Chews on bit ~ suggestions?

[menagerie]

One of my horses, The Gray, has a habit of chewing on his bit at times. He does this I think when he's feeling sassy and wanting to test me cause everytime he starts it I'm almost guaranteed to have some fun! :innocent:

Anyone have any suggestions on a good bit to use to stop that or something? Right now I'm using what was called a butterfly bit on him that I got from Jeffers. I've also used a D ring with copper mouth piece that breaks in the middle (sorry I don't know the names and terminology of all the different bits) So far he hasn't tried to take the bit from me but I have wondered/worried that if he got beligerant enough that he might try.

If you suggest a bit style for this if you could please post a pic or a link to the bit so I can actually see what your talking about I would greatly appreciate it!

Thanks guys!!

[WashingtonBay]

Before switching bits completely, try first dropping it down, and then raising it up a couple holes, in the horse's mouth. Some horses will play with it when it's not at the ideal spot, and