Bitting Suggestions For a Tough Cookie

[Blueeyedroan]

OTTB mare, 9 years old, came off the track at end of her 7 year old year.
Currently going in my all time fave bit : french link hunter D with the JP Curve (mouthpiece on thinner side, curve in the bar pieces so it sits real nice). Most horses go beautifully in this bit. Not this mare.

This mare has tongue issues. She was definitely tongue tied at the track.
When she’s nervous, and when she standing or being ridden on a softer/looser rein her tongue is OVER the bit and out the side of her face doing acrobatics. Both sides, she’s not picky. Doesn’t matter how high you set the bit her tongue is going over it, unless it’s cranked so far up it’s inhumane which I will not do. This tongue flapping is not accompanied by any other negative behavior. I’ve also noticed her tongue often has a bluer hue than it should when there’s no reason for it to look that way so I do suspect some scar tissue and circulation issues.
The funny part is when you ask her to go to work and push her up onto the bit she stuffs her tongue back under the bit where it belongs and goes right to work. She’s actually completely polite about this. I’ve never seen a horse put their tongue away on command.
She curls away from the bit and and tucks behind the vertical as her general way of going. It’s a nice break from the classic head in air and hollow OTTB way of going, but indicative of a different issue.

I have her in an open face bridle, noseband removed completely.
I’m not putting her in a figure 8, flash or crank. Not open for discussion. No.
She had her teeth done at the track, had an oral exam last spring, and is booked to be floated again at the end of March.

What bit would you recommend that relieves her tongue a bit, but also doesn’t interfere with her low palate ? And is also hunter/jumper/eventing legal?

[Simkie]

Have you tried a boucher? I’ve often found them useful for these touchy types of horses. Just that hanging cheek seems to really help, but you can also play around with tongue relief type mouthpieces.

You could also try a Pelham. A straight bar with a wide port is often fab for these guys. I know it’s strange to recommend a curb for a horse that curls, but sometimes they just really like the way it sits in the mouth.

[Christa_P]

Check the fit and maybe try a simple racing Dee Bit. My OTTB only raced for 1 season as a 4 year-old, but she is picky about how the bit fits - she likes a 4 1/2" single joint or a mullen mouth pelham. A double joint bit or one that is too wide will cause her to play with her mouth and be very inconsistent with contact.

[Posting_Trot]

Yes, I’d also suggest a baucher bit. Horses who are fussy with other snaffles will often go well in a baucher. My current horse is using a Stubben baucher with a central lozenge.

[jvanrens]

Maybe try something like this (without the hooks)?

[NoSuchPerson]

I had good luck with a Bomber Happy Tongue bit on a horse that was really fussy with most bits.

[Night_Flight]

I would also try a low-ported Myler, or a leather bit. The fun thing about leather bits is that they will essentially form to the mouth, which after a few rides will give you an idea of your horse’s mouth shape that you can use for future bit shopping, if needed.

Have you tried an Australian cheeker to help keep the bit up and off the tongue? My old mare with a tongue scar went well in that combined with a leather bit for quite a while.

[Texarkana]

A low port mullen was a life changer for my fussy horse who has a fleshy tongue and a low palate.

[dmveventer]

Mine goes in the Fager Maria. It’s thin and the titanium is really light which might help given your horse’s tongue issues. The lozenge is equally thin and sits flat against the tongue with no rings sticking out, and it’s a little ported for tongue relief without interfering with a low palette. I had him in the JP lozenge bit to start and it was too fat and didn’t sit right in his mouth. Fager will let you do a trial for a $15 fee if you want to test it out.

Fager Maria Titanium Hunter Dee Ring

Would really recommend only trying things you can return or are cheap enough to eat the loss. There were a few things I thought my horse would love that got soundly rejected (the baucher was one of these) so you really just have to do some trial-and-error until they tell you what works.

[Heinz_57]

@NoSuchPerson

I had good luck with a Bomber Happy Tongue bit on a horse that was really fussy with most bits.

I’ll second that. Although mine are knockoffs. I have a baucher happy tongue knockoff that is just the ticket for my sensitive ones. I’ve also had good results with the Fager Mullen mouths.

[CBoylen]

I’d put it in a Nathe or similar knockoff.

[NancyM]

Well, it’s always an idea to just try a lot of different options, and hope to stumble onto something that works. Bits with a big tongue groove would be the first obvious option. A mouthpiece with a tongue depresser option may help (there is such a thing). Other than that, a contraption called a “running W”, which goes on before the bridle does… W shaped, fits above the bit. The center part of the W makes it impossible for the tongue to get over the bit, like a tongue depressor.
You can also get a leather tongue tie, (I have one) which holds the tongue in the correct position without being tight… it’s just a loop, with a buckle that goes under the chin. Holds the tongue still, and in position. Your hope would be that in time, and with work, the issue would solve itself. This would not be legal for the hunters, but maybe OK in the jumpers??? IDK if anyone has ever considered the use of this thing in non racing competition. It’s hardly noticeable.
Any chance that you could try a bitless option? At least at home for a while?