Bit Of A Problem

[Jakes Mum]

I have hacked Jake out tonight in his usual bit, a happy mouth straight bar pelham, elastic curb, two reins.
We did mainly walk, had a long trot, then another short walk, a trot and a short canter across the stubble fields.
On the way back to the yard, after walking for a while, he started fussing with his head alot, opening his mouth and going very overbent and at one point I saw his tongue come out of the side of his mouth.  This was most unusual as he has never acted like this before. When I got back and checked him he had got his tongue over the bit    
He is now 6, and has never done this before.  
Any ideas how or why this has happened and what I can do to prevent it happening again as obviously I do not want this to become a habit.  :(
Could this just be a one off?
The only thing I can think of that happened leading up to this is when he tried to put his head down to eat some grass and to prevent him I lifted my hands up quick.  Could this have caused it?  Please excuse my ignorance :unsure:
Any comments and advice will be much appreciated
Thanks    

[Sarah]

hello!

Tango used to do that sometimes int he past.  After a while she realised that actually it is much more comfy for her to keep her tongue under the bit and stopped doing it.  So long as you don't have the bit to high up in the mouth (so jake has a chelsea grin) he should be able to but his tongue back where it belongs.

he probably only did it as he was playing with the bit.  I should hope that really it isn't anythign to worry about, at least it certainly wasn't with Tango.

Sarah

[Cobstar]

Hi Jakes Mum

I'm with Sarah on this one.  You'll probably find that Jake will have worked out his explorations were uncomfortable and won't try getting his tongue over the bit again.  Let us know how you get on.

[Jakes Mum]

Thank you so much Sarah and Cobstar for your re-assurance
I always worry when things happen which I don't know the reason for. I like to nip any problems in the bud immediately if I can to try to prevent any bad habits forming.
I am going to school him tonight in the pelham and then take him on another similar hack and see what happens. Hopefully, as you say, this was just a one off and he has cured himself by the discomfort. I'll give you an update later.
Thanks again, much appreciated

[lizrv]

It may be that after lifting your hands quickly to stop him eating that he caught his tongue or other part of his mouth and he started to fiddle to alleviate his discomfort. (Bit like when we bite our tongue by accident - ouch!)

You'll probably find that he's fine next time you go out.

My horse always used to put his tongue over the bit and I discovered it was when he was getting tired and he wasn't totally comfortable with his bit. Have changed his bit and he very rarely does it now. But I didn't resort to anything that would hold his mouth shut. IMHO I think horses stick tongues over bits or out of the side of the mouth because they are uncomfortable.

[Jakes Mum]

Thanks for your reply lizrv
A bit of food for thought there.
I am always concious of my hands when riding and do try to be kind to his mouth which is very responsive.
He wasn't actually eating when I lifted my hands he was just starting to put his head down with the intention of sneaking a quick snack, it was an upward movement with no backward movement of the hands and it was backed up with my legs, maybe that wasn't the best technique then to prevent his crafty nibble attempt :unsure:
Hope it isn't me who has made him uncomfortable, my poor boy  :(  

[lizrv]

Hi Jakes Mum

Didn't intend to make you feel guilty - just trying to think a bit laterally. I'm sure he'll be fine. Let us know how you get on next time you ride/hack.  

Lizrv

[Anna B]

This happened with a horse I was riding the other day for the first time.  I dismounted as soon as I saw his touge flopping out the side of his mouth as I didn't realise what had happened until then but he had managed to put his tounge back under the bit himself.  He wouldn't concentrate after, so I called it a day, which may not have been the right thing to do as I hope he doesn't start doing it as a way to get out of work.  Is it painful to the horse when they get their tongue over the bit?

[Jakes Mum]

Hiya again  
Just a little update.  Have ridden Jake today for the first time since our little problem and he has gone very well, no problems.  I rode him in the school and he managed to keep his tongue where it should be    
So, the next step is the canter hack.
Fingers crossed it has just been a one off.
Many thanks for all your helpful replies.