
If it is too low in the mouth, it bangs on the teeth and the horse will try to spit it. It's uncomfortable to have the metal banging around. If it's to high horses will gap because they feel there is no relief and by opening their mouth they can release that pressure even if for just a split second.
A happy mouth piece is something I have just been introduced to. Its a snaffle with thicker rubber bars usually used in the English world. You adjust it exactly like you would any other snaffle. Some horses really like it, might be something to try.
Remember the diameter of mouth pieces greatly effects how pressure is distributed to the bars and corners of the mouth and tongue. The smaller the mouth piece the smaller the area of distribution which means more pressure to a smaller space. The thicker the piece the more widely distributed.
A caveson can be scary to horse that has never had one, so use caution if this is the way you are going to go. Start with it loose so the horse can open his mouth and gradually tighten it down as you ride. Cavesons can cause other behavioral issues in mouth gappers. I had a mare who would violently shake her head with a caveson.
People might think this is crazy but I truly believe that sometimes mouth gappers are genetic. I have had two half sisters, a son of one of those sisters, and I have two friends who have half brothers to these mares. They were all started by different people and they all gap their mouths. |
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  Northern Chocolate Queen
Posts: 16576
Location: ND | How old is this horse & how much training does he have? |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| What did the previous owners use? I would talk to them. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
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cavyrunsbarrels - 2016-03-18 9:30 AM
A happy mouth piece is something I have just been introduced to. Its a snaffle with thicker rubber bars usually used in the English world. You adjust it exactly like you would any other snaffle. Some horses really like it, might be something to try.
A caveson can be scary to horse that has never had one, so use caution if this is the way you are going to go. Start with it loose so the horse can open his mouth and gradually tighten it down as you ride. Cavesons can cause other behavioral issues in mouth gappers. I had a mare who would violently shake her head with a caveson.
First, those rubber bits are actually not very good. The rubber dries their mouth out, and that irritates most horses.
Second, I agree with using the cavesson to solve one habit usually causes another to form. Horse in my profile pic was a bit chomper and would gape when she ran. Put a drop cavesson on her, and now instead of chomping the bit, she flips her lips and her nose when we entered the arena (not as annoying as the chomping and evading was).
Edited by FlyingHigh1454 2016-03-18 11:55 AM
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Expert
Posts: 1898
| FlyingHigh1454 - 2016-03-18 11:51 AM
cavyrunsbarrels - 2016-03-18 9:30 AM
A happy mouth piece is something I have just been introduced to. Its a snaffle with thicker rubber bars usually used in the English world. You adjust it exactly like you would any other snaffle. Some horses really like it, might be something to try.
A caveson can be scary to horse that has never had one, so use caution if this is the way you are going to go. Start with it loose so the horse can open his mouth and gradually tighten it down as you ride. Cavesons can cause other behavioral issues in mouth gappers. I had a mare who would violently shake her head with a caveson.
First, those rubber bits are actually not very good. The rubber dries their mouth out, and that irritates most horses.
Second, I agree with using the cavesson to solve one habit usually causes another to form. Horse in my profile pic was a bit chomper and would gape when she ran. Put a drop cavesson on her, and now instead of chomping the bit, she flips her lips and her nose when we entered the arena (not as annoying as the chomping and evading was ).
I've only used the happy mouth on one horse and haven't had an issue with dryness but mine is a three piece with a copper roller. I won't use anything that doesn't have copper. |
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Mouth piece help