I have had both the dentist and vet look at my mare, and they feel this is a learned behavior. She did not have the best start early on. She is 6 years old now and will gap her mouth generally only at the trot, when she is cantering or jumping and busy it tends to lessen. I am currently riding her in a copper D-ring. But am looking for suggestions, she resented the flash noseband and it made her very heavy! HELP! Any suggestions on bits or bridles to try would be wonderful!
maybe try something with rollers for her to play with. Another thing to try would be a bridle that is a similar style to the PS of Sweden High Jump, takes a lot of pressure points away so maybe with something more comfortable would decrease the tendency to try to do this.
My mare gapes her mouth in everything but a leather mouthpiece. She schools in a leather d ring and shows in a leather 3 ring
consider a french link egg butt in arrigan, rather than copper
this contoured bit might also bet a choice
She felt light so far because she’s always behind the bit and avoiding contact (and working through her body)
When she’s more engaged (canter/jumping), she probably goes for some contact and you might even be lighter in your hands, giving away most of the time to let her go to the jumps.
When you put the flash on, obviously, she was forced to take contact and she’s not used to so it is normal that she got heavy. She’s not trained to have a real light contact from self carriage and smooth following contact; being through and all. That’s what’s supposed to make a horse light in the mouth. You’d have a way better automatic release that way.
The leather bit suggestion could be a great idea. It’s mild and soft. Maybe a hackamore for some time, then paired with a bit with no reins attached to (+ maybe a flash.) later. So you could teach her to have something in her mouth without interfering for a while.
Re-train as it she was a baby. She has to learn to reach out for contact.
Have you tried a rubber dog bone? I’ve used them on several horses and LOVED the results!
1 Like
I love the comfort or double jointed mylar bits. Mylar bits are, in my experience, the most comfortable and accepted bits.
the first thing I’d do is put my fingers in her mouth. (Disclaimer: avoid teeth! Lol)
sometimes the tongue is very soft and fleshy. Sometimes it feels harder but is thicker. Sometimes the roof of the mouth is very low and soft. Sometimes it’s soft but very high.
you may even notice her react to where you touch and may be able to identify the pain points that way.
her mouth may have been beaten up by a single jointed snaffle because of her anatomy.
I’ve even used the low port, double jointed mylar curb to give more room for a very thick tongue.
Obviously if you need to be concerned about show regulations, you need to keep that in mind. But first you’ll have to teach her to trust the bit again.
also-and first— have a chiro look at her. TMJ as well as back or even sacral/pelvic issues can cause a horse to gape it’s mouth. Also, make sure there are no sharp edges on teeth. I personally do this myself but you could have a dentist out or ask a vet to check
As others have said, I’d try things with less nutcracker action, either double-jointed or mullen mouth, and see if that helps.
My 6 yr old hunter used to gape his mouth pretty bad. I tried several bits (mikmar with center lozenge, low ported Myler with center roller, ported Bomber with roller, mullen mouth loose ring Nathe). I realized it is not the tongue pressure that bothered him, but the weight/material of the bit. He was instantly much happier in the Nathe, and I ended up getting a HS duo D ring which he loves. He gapes MUCH less now and doesn’t drop BTV at the slightest pressure anymore. Good luck!
Unless I missed something I think you might be making a big assumption that the OP’s horse prefers to go behind the vertical. Most of the horses I’ve encountered who open their mouths do so to avoid contact, usually paired with raising the head and hollowing the back. This is what I was picturing with the OP’s horse, maybe I’m wrong?
OP there are lots of places that will rent bits for you to try. I’d start experimenting.
My hunter has a big tongue and a small muzzle, paired with a long back. He has an attitude and doesn’t like to work from behind, his go to move is to open his mouth and pull down and forward if you ask him to collect. For him a Myler with a low port is like magic. If he’s had some time off I add a loose flash as a reminder.
If your horse doesn’t like the flash you could try a figure 8, the pressure points are different so it could work.
Besides trying a french link, I would also try something thin. Many horses with thick tongues or low palates or small mouths are uncomfortable in a fat snaffle.
Following – loving the suggestions as my horse does the same. He gets his teeth done yearly, chiro quarterly. He goes in an egg butt single joint snaffle. I always wonder if it’s the nutcracker action of the single joint, but every time I put a French link in his mouth he HATES it. I’ve been humming and hawing about buying a Myler but they can get pricey, and if it doesn’t work then I’m stuck with it!
Anyways, I see lots of different options here and enjoying reading this thread.
