My horse plays with his bit?

Question

My 8 year old gelding plays with his bit and the sides of it and his reins is this ok? and how can i stop it?

Answer 1

Some nervous horses play with their bits constantly just because it gives them something to do. Also, some bits are designed to increase salivation, like ones with copper rollers, which causes them to play with the bit. As long as your horse is listening to you, I think it's okay to let them play with the bit.

HOWEVER, I do not let any horses or ponies play with their reins. They can end up chewing through them in no time flat, and then what are you left with when he bolts and he's chewed through his reins? Very dangerous. Don't let him chew on anything that isn't supposed to be chewed on.

Also, make sure the bit fits him right... if it's too far down in his mouth, he may be able to get his tongue over the top of it.

If the bit is squeaking while he's playing with it and driving you nuts, take the bit off the bridle and spray all the little crevices with WD-40 while wiggling it around, and use some steel wool to clean it up where you can. Be sure to rinse it off really good so he doesn't ingest any WD-40.

Answer 2

Yeah, its generally a pretty bad idea for him to be doing that!

First check that your bits the right size and that your bridle fits alright, check your bits at the right height so hes not having to hold it up, there should be one or two wrinkles at the side of his mouth.

Or if he likes to have something to amuse him you can get breaking bits which have little pieces of metal for them to play with on it

http://www.dkimages.com/discover/preview...  

but this wont be a strong bit as i think they only come in snaffle :/

I dont know about western tack but you could fit him with a flash? It holds their mouth closed, it sounds quite cruel but so many horses work better and focus better when they have nothing to distract them like sticking their tongue out etc.

Or you might be able to train him out of it, when he does it tell him no, but if he doesn't respond to your voice then push him away and he might get the idea.

For me i think it'd be quite annoying to have a horse messing with the reins, funny but annoying, especially if i wanted to work him properly.

Bit rings may help in some way? Just a suggestion if you're stuck. He messes with the side of his bit, so maybe the bit rings would make it so he cant.

Good luck! :) xx

Answer 3

My gelding is very mouthy like that, too. It's not necessarily a bad thing as long as he doesn't bite. He shouldn't chew on your reins. We go through three times as many bridles and sets of reins as normal people do because the leather gets destroyed. Try getting him a bit with a copper roller so he's got something to play with besides your reins or the sides of his bit. It'll keep him occupied and relaxed.

Answer 4

When he's wearing the bridle or not?

I wouldn't let him play with his bridle, you wouldn't want the reins to get caught around his legs. Could also end up ruining the reins, you wouldn't want him ingesting the pieces either.

If it's when he's wearing it.. your bridle might not be properly adjusted. Is the bit sitting in the right part of his mouth? Is it loose? See this video for more information on fitting a bridle: http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-fit-...

As far as I know Tom Thumbs are a harsher type of bit. Maybe try a less harsh bit on him and see how he does..? I can't really recommend any - I'm a dressage rider, lol

Answer 5

If he's doing this while he's wearing it your tack is not fitted properly. If he's doing this while the bit is hanging take it away and don't let him do that.

I had a horse that would grab and chew the reins while I was bridling him. All I could do was keep the reins away from his mouth.

Answer 6

hmm, its difficult that u ride western

since i dont all i can tell 8u is 2 get a flash or drop noseband.

but.

im not sure if they have them for western better check.

Answer 7

I would change it to be honest. You want to have good contact with your horses mouth and not have him chewing about all the time.

Unlike a true snaffle bit, the Tom Thumb has shanks similar to the ones found on a solid curb bit. It is to the bottom of these shanks that the reins are attached. The headstall is attached to the top of the shank, as is some type of curb strap which fits around the bottom of the horse's jaw, in the chin area. These shanks swivel and are attached to the bit's mouthpiece.

It is that one flaw in the bit's design that renders it almost totally useless when it comes to any kind of training which involves direct reining. Again, using direct reining in a snaffle bit, the horse is taught to move away from pressure. To turn to the right, the pressure is on the left side of the horse's mouth. To turn to the left, the pressure is on the right. There should be no other pressure being applied by the bit that could cause the horse to become confused.

Unfortunately, confusion is precisely what happens to a horse when the Tom Thumb is used. Because of its shanks, any attempt at direct reining results in pressure on several different areas around the horse's mouth. For instance, if you are aking the horse to turn to the left, you will be pulling on the left rein, with the idea that the pressure from the bit will be on the right side of the horse's mouth, thereby turning the horse left. However, because the rein is attached to the bottom of a swiveling shank, pulling on the rein results in the shank turning and tipping into the left side of the horse's face. When the shank tips, it also shifts the mouthpiece, which, in turn, puts pressure on the right side of the horse's mouth by pulling the right side of the bit into it. You now have pressure on both sides of the horse's mouth, as well as a shifting of the mouthpiece inside the mouth.

If this wasn't bad enough, tipping the shank also results in the tightening up of the curb strap that is under the horse's chin. Suddenly, the simple act of asking the horse to turn to the left is no longer a simple act. The bit is applying so much pressure in so many places, that the horse has no clue as to what you were asking for in the first place.

He then tries to tell you that he doesn't understand what you want by twisting his neck and shaking his head. Of course, we look at this as him being belligerent and not wanting to do what he was told. So, we simply apply more pressure to the rein which resluts in an even bigger fight on his part.

Eventually, the horse does finally turn to the left - but only as a last resort. Before he does, he will first try several different options. Among these will be: 1) turning to the right, because the left shank tipping into the side of his face is forcing him that way; 2) lifting his head as high as he can get it; 3) dropping his head as low as he can get it; 4) backing up. Rearing is also an option which sometimes happens as well.

I got this from here: Please read:

http://www.todayshorse.com/Articles/Trou...

Look at the pictures - is your horse doing that? Perhaps it is the bit then...

Good Luck with your horse x

Answer 8

The bit is to low in his mouth, shorten up the head stall untill the bit fits in the bars and just start to wrinkel the conner of him mouth

Answer 9

use one like this:

http://www.tackroominc.com/english-bridl...

Answer 10

The easiest solution is to change to a hackamore.

Answer 11

your horse's bit could be bothering him. one of our horses champed and moved the bit alot. we figured out that bit was one size too big. so it could aslo be that the bit is too small or too big.

Also, maybe the bit is hurting your horse's mouth. It could be pinching the corner of his lips or rubbing somewhere in him mouth. you could check the corner of hid lips to see if there are any cuts too.

hope i helped!!!

Answer 12

Check that the bit is on his tongue because if it isn't it will cause him great discomfort. If it is on his tongue, the bit might be causing him discomfort. Try a Snaffle bit.