Tongues and Mouths

[zoon]

Today I had a lovely schooling session - I thought he was really swinging through his back and relaxing into the bridle. I tried a new bit today - a straight bar happy mouth - and it really seemed to make a difference.

We've got some dressage on today and some of them were warming up in the same school as I was riding in and one of the ladies said "I think he's getting his tongue over the bit". Paid a bit more attention to his mouth and noticed when I did a downward transition or halted he was opening up his mouth wide and putting his head up a bit and in canter he was quite stiff in his mouth and not relaxing as much.

I don't school him with a noseband on, when we compete I'll stick a cavesson on as loose as it'll go just because I have to, but I don't like the way he feels with his mouth clamped shut.

Do you think a noseband (drop noseband possibly?) or a happy mouth lozenged bit wouls help?

[kateflashy]

if his only doing it with the new bit i would suspect his just playing with it and enjoying the taste

i presume they are still apple flavoured i would give it a few days to see if he's any different once he has got used to it

[brigadier]

HI Zoon- if he felt happier initially I would give him a bit more time to settle to it- he couldl have been just trying it out- try taking your hands a little wider in the downwards transition and make sure your transition comes more from your seat and braced back than a pull from the hands, as soon as he feels as though he is going stiff- give a little so there is nothing to resist against. See if that feels a bit better- but if not then its back to the drawing board- but remember your initial reaction was that he was really swinging through his back so thats really positive! Well done
brig

[maximum]

as brig says if he initially felt good then give it time.

I remeber someone - not here- posting about how any bits they had tried in a short time and they didnt work and it was simply because the poor horse never had a chance to settle into its mouth with the new bit. give it a few weeks until he gets used to the different pressure.

also look to yourself and see that you are doing everything else correctly so it is narrowed down to the bit. very often the resistance shown in the mouth comes from elswehere.