Young horse with a very soft/sensitive mouth

[Samotis]

I have a 4 year old that is extremly soft in the mouth. He is also extremly lazy. So you can probably guess I have been having a few issues with him.

I broke him as a 2 year old and then he had a year off. When I brought him back a month ago, he was very hestitant to go forward and when I would try to transition into the trot or canter he would shake his head all over the place.

I have him going forward at the moment, but always when I first start he want to fling his head around and avoid contact with his face.

Should I change bits? Is there anything else I can do to get him to want to stay more connected?

As soon as I get him going for a few minutes he is fine and he stays in the bridle and steers/circles well, but I like to have a feel and it seems he doesn’t want the feel at all.

Right now I have a medium 3 piece KK bit on him.

His mother was sensitive in the mouth too, but she was sensitive with everything, where he is not sensitive about anything else.

He has also had his teeth done recently with no issues to report.

[Molly_Malone]

Double check his mouth - an invisible shard of a wolf tooth could be causing extreme sensitivity (xrays?) - also you could switch him out to a bosal (if you know how to use one - it’ll keep him sensitive) or a hackamore until he gets his work ethic back.

[Simkie]

Some horse just Do. Not. Like. some bits–even french link/three piece bits–so I’d say it’s worth a try to give something else a go. Perhaps he’d prefer a nathe mullen mouth or even a simple snaffle.

Is it also really necessary to work him on contact right now? He may need to be fitter before he’s really able to come up to the bit and have any sort of connection.

[camohn]

I have had 2 over the years that were really fussy with bits/sensitve mouth and balky with contact…teeth done and all. One went better in a rubber D ring and the other a flavored plastic mullen mouth Happy Mouth bit. More things to be added to The Big Bit Box in the barn…

[ticofuzzy]

I will use a double jointed happy mouth wrapped in latex for the super sensitive young horses. My 18 hand, 5 yr old mare is still going in this set up. Hahaha.

[Samotis]

I certainly don’t mean dressage type contact when I am riding. For the most part I leave his face alone and you guys are right, he doesn’t need that much of a feel. It’s more when I start transitions where he wants to completely evade contact.

I will look into some bits. Stay with a 3 piece or try a thicker rubber or happy mouth type bit?

Does the type matter as far as d ring, full check or o bit?

He has had his wolf teeth pulled as a yearling so don’t think that’s an issue.

I don’t want to completely blame it on him being a butthead and not wanting to go forward until I at least try a new bit.

He is still young but already over 16.2 and I don’t want to run into any more issues if I don’t have to!

[Dressage_Diva333]

Definitely agree with rechecking his teeth… I had one that was doing the same thing, and she had a very small wolf tooth, and once removed, was totally fine. Can you try riding him in a bitless bridle or very mild little s hack just for a couple rides to see if he works better at all?

I have found that my sensitive ones actually prefer a 3 piece (I use KK Ultra’s), over a rubber because the rubber is so much in the horses mouth.

[fordtraktor]

Try a HS Duo/nathe/other soft mullen thin rubber bit. Some horses can be a lot more comfortable with contact on this kind of bit, especially youngsters. They are not so thick and nasty-tasting like a rubber bit. Pricey but well worth the $$.

I don’t care for happy mouth because they are either lumpy or too thick. I wish happy mouth would come out with a thinner, non-lumpy mullen to assist my wallet but alas, no dice so far.

[Samotis]

When I lunge him in side reins he moves forward into the bridle and stays in contact.

He really only tries to evade when I am riding him. He just got his teeth checked so I doubt it’s a tooth issue.

His mother was very sensitive in the mouth and I used a rubber d bit with her, I suppose I can try that bit.

My thought with a rubber bit is they like the feel and chew on it a little and they aren’t afraid to lean into it? But I could be completely off, I only ever have ridden my mare with a rubber bit.

[Cindy_s_Warmbloods]

I would think it was more a back or soreness issue. Especially if he is fine on the lunge. I think he is resisting the transition for some reason and would look closely at saddle fit. With what information you have given I would not think teeth at all. He is sore somewhere or just extremely lazy (giving you attitude) and not wanting to work.

