My horse keeps chewing & messing with bit (long post)

karen&rio · 11-24-2006, 11:39 PM

Hello, hoping someone has a few ideas on how to get my horse more supple and accepting of the bit. He is a 5 year old paint gelding. He is still very greenbroke. I got him almost 3 months ago. The first month I had him was spent completely on groundwork on the lunge (just using a lunge caveson) and in the round pen. Now I am still spending about half the time reinforcing ground work to really build a good foundation. He is really solid with transitions and really responsive to voice cues on the ground.
The problem I'm now facing is when I'm riding him. He is always mouthing and chewing on the bit. I'm just using a plain eggbut snaffle. He has learned to stop or do a downward transition mainly from me just using my leg, seat , and voice cues, and if necessary, I just lift the reins or squeeze my fingers to lightly touch his mouth Believe me, I'm very light with my hands and with any rein cues I give (In fact, I can usually get him to stop or change gait by using my other aids) But Rio still just chomps and messes with his bit constantly, especially when I do pick up the reins to connect with his mouth.
So.... my question (finally) is should I try side reins while lunging him to get him more used to the constant pressure and feel of the bit? Or should I try a new bit? I was wondering about trying a french link snaffle or even investing in a Myler bit?? I do know that I don't want to use a more severe bit; he responds promptly whenever I do cue him, he just is always messing and chewing on the bit. I do know a little bit of licking is good to keep their mouth moist and soft, but he is doing more than that. Does he just need to get used to having a bit in his mouth, or should I try something else?? Thanks for reading this looooong post!

Danni L · 11-25-2006, 12:46 AM

In my experience there are a few things that could be wrong .some of them are: have his teeth been done? a problem with his teeth could cause discomfort and thus the messing with the bit.also he could just need another bit.We had one gelding that would chew and toss his head unless he was wearing a bit with copper rollers .lastly he may just need more time to get used to wearing a bit.Personally I would not use side reins when lunging,depending on the cause this could worsen the problem. hope you find a solution to your problem

karen&rio · 11-25-2006, 02:42 AM

Oh, yeah, I completely forgot to mention that he had a complete dental exam and teeth floated about 6 weeks ago...
thanks

recklesshoundog · 11-25-2006, 06:09 AM

Check where you have the bit hanging in his mouth. If it's too low it tends to encourage chewing.

Is he just chewing or is he attempting to get his tongue over the bit? If it's the tongue thing a french link or Dr. Bristol is a good bit for helping prevent this.

I wouldn't try rollers or keys at this early stage of training, it too tends to encourage playing with the bit. Have you tried a caveson just snug enough to make playing uncomfortable, but working the bit still possible? Most horses stop fussing with the bit really quick but some learn to play with it excessively and a noseband will discourage without punishing.

EquineAlberta · 11-26-2006, 07:50 PM

Is he avoiding the bit by chomping, or just playing with it?

I agree with Recklessgreyhound that raising the bit may help, as may a noseband. You may also want to try a bit with a mouth peice that is made of a different kind of metal.

You could also consider using a snaffle similar to a french link, but where the middle link is a half moon. This gives the tongue more room in the mouth and may make the bit more comfortable.

Karen2

almost_mozart · 11-26-2006, 08:00 PM

Some horses (particularly young or green ones) just do chew on the bit. They're bored. It's fun.

Of course, from our perspective it's really obnoxious. I don't really have a lot of advice about how to stop it as I'm going through it with my filly right now. You might see how he responds to a sidepull, hackamore or bitless bridle, just to try something different.

Kendra · 11-27-2006, 07:44 AM

Lots of good advice above. (snugger fit, rollers or copper)
Since he is still green he may be doing it out of stress (kind of like a kid fidgeting) and may outgrow it.
Try letting him wear it in his stall for a while everyday until it just becomes part of him.

Good luck.

Jadesmygirl · 11-27-2006, 03:47 PM

I am having this same issue with my new mare, on an eggbutt snaffle bit, only she is not a baby.
Can I ask what side reins are? Is that where you use two lungelines attached to the rings on either side while wearing the bit? I hope not, because a trainer tried that on my horse today since she has not been a good lunger-and it worked beautifully! It did not seem to make her mouth the bit anymore. ?? Or am I talking about something completely different?
I don't want to add to her problems, but it was so exciting to outsmart her this time

karen&rio · 11-27-2006, 04:22 PM

Thanks so much everyone. Especially after reading all the replies, I really do think it's just a matter of him needing to get used to having the bit in his mouth. I have adjusted the fit; even though it looked like the bit wasn't too low, I recently raised it a small amount. That did seem to help.
Mostly I just think that he is still young and he needs more time wearing a bit. I have started leaving his bridle on him for longer periods of times, for example when I'm just grooming him, or when I'm working him in the roundpen.
Thanks again!

