Bitting the formerly tongue-tied ex-racehorse

[LilyandBaron]

I’m having a blast playing with my first ever Standardbred. He was a pacer I initially bought as a gaited trail horse (pacing can become racking with training). But, he trots and canters at liberty, so when my other horse had vet issues, I started dabbling in dressage with him. The one ongoing issue - he is incredibly fussy with the bit. I’ve been reading on it, and many Standardbreds have their tongues tied down while racing. He doesn’t have a low palate, per vet, and nothing weird except maybe a slightly fat tongue. No pain in body - have had saddle fitting and chiro, so it really is a mental scar, in my opinion, from the tongue tying.

I’ve tried HS Novocontact (single joint), HS Duo, RS Dynamic, older KK Ultra, French link snaffle, and the favorite was a Myler comfort snaffle, but all have him trying to get his tongue over the bit and snaking his neck out, mouth gaping, at times when he’s just fussy. I’ve ridden lots of OTTBs, some with tongue issues, but this is the worst case I’ve experienced. Based on online research on this issue in the ex harness racers, I tried a Dr. Cooks bitless bridle, first long lining in case he freaked, and finally undersaddle.

Well, he loved it! Based on the research, some folks went bitless to break the psychological cycle, successfully coming back to bits later. I want to do low level dressage and eventing, so legally need a bit to compete. Thinking I’ll try to go to a bitting clinic, but wanted to gather inputs on any similar experiences? Anyone go bitless, then go back to bits? Suggestions on bits to try?

[Glyphica]

I’ve had good luck on a few ex-racers with plain mullen mouth snaffles. I started with a big fat rubber one, and then downgraded to and plain stainless steel one after a while. Both with eggbutt cheeks. If you need more control, then add a kineton noseband for a few months.

[luvmyhackney]

Get a mullen mouth or really any bit and let him wear it all the time. Tie it to his halter or let him wear his bridle out with no nose band. Let them eat with it and learn to live with it. After a few days they get comfortable and no issues. Its like a retainer, at first it makes you gag and then you get used to it and its a way of life.

Everyone complains about horses not liking bits, but really its that they are not used to it and they don’t give them the experience and time to get used to them.

I ride in a side pull two days a week and a regular bridle with no nose band the rest of the time.

[pluvinel]

Try Working Equitation…they allow you to compete in a bitless bridle.

[oppsfelldown]

Not all horses that have a busy mouth were tongue tied - he could just be playing.

Toy around with bits until you find one that he likes. I agree with the mulled mouth as a good next bit, Look at raising or lowering the bit a hole to see if he likes to pick the bit up and hold it. Also try different nosebands - several have had good luck with a nice correctly fitted drop noseband.

[Training_Cupid]

@luvmyhackney

Get a mullen mouth or really any bit and let him wear it all the time. Tie it to his halter or let him wear his bridle out with no nose band. Let them eat with it and learn to live with it. After a few days they get comfortable and no issues. Its like a retainer, at first it makes you gag and then you get used to it and its a way of life.

Everyone complains about horses not liking bits, but really its that they are not used to it and they don’t give them the experience and time to get used to them.

I ride in a side pull two days a week and a regular bridle with no nose band the rest of the time.

This sounds super dangerous, so many things could go wrong with the bridle or bit getting snagged on something!!

[CanteringCarrot]

I also suggest trying a mullen mouth. Myler makes a nice (not too thick) mullen mouth boucher. I have a horse that likes the stability of that bit and lack of joint(s). With anything else he plays, and gets busy/fussy. It has encouraged an otherwise fussy and backed off horse to seek contact.

[luvmyhackney]

@Training Cupid

This sounds super dangerous, so many things could go wrong with the bridle or bit getting snagged on something!!

Not saying the horse should be completely unsupervised and left to their own devices, but it was a trick taught by an old trainer and it works. I’ve never had issues doing it and but if you think your horse is going to kill them self then don’t do it or watch them to make sure they don’t.

[LilyandBaron]

The Duo is a type of Mullen mouth, and I’ve adjusted up/down in all bits with no change in his mouthiness. It is really the most fussy-mouthed horse I’ve ever dealt with, and I used to work at sales barns, so over 300 OTTBs/others in my riding past. I’ve never worked with a STB, and it’s definitely different so I’m perhaps falsely assuming it’s related to the track experience because so many STB blogs comment on the same issue, and with riding lots of horses, I’ve never ridden one like this with the mouth.

I don’t think just putting a bit on him is safe in turnout/unsupervised, but also, he is playing with it - it’s not discomfort, so the bit occupies his time. So I think he’d just get more of a stererotypy thing (like cribbing) going if I did choose to leave him in a bit in his stall, for example.

I’m currently planning to stick with bitless until he’s more relaxed using his body (he bounds into trot, but with bitless, the transition was much softer), but sounds like trying a non-loose ring mullen mouth (eggbutt, boucher, etc.) would be a good option - mullen mouth might be fine, if it were more stable. And I’ve ridden him with a flash and no nose band with no difference in all configurations, though I’ve not played with Micklem or dropped yet. I typically just have a somewhat loose, but not annoyingly loose, normal noseband on him.

Thanks, everyone!