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Veteran
Posts: 184
 
| So I have this horse who someone sent me to work with and the horse apparently hates a gag bit. He will run to the first barrel during an exhibition run at a med-fast lope in a gag and is fine only if you DONT touch his face at all, if not then he will flip over, this also happens in a loose O-ring snaffle....vet had him checked out and a dentist. He will run fine in a roper with a high port but I dont have the bend I want. Any thoughts on what the problem might be? |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
 
| I would be looking at the tongue to see if it has been damaged previously, as a port allows for tongue relief |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | Yes, indeed, could be a tongue issue. If not that, then loose rings, while they don't have any leverage, do rotate like gag bits so maybe he just doesn't like that movement? Have you tried him in any other bits that don't have any gag action and don't have a port? |
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 Veteran
Posts: 246
Location: Idaho | You might try a charmayne lifter with a port. I think they make them with a low and high port. I have a low port that i really like. Has the tongue relief but helps lift my horses shoulder and keeps her from leaning on the bit. |
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Veteran
Posts: 184
| I have tried him in a pretzel because that was all I had with a port and he still acted funny but not terrible. The problem was apparent when I bought him and it just seemed to explode after the time I ran him in a Tom Balding gag with a copper chain mouth piece. This horse has amazing potential and can really sweep a barrel but doesn't have the hauling to really trust him on his own yet. |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | You might try a Mike Beers ported chain. Has the port and the chain help with bend. |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | I've got one that really hates tongue pressure, not to the extent that he would flip over. But it turns into avoiding the bit, head tossing, in general a crappy attitude.
He does best with anything that has a solid mouth or a port, which I feel he doesn't need but he likes better. If I do need to use something like a snaffle, I have to be very light and pick and choose my battles. I HIGHLY doubt he's ever had something traumatic in his lifetime to suggest his dislike towards a broken mouthpiece and tongue pressure was induced by improper riding, as his previous owner is an excellent horsewoman. I think it's more horse preference than anything, He's pretty clear when he doesn't like something and I always have to do my best to listen.
Is your gag bit clean? is there any dried up hay or grass in it, that stuff can be so sharp if there is residue in the small crevices of your mouthpiece. Do you believe there is any pinching happening when you use it? Is your mouthpiece the right size? |
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Veteran
Posts: 184
| The gag I am riding him per set is a three-piece lifesaver with a long shank because he needs a reminder to stop and will lean on the bit to pull it out my hands. I can use it if I ride in it with my finger tips but at a barrel race, it takes a lot more force to get him to slow down. I clean the bit mouthpieces after every time I ride so I'm clueless.... |
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  Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4553
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | I had one that was real sensitive in the mouth I had to wrap the bits to make them thicker so his gums wouldn't bleed then he didn't mind if I used the snaffle on him. Maybe a thicker mouth piece would be in you favor. |
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 Go For It!
Location: Texas |
Is it your horse or someone else's horse? You said two different things.
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Veteran
Posts: 184
| They sent the horse to me to try and fix but now they don't want him back so I guess he is mine. Found the paper work on my front door with a note saying just to keep him. Really strange but if he can be fixed then its one heck of a deal lol  |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| I have one who HATES lifesavers. Dog bone 3 pieces he is fine with and works well in, put him in a lifesaver and he can't do enough to get away from it. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 974
Location: USA | cow pie - 2015-03-15 4:40 PM I had one that was real sensitive in the mouth I had to wrap the bits to make them thicker so his gums wouldn't bleed then he didn't mind if I used the snaffle on him. Maybe a thicker mouth piece would be in you favor.
What did you wrap them with? |
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | My old bay horse hates gag bits, so I don't use one on him. He runs in a Jim Warner hack and I can get his nose with no trouble. I've also run him in a Mike Beers chain mouth bit, or I can ride him at home in a Billy Allen reining bit with a thick mouthpiece and a big copper roller. The Warner hack is my favorite for a horse who wants to be left alone but you need to be able to control. It doesn't have a "grabby" feel and is my go-to bit on those "stay off my face, I got this!" types. My boyfriend recently switched his mare to the Warner hack and she thinks she's died & gone to heaven because it took him out of her mouth and now she has the freedom she wanted but he can still help her rate & finish. |
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