[Samotis]

I will take a look at his back, it could be sore. But I do curry his back every day and he doesn’t seem tight in the back.

He dislikes the side reins, but because I am on the ground with a whip, I can force him to go forward better then when I am on.

I get tense when he acts up and I know they read that.

I just thought maybe he doesn’t like the bit and if I find one he likes he won’t object to transitions as much.

He is very lazy, never had a horse so lazy, but have ridden a few warmbloods that were this way, although they were older and much more broke/trained!

[Cindy_s_Warmbloods]

Can you try riding him with a halter and no contact? I would try him with one and see if you just rode him on a lose rein if there was any issues. If he is still head tossing I would think it was something else.

[horsechick]

my finicky guy only likes the Waterford…

[Samotis]

the waterford seems like it would work similiar to the 3 piece KK bit I have now, right?

Maybe it isn’t even the bit. He could just be a butthead!!

What does the 3rd piece of the bit do or extra pieces like a waterford?

I am wondering if maybe just a rubber d would be better then a three piece bit?

I will keep playing around with the bits I have and see if he likes one or the other!

Have any of you with 3 and 4 year olds seen this type of behavior? Is it greenness with the shaking head stuff? I have always ridden TB’s so the going forward thing to me is crazy cause his mother is in China if I cough. I could hit him with a 2 by 4 and he would just stand there!:eek:

[horsechick]

try something straight like a mullen mouth happy mouth D and see if there is a difference with no joint…

[Nootka]

[QUOTE=Cindy’s Warmbloods;6341695]
I would think it was more a back or soreness issue. Especially if he is fine on the lunge. I think he is resisting the transition for some reason and would look closely at saddle fit. With what information you have given I would not think teeth at all. He is sore somewhere or just extremely lazy (giving you attitude) and not wanting to work.[/QUOTE]

I have to agree. He mainly has head issues in transitions? How bout the saddle fit? Are you sitting on him when asking for the transitions?

Not wanting contact I would try a rubber of some sort.

[HyperionStudLLC]

Check teeth, and try a hackamore. Then as you go you can try a hackabit?

Goodluck

[Samotis]

He’s a hunter. He can’t go in a hackamore.

I have a fat check snaffle I am going to try tomorrow.

[Home_Again_Farm]

@Samotis;6343681

Maybe it isn’t even the bit. He could just be a butthead!!

Have any of you with 3 and 4 year olds seen this type of behavior? Is it greenness with the shaking head stuff? I have always ridden TB’s so the going forward thing to me is crazy cause his mother is in China if I cough. I could hit him with a 2 by 4 and he would just stand there!:eek:

IMO few young horses are natural buttheads. What they do almost always reflects what we do with them.

The very first thing a horse should learn under saddle is forward. I mean an eager, consistent reaction that keeps them in front of the rider’s leg, without the rider having to nag. Forward will eliminate fussiness in the bridle, unless the fussiness is caused by pain. If the transitions are being made with the horse already behind the leg, they won’t be good. If the horse is behind your leg, it needs to be restarted correctly. This may require help from the ground. First be 100% sure that there is no problem with teeth, saddle, back, hocks, stifle, etc. If all is good, then get the horse in front of your leg and my bet is that the fussiness will go away. :yes:

[ticofuzzy]

[QUOTE=Home Again Farm;6345317]

The very first thing a horse should learn under saddle is forward. I mean an eager, consistent reaction that keeps them in front of the rider’s leg, without the rider having to nag. Forward will eliminate fussiness in the bridle, unless the fussiness is caused by pain. If the transitions are being made with the horse already behind the leg, they won’t be good. If the horse is behind your leg, it needs to be restarted correctly. This may require help from the ground. First be 100% sure that there is no problem with teeth, saddle, back, hocks, stifle, etc. If all is good, then get the horse in front of your leg and my bet is that the fussiness will go away. :yes:[/QUOTE]

Yup