Mouthy Horse Eats Bits

[Rusty15]

I have a 7yo gelding that chews relentlessly on bits. From the moment I put it in his mouth in the cross ties he just chews on it. I’ve gone through 4 bits of different mouthpiece types and metals to no avail. They all have teeth marks. He doesn’t gap his mouth or avoid the bit, but still it’s very annoying. He was done by a dentist 6 months ago and they will be back again next month so I’m going to ask them if he has a low palate, exceptionally fleshy tongue, or something else that would prevent him from comfortably carying a bit. He has been seen by the vet a 4+ times in the last year and is feeling the best he’s felt in a long time. I have excellent hands and I KNOW that is not the issue.

As of late I’ve been riding him in a sidepull which he really likes. With bits, he doesn’t seem to totally “get” riding with contact as when I try to establish it he feels heavy on the bit but also slows down. He moves forward much more freely in the sidepull. He actually started calmly licking and chewing during our last ride (which he NEVER has done with a bit…then again I’m not sure if that’s physically possible). His green-ness is one of the reasons I plan to start back with lessons with him, but that won’t be probably till next spring. Also if we decide to show in the future he’ll need to be able to go in something dressage legal, so I’m still trying to find a bit for him. The only mouthpieces I’ve tried are copper single joint, SS single joint, sweet iron french link, and a Myler low port. Those were eggbutts, a full cheek, and a kinda-sorta-not-really gag bit. I’ve not tried any other cheeks. Some have mentioned a Nathe but I don’t know anything about them. Any recommendations?

[quietann]

Nathes are hard plastic over a metal core … Lots of horses love to eat them!

Does he chomp on the bit like this when being ridden, or just when he’s standing around?

[Rusty15]

I know they’re plastic but some people have told me their horses were more comfortable w/the shape and stopped chomping. I don’t notice him chewing hardly at all when trotting or cantering, but if we’re walking or standing still he just goes constantly. He also doesn’t like me putting the bit in. He clamps his mouth shut and it takes a ton of poking him in the tongue for him to open up.

[Rusty15]

What do we think about a mullen mouth baucher?

[sascha]

I feel your annoyance. My mare loved her Nathes/Duos so much - comfortable, lovely contact, but she ate a couple anyway.

I have been known to grasp her muzzle in both hands, look her in the eye, and say softly, “It is a means of communication NOT A CHEW TOY!” lol

Her 2 favourite bits which minimize chomping are the Balkenhol snaffle (single joint with a slightly ported shape) and the Sprenger KK Correction bit which is a solid bit with a squarish port for tongue room.

I wish they were both just a hair thinner (she has a fat little tongue), but any other shapes piss her off and increase the chomping. I think it’s because other shapes just don’t give that fat little tongue enough space.

As far as getting your horse to accept being bridled better - use treats! When they learn opening their mouth for the bit nets them something tasty, they become quite happy to grab the bit and try to bridle themselves

[sascha]

[QUOTE=Rusty15;8272446]
What do we think about a mullen mouth baucher?[/QUOTE]

For my mare that was disastrous. Not enough tongue room is my guess. But it’s worth a try for the OP. Hell, when you’re in that position, everything is worth a try!

[Rusty15]

Yes I just really don’t want to have to buy and sell 500 bits lol. I don’t know what to do for him. I’m hoping the dentist will be able to tell me if he has some sort of special mouth configuration that will help me pinpoint what might work.

[Rusty15]

[QUOTE=sascha;8272455]
I feel your annoyance. My mare loved her Nathes/Duos so much - comfortable, lovely contact, but she ate a couple anyway.

I have been known to grasp her muzzle in both hands, look her in the eye, and say softly, “It is a means of communication NOT A CHEW TOY!” lol

Her 2 favourite bits which minimize chomping are the Balkenhol snaffle (single joint with a slightly ported shape) and the Sprenger KK Correction bit which is a solid bit with a squarish port for tongue room.

I wish they were both just a hair thinner (she has a fat little tongue), but any other shapes piss her off and increase the chomping. I think it’s because other shapes just don’t give that fat little tongue enough space.

As far as getting your horse to accept being bridled better - use treats! When they learn opening their mouth for the bit nets them something tasty, they become quite happy to grab the bit and try to bridle themselves :)[/QUOTE]

Is that sprenger legal?

[Mondo]

Consider some of the kinder Meyler bits. But you might also try changing your bridle instead of the bit. You said he prefers a side-pull, that made me wonder. Sometimes the chomping on the bit is a symptom, not the disease. He may be uncomfortable in his bridle. Put your usual bit on a Micklem bridle and see if that doesn’t fix the issue. A client recently did that for her gelding and the difference is night and day. He constantly fussed with the bit, no matter what bit we tried. She got a Micklem bridle and zap! No more fussing. Worth a shot.
https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/micklem-competition-bridle-8335?cm_mmc=google--nb_tack_bridles--micklem-_-micklem%20bridle&utm_source=cpc&utm_medium=google&utm_content=NB_Tack_Bridles&utm_campaign=Micklem&utm_term=micklem%20bridle

[Rusty15]

I purchased a micklem before which did not fit him at all. Maybe an oversize would have. He’s also been a western horse all his life so has only been ridden in headstalls with no nosebands what-so-ever.

