Have you ever had a horse who hated jointed bits?

Question

I'm not talking about ignoring the bit... I'm talking about actually disliking it.

I told my trainer that my mare doesn't like jointed bits, and she thought it was really weird.

She likes snaffles without joints and she hates curbs with joints, so that isn't the problem. It's definitely just the joint she hates.

When she has a jointed bit in curls her lips, shows her teeth, and hangs her mouth open... even when I have no contact with her mouth. When she has one with no joint, she keeps her mouth closed and flops her bottom lip.

Has anyone else experienced this? Is there something about her mouth that makes them uncomfortable for her?

Answer 1

My horse doesn't like regular snaffles, but the bit he works the best in is a jointed bit (a shanked bit, so considered a curb, similar to a Tom Thumb but with slightly different bars and hinged sides).



I had a trainer who said that horses with smaller mouths often don't like some snaffles (with one joint in the middle--like a typical D-ring or loose ring, as opposed to a Dr. Bristol or other three piece bit) because when you pull on the reins, the bit pops up to create a "triangle" in their mouth. The top of it hits the roof of their mouth. I don't know if that's scientifically proven, but it made sense--a regular jointed bit will create that "triangle" and it would be uncomfortable.



Some horses do just have weird preferences though. My mom's horse will go in anything--jointed, not jointed, harsh, mild, shanked, not shanked, port, no port, twist, roller, you name it. He never changes. My horse, on the other hand, is extremely picky and it's hard to find a bit that he doesn't get irritated by. Maybe your horse just doesn't like the way the joint feels, or maybe it's pinching her or something.

Answer 2

Some horses have very low palates. So the single jointed mouth bits actually end up hitting them in the roof of the mouth which is very uncomfortable. These horses are usually more comfortable in a double jointed or straight bit.



For horses with a normal or high palate, hitting the rood of the mouth is not an issue for them.

Answer 3

well I can't overly tell you a reason why she doesn't accept jointed bits other than my own person experience with a horse. She hated jointed bits with a passion.. She would be trying to spit it out as soon as it entered her mouth. The vet commented that possibly in her training days someone had pulled too hard at her mouth and bruised the roof of her mouth, making her permanently tender there. Horses rarely forget, and if she runs just find on a solid bit then there is no reason to worry!

Answer 4

My horse doesn't like jointed bits. I have a rubber mullenmouth snaffle for Dressage, and a metal (Although we're going to wrap it) mullenmouth Kimberwicke for jumping. He goes much, much better on a bit without a joint than the same bit jointed.



There's nothing wrong with my horse's mouth- It could be due to pain, but it could also be due to the horse not liking alot of movement in its mouth. A mullenmouth (Non-jointed) bit has considerably less movement in the mouth than a jointed one regardless of rider hand movements. That's why we think my horse likes them.

Answer 5

I wish I knew what caused that, 'cause I have one of those guys too. He hates his jointed snaffle, loves the mullen mouth snaffle and pelham. A french snaffle is the worst as far as he is concerned. He even prefers eggbutt or d-ring rather than a loose ring. This all goes against what I have heard for horses----except I have spoken to other Andalusian trainers and owners, and many of them have the same problem!



One odd thing though; these boys love the Waterford snaffle, which has lots of joints; you would think it would be the worst, but it seems to be the all time favorite! Unfortunately, it is not dressage legal.....rats!

Answer 6

Honestly, this doesn't sound like the right horse for you. Can you really say you're enjoying riding this mare? It really doesn't sound like you have much control no matter what you do. You do sound to be lacking in experience and since this mare came to you green broke, you've both developed bad habits that can now be hard to correct. I'm not sure what you mean by "re-mouthing". Getting rougher and rougher with her mouth is not something that she's going to forget. Have you had her teeth checked? There could be pain in the mouth that is causing her to fight contact. Saddle fit? Your riding experience? I would suggest only riding this horse in an arena/fenced area until you find a way to gain control over her before you get hurt. This really sounds like an accident waiting to happen. Not "if" but "when". Seek out someone with the knowledge to give you some hands on help. (Note: Please learn to use punctuation. Run on sentences are very hard to read.)

Answer 7

It's probably that her mouth is shaped in a way (narrow, large tongue, etc) that jointed bits are very uncomfortable.



I wouldn't push it. If she doesn't like jointed then get her another type of bit that has a piece in the middle or one that doesn't allow the joint to "V"....there's lots of them out there to choose from.

Answer 8

well the joint will poke them in the roof of their mouth..so thats probly why she doesnt like it. you can try dogbone bits, those will not poke the roof of the mouth..



my horse does not like anything but a smoothmoth bit. he tosses his head because things like twisted wire must pinch him just right that he doesnt like it. but hes great with smoothe mouth



probably like people. we prefer different things. type in the effects of the bit into youtube, you will see exactly what a jointed bit will do in the mouth of a horse(its very informational)