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!
Elisa Wallace literally just posted this video this morning which I found to be a good explanation of several kinds of bits and may help clue you in on something to try. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJ-nrfwTzxQ
I have a guy who just doens’t seem to like having a bit in his mouth, but I wanted to do dressage with him so I need to find something that works. He tolerates a double jointed snaffle so I’ve been using that, but after I watched her go through the bits she uses, I am thinking I may want to try Herm Sprenger Duo.
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The mouth is a really complex organism in horses. There are so many factors, and so little education. You have to take things into consideration - size of her mouth, lips, and tongue. How her lips lay together, and the tongue. I would experiment with different bits, where you place them in the mouth, and also nosebands. Some horses prefer a loose noseband, some prefer tight. For example, my gelding would pull his tongue back and thus he would open his mouth. I tightened his flash and cavesson - its not cranked but it is as snug as possible with proper fitting. If it is loose he can still pull his tongue back. With it tighter, it holds the bit steadier and he has no desire to pull his tongue back. He is relaxed with no tension.
My mare is different. She hates jointed bits, and the more joints the worse. She has a very tiny mouth, 4 1/2 inch. She likes her bit low because she has tiny lips and her bit spot is far ahead. For her, the magic bit was a Myler baucher. The baucher holds the bit steady, with the Myler making room for her tongue and also the shape means the joints aren’t noticeable.
Take some time to look at her mouth, and try different things. Try it for at least a week. Good luck.
I am a great believer in plastic bits (not Happy Mouth which is hard plastic). I’ve used a Nathe or Trust on multiple horses - believing less is more. For instance, TB’s have very fine jaw bones and a pinchy, metal bit can be painful. That and steady hands so the horse has something to reach for and gently hold onto.
As for a bridle, I would suggest a Micklem. The last 3 horses that I have owned have gone well in it. I dislike the reins, so I put different reins on it. My older mare needed a horse size. My OTTB needed a Cob and my new guy uses the horse size. I currently have 4 Micklem Competition Bridles.
Micklem or a figure 8 might be worth trying.
Have you tried the rubber tubing figure 8? They were popular at the track for a while. I agree about the happy mouth. The dog bone or French link work well with ones that can stand contact.
One of my geldings did this. Tried every bit possible. I ended up taking off the nose band and eventually used a drop noseband and he was fine with that. He was an auction horse and I didn’t know his back story, but it looked like something had happened to him, blow to the head/being over shanked at some point, as he had odd bumps in the center of his face on his skull. His new owner did jumpers with him and he did very well, just no regular style nose band.
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