[sascha]

I don’t show in the Correction bit so haven’t bothered to check out its legality. The Balkenhol is legal. (In Canada anyway!)

My horse loathed the Micklem. Loathed it.

She appreciates a very squishy pad on the back of her noseband. I use a Neoprene + gel crown piece cover behind her jaw. Princess and The Pea, I tell ya. lol

[Rusty15]

Ah I’ll have to check into that then.

[bcannon]

You might try a happy mouth or rubber mouth bit, with no or little metal visible. My older gelding would be the worst horse if you put metal in his mouth, but the most beautiful thing with happy mouth or rubber mullen mouth. Also, if he likes the sidepull, you could always stick with that unless your shows don’t allow it.

[tollertwins]

mine also takes contact better on his nose…

he will tolerate (and not chomp) so much on a mullen that i have wrapped in latex. sans latex he goes back to chomping.

[Hawks_Nest]

My boy used to chomp endlessly, and could pull a single jointed Boucher up into his teeth to chomp on if he really wanted to. They key for him was the Boucher, first the single joint and then a double joint. The stability really helped him figure out that he could push to the bridle. I also had to really work on my own riding to make sure I wasn’t getting in his way at all.

This spring he moved into a loose ring double joint minus the flash and now is in a thin kk ultra and a loose flash to discourage him just gaping but that was all thanks to me improving my riding

He also loves nose pressure and jumped really well in a bit with a nose rope (mikmar combo bit) and now goes well in the mylar combo bit with the nose thing quite tight. On the other hand he hated the micklem bridle that I tried him in most recently. Basically it boils down to if I have to be strong, the nose pressure keeps him comfortable but I can be soft in just a snaffle now.

[Rusty15]

I just found Dressage Extensions bit trial program so I’m going to try some bits from there and see if they do anything for him. Since to my knowledge bitless bridles (such as the star wheel hack which would be our next option) are not legal, we would have to stick to competing only in mounted shooting and taking dressage lessons only. I guess that’s ok. Dressage is and always will be my love because of what it does for my horses and I.

[caper]

I switched my pony to a baucher bit with a french link mouth piece. Success! He was a driving pony and had harsh bits. With this bit he doesn’t attempt to dive BTV and has stopped rooting. I can pick him up and keep him in a constant frame now. No BTV and not on the forehand. He is starting to develop self-carriage after only 5 or 6 rides.

Having a bit of a break in riding due to personal life issues. In time I hope to be back continuing our journey in dressage.

Good luck.

[Thoroughbred_in_Colo]

[QUOTE=Rusty15;8273780]
I just found Dressage Extensions bit trial program so I’m going to try some bits from there and see if they do anything for him. Since to my knowledge bitless bridles (such as the star wheel hack which would be our next option) are not legal, we would have to stick to competing only in mounted shooting and taking dressage lessons only. I guess that’s ok. Dressage is and always will be my love because of what it does for my horses and I.[/QUOTE]

My first mare was extremely mouthy and we went through a ton of bits before finding something she was happy in. There are two bits I would definitely put on your list to try. First, a french link or lozenge Baucher. The bit stays very stable in the mouth and the double joint ensures that if he does have a fat tongue/low palate he is not getting jabbed every time you move your hand. Second, an eggbutt or d with a center roller. Less stable in the mouth than a Baucher, but more stable than a ring snaffle. The center roller gives the horse something to play with, which can keep them from actively chomping the bit. As long as there is only one roller and the mouthpiece is all the same type of metal, they are competition legal.

Another thought would be to try different cavessons. Standard, drop, flash, and figure 8 are all legal from training through second.

Bitless bridles are not permitted in traditional dressage, but they are allowed in western dressage, so that might be an option if you can’t find a bit that works for your horse and feel the need to compete in dressage. Otherwise, just have fun with dressage and the benefits you get from training.

For reference, here’s a link to the equipment booklet.

[Rusty15]

He’s never worn a noseband in his life but obviously he’ll need one at some point. He’s also never has worn a loose ring. The eggbutts (one a low port myler with roller, the other a french link) and the single jointed full cheek were all pretty stable but he ate them all except the myler, which he rolled and rolled and rolled which I guess is better than chewing but I didn’t like the feel with it. He felt very stiff and resistant which was odd. I found one to try but if that doesn’t work I’ll move on to a baucher and then see where we go from there.

[sascha]

I’ve had this tab opened for over a week. Finally got a chance to watch this video. It may help you to narrow your choices somewhat

https://www.facebook.com/GavSays/videos/974081595969747/?pnref=story