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 Expert
Posts: 2335
  
Location: IL | I'm having problems with my mare holding a bit. She is always holding her mouth open. I have used several bits on her, nothing harsh. I've used several o rings, junior cow horse, sliding gags with headstall. She is broke nice, moves off her shoulders and hips. Pick up leads great and has a sliding stop. She a real natural on her hindend. She gets teeth done every year. I have pulled the bit higher in her mouth which didn't help) and dropped it lower. When I drop it she gets her tongue over the top and then starts picking up her head. She does have a slight over bite from what the vet said. I could ride her in a hack but would like to get to the bottom of the issue. I don't feel like I'm heavy handed and she's super light. Please let me know what you think. She will ride around nice and I don't even feel her doing it until I pay attention to her mouth. If you are putting her to work she will quite for awhile and then go back. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
 
| have you tried a chain mouth piece? |
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Expert
Posts: 2335
Location: IL | Yes and she does the same thing plus can get her tongue over it much easier. I almost thought about biting her up and putting her in the round pen just to get used to it more?? |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 460
| So she gets her tongue over a lot? Have you ever tried a light snaffle with a tongue depressor on it? Looks like this http://www.bigdweb.com/images/3152.jpg She wouldn't be able to get her tongue over that. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12837
| The bit should make several wrinkles in the corner of her mouth. I usually grab the cheek pieces and pull out. There should be no more than about an inch of space between the brible and the cheek.
Years ago I had a horse that would open his mouth to get away from the bit and I rode him with a caves on for years because of that. You might try that. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Have you tried a Mullen mouth piece, I have one who gapes her mouth with everything but the Mullen.
Also has she been checked for wolf teeth?
Sometimes yearly is not enough for teeth
Have you had her tmj adjusted/massaged? |
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Expert
Posts: 2335
Location: IL | cheryl makofka - 2015-01-14 10:44 PM Have you tried a Mullen mouth piece, I have one who gapes her mouth with everything but the Mullen. Also has she been checked for wolf teeth? Sometimes yearly is not enough for teeth Have you had her tmj adjusted/massaged? Wolf teeth are gone and have been for awhile. I've owned since she was 5 months old. When her teeth get floated each year vet says her mouth looks good and only has to make minor adjustments.
I will look into that bit. thanks
Edited by merdth6 2015-01-15 8:16 AM
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 Special Somebody
Posts: 3951
Location: Finally horseback again.... | Look into Dale Myler's theory on bitting.
He is a wealth of information on horses getting their tongue over the bit for relief.
I would bet she probably has a very shallow pallet and thick tongue. Try a bit with something for tongue relief possibly ported or curved. Snaffles do not give enough space to give them the relief they need. |
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Expert
Posts: 2335
Location: IL | Canchasr1 - 2015-01-15 8:27 AM Look into Dale Myler's theory on bitting.
He is a wealth of information on horses getting their tongue over the bit for relief.
I would bet she probably has a very shallow pallet and thick tongue. Try a bit with something for tongue relief possibly ported or curved. Snaffles do not give enough space to give them the relief they need.
Thanks, I will check into that. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| http://www.doversaddlery.com/t/Product.aspx?p=X1-30141
Lunging in this made a world of difference in how my gelding accepted the bit. I got him for free as a 12 yr old who was broke and safe but little formal training and had never really been taught give and accept the bit. Lunged him in a Myler comfort snaffle and wow, fantastic difference! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1115
| Have you tried putting a simple snaffle on an old headstall and just let her wear it for the day in a small pen? I rode a gelding in college that would do the same thing you described. The barn manager had me put a bit on him one Saturday and just put him in the round pen all day. He had access to hay and water and I just kept an eye on him. By the end of the day he figured out how to carry the bit in his mouth and wasn't a problem after that. |
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| I would get her looked at by a true equine dentist. Most vets are pretty scary as to what they think is acceptable. You should be doing teeth every six months.
That said, what are your hands doing that is making her try to get away? Maybe a few lessons with your mare and you with a good reining trainer might help. They could also help you get into a bit and help adjust it properly.
When in doubt, seek professionals! I do, ALL the time. Little pest I am! |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| I had a mare who had a funny pallet, never could ride in a snaffle, however a chain bit was her trick. But, one day at the feed store there where 2 myler snaffles hanging in there for like 20.00 bux. I bought one both, my horses rode great in that bit, my gelding will kinda do what you said. I know he is well broke he will frame up and do all sorts of things, besides barrels. And my mare she would let me ride her in that other wise i had a fat mullen mouth and i would work her in that but i would always have to works on soften her body as i was riding with a non broken bit. Vut they loved that, myler bit. So, i would try in some bit with more pallet friendly type bit there are several kinds, borrow on see if it works. |
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