11-24-2006, 11:39 PM
karen&rio Halter broke Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: DENVER Posts: 136	My horse keeps chewing & messing with bit (long post) Hello, hoping someone has a few ideas on how to get my horse more supple and accepting of the bit. He is a 5 year old paint gelding. He is still very greenbroke. I got him almost 3 months ago. The first month I had him was spent completely on groundwork on the lunge (just using a lunge caveson) and in the round pen. Now I am still spending about half the time reinforcing ground work to really build a good foundation. He is really solid with transitions and really responsive to voice cues on the ground. The problem I'm now facing is when I'm riding him. He is always mouthing and chewing on the bit. I'm just using a plain eggbut snaffle. He has learned to stop or do a downward transition mainly from me just using my leg, seat , and voice cues, and if necessary, I just lift the reins or squeeze my fingers to lightly touch his mouth Believe me, I'm very light with my hands and with any rein cues I give (In fact, I can usually get him to stop or change gait by using my other aids) But Rio still just chomps and messes with his bit constantly, especially when I do pick up the reins to connect with his mouth. So.... my question (finally) is should I try side reins while lunging him to get him more used to the constant pressure and feel of the bit? Or should I try a new bit? I was wondering about trying a french link snaffle or even investing in a Myler bit?? I do know that I don't want to use a more severe bit; he responds promptly whenever I do cue him, he just is always messing and chewing on the bit. I do know a little bit of licking is good to keep their mouth moist and soft, but he is doing more than that. Does he just need to get used to having a bit in his mouth, or should I try something else?? Thanks for reading this looooong post! __________________ Karen Horses....a natural antidepressant!

11-25-2006, 12:46 AM
Danni L Weanling Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Red Deer,Alberta Posts: 208	In my experience there are a few things that could be wrong .some of them are: have his teeth been done? a problem with his teeth could cause discomfort and thus the messing with the bit.also he could just need another bit.We had one gelding that would chew and toss his head unless he was wearing a bit with copper rollers .lastly he may just need more time to get used to wearing a bit.Personally I would not use side reins when lunging,depending on the cause this could worsen the problem. hope you find a solution to your problem __________________ You can tell a gelding,ask a mare ,but you must discuss it with a stallion-Unknown

11-25-2006, 02:42 AM
karen&rio Halter broke Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: DENVER Posts: 136	Oh, yeah, I completely forgot to mention that he had a complete dental exam and teeth floated about 6 weeks ago... thanks __________________ Karen Horses....a natural antidepressant!

11-25-2006, 06:09 AM
recklesshoundog Started Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NY Posts: 2,549	Check where you have the bit hanging in his mouth. If it's too low it tends to encourage chewing. Is he just chewing or is he attempting to get his tongue over the bit? If it's the tongue thing a french link or Dr. Bristol is a good bit for helping prevent this. I wouldn't try rollers or keys at this early stage of training, it too tends to encourage playing with the bit. Have you tried a caveson just snug enough to make playing uncomfortable, but working the bit still possible? Most horses stop fussing with the bit really quick but some learn to play with it excessively and a noseband will discourage without punishing.

11-26-2006, 07:50 PM
EquineAlberta Seasoned Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,694	Is he avoiding the bit by chomping, or just playing with it? I agree with Recklessgreyhound that raising the bit may help, as may a noseband. You may also want to try a bit with a mouth peice that is made of a different kind of metal. You could also consider using a snaffle similar to a french link, but where the middle link is a half moon. This gives the tongue more room in the mouth and may make the bit more comfortable. Karen2 __________________ Hillside Stable, Ardrossan, AB CHT Horse Stories!

11-26-2006, 08:00 PM
almost_mozart Started Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: .....transitioning..... Posts: 2,423	Some horses (particularly young or green ones) just do chew on the bit. They're bored. It's fun. Of course, from our perspective it's really obnoxious. I don't really have a lot of advice about how to stop it as I'm going through it with my filly right now. You might see how he responds to a sidepull, hackamore or bitless bridle, just to try something different.

11-27-2006, 07:44 AM
Kendra Coming two Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Southern Ontario Posts: 1,587	Lots of good advice above. (snugger fit, rollers or copper) Since he is still green he may be doing it out of stress (kind of like a kid fidgeting) and may outgrow it. Try letting him wear it in his stall for a while everyday until it just becomes part of him. Good luck.

11-27-2006, 03:47 PM
Jadesmygirl Started Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,543	I am having this same issue with my new mare, on an eggbutt snaffle bit, only she is not a baby. Can I ask what side reins are? Is that where you use two lungelines attached to the rings on either side while wearing the bit? I hope not, because a trainer tried that on my horse today since she has not been a good lunger-and it worked beautifully! It did not seem to make her mouth the bit anymore. ?? Or am I talking about something completely different? I don't want to add to her problems, but it was so exciting to outsmart her this time

11-27-2006, 04:22 PM
karen&rio Halter broke Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: DENVER Posts: 136	Thanks so much everyone. Especially after reading all the replies, I really do think it's just a matter of him needing to get used to having the bit in his mouth. I have adjusted the fit; even though it looked like the bit wasn't too low, I recently raised it a small amount. That did seem to help. Mostly I just think that he is still young and he needs more time wearing a bit. I have started leaving his bridle on him for longer periods of times, for example when I'm just grooming him, or when I'm working him in the roundpen. Thanks again! __________________ Karen Horses....a natural antidepressant!