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 Expert
Posts: 2335
  
Location: IL | I have a mare that will not stop chewing on the bit. When she's doing this, she does not pay attention to me riding her. I've tried a cavasson with no improvement. She was still chewing on it, to the point of foaming at the mouth. She is 100% sound. She been to the vet and I also had blood work done. I did have her stomach scoped and she did have very mild irritated spots in her stomach. Like 3 bur he couldn't even grade her ulcers because they were so small. She has been on gastroguard for 2 weeks and the chewing thing with the bit has not improved at all. I did ride her with a little s hack and she was much better. I didn't know if anyone had any adivce on this. Her teeth are good too. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1631
 
Location: Somewhere around here | If she was good in the hack and seemed to be happy I'd just keep her in it. |
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Unable to Live Without Chocolate or Coffee
Posts: 1841
| use a hackamore. or you could try a rubber bit  |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| camocowgirl - 2016-07-27 12:26 PM
use a hackamore. or you could try a rubber bit
Rubber bits actually just dry out their mouth and make them chew more. So no, I would not suggest a rubber bit.
What kind of bit are you using right now? She might need something with tongue relief (like a small port or curb). |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | What kind of mouth peice is on the bit that you use on her now? I have one that will chew and chew on any bit I use, then tryed a chain mouth, he stoped chewing. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 415
| Find a bit with a roller to try :) My 5 year old was like that so I keep her in a roller or hack and she finally grew out of it |
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Expert
Posts: 2335
Location: IL | I have ridden her in regular o ring, jr cow horse with a roller, loomis gag, regular shank with broken mouth piece. I could try a chain my husband has roping chain bit by Mike beers. She chews on everything. I rode her again last night in the little s hack and I noticed she started almost chewing the air. Even with out a bit. I'm beyond frustrated with this. I ran her last night in a practice run on the pattern and that hack is too strong. She doesn't follow her nose very well. |
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Expert
Posts: 2121
Location: The Great Northwest | My 14 year old gelding chomps on the bit and always will. He does the choping when he gets on the muscle. I have tried a hack but that will in time make him too stiff. I tried the roller but that really intensifies the chomping. He does well in a link-chain, not flat, mouth piece gag. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
| Even tho you said her teeth were good, have you actually checked or had a knowledgable vet check them? I had one horse done by a well respected dentist that a lot of people around here use with good results and 3 months later he started chewing on any bit horribly and tucking his nose in. I checked and his teeth had a lot sharp points. He was also very sore in his TMJ. |
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Expert
Posts: 2335
Location: IL | veintiocho - 2016-07-28 10:15 AM Even tho you said her teeth were good, have you actually checked or had a knowledgable vet check them? I had one horse done by a well respected dentist that a lot of people around here use with good results and 3 months later he started chewing on any bit horribly and tucking his nose in. I checked and his teeth had a lot sharp points. He was also very sore in his TMJ.
She's all together been checked by 2 vets. My horse's teeth are done by a vet not a equine dentist. Her teeth are good. |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | #1 make sure she doesn't have a low palate or some mouth issue-that doesn't involve the teeth.
#2 if she were mine I would give her a calming supplement-which has magnesium and may ease a little of the stomach irritation and nervousness
#3 after the calming supplement has kicked in, I think I would bit her up (supervised of course) for a few minutes, maybe even tie her around.
I think maybe your amount of irritation with the habit is causing her even more stress so it's a never ending cycle??? (I'm just guessing here)
Let her get used to the bit and the placement of it-is she's able to carry it on her own, without you being there picking on her??
(it's random thought Thursday)
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| She may be a nervous nellie that will always chew on the bit.
Her stomach may be causing her discomfort, even with the gastro guard, try giving tums or some biarb 20 min before riding.
have you tried a mullen mouth piece as maybe she likes a fixed mouthpiece |
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  Keeper of the King Snake
Posts: 7616
Location: Dubach, LA | Try a copper mouthpiece. Also put her on Gaurdian. |
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 Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | Some just do that... but I also make sure its adjusted properly ,not hanging to low and it fits |
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Bit problems