Horse mouth problems
Your horse has a biting issue.
In order to find the most suitable bit for your horse, you need to go through a process of elimination.
Has the horse been recently checked by an equine dentist?
Ideally every horse should have an annual check up.
Sometimes it is necessary for the equine dentist to remove wolf teeth or Tushes as they can cause biting problems.
Have you looked inside the horse’s mouth to access the mouth conformation?
Have you checked the horse’s mouth for cuts, bruises or ulcers?
Based on this information you are now able to make a decision with the information you have.
Does the bit fit correctly in the mouth?
If the bit is too big or wide in the mouth, it will slide back and forth when turning, potentially cause rubbing.
A ported bit that is too big in the mouth will also slide back and forth, therefore will not remain central on the tongue.
Bit fitting
How to measure a horse’s mouth to enable you to fit the correct size bit for horse.
Using a piece of thick string, place it in the horse’s mouth.
Place your fingers on the string where the sides of the corners of the lip occur.
Whilst holding on to the two sides of the string, remove it from the horse mouth and measure between the marks.
How do I measure a bit for horse – bit fitting?
The bit measurement is taken from the inner sides of the bit rings or cheeks with the bit lying flat.
Standard size bits range from 3 ½ inches (9cm) to 6 inches (15cm) and go up in ¼ inch to ½ inch steps.
Very small pony bits are hard to find but there are specialist bit suppliers where you can buy a tiny bit.
Some equine bits are only made in certain sizes, however it is possible to have a bit made to the size you require.
It will cost a little bit extra but if the desired bit is the one your horse goes well in, then it’s worth spending a little bit more!
The horse has a dry mouth
Lack of salivation is the sign of an insensitive mouth and the horse is often very strong.
A dry mouth will also cause the corners of the lips to rub due to surface friction.
A horse must be encouraged to lightly salivate as saliva acts as a lubricant.
There are many bits available designed to encourage salivation.
High copper content, equine bits are known to be effective.
My horse works well for 20 mins, and then I have problems!
If a horse feels discomfort in his mouth he may tolerate it for so long.
As the pressure begins to build up the horse will try to find a way to evade the discomfort and be able to free himself.
Sensitive bars
When a bit is in the horse’s mouth it applies pressure to the bars of the mouth.
The bars are a sensitive area and some horses can be over sensitive. (The gaps between his front and back teeth are known as the bars, on either side of the jaw).
If the horse has a normal mouth space and you are using a thin mouthpiece, I would suggest using a thicker jointed or double-jointed mouthpiece.
German hollow mouths are a good lightweight bit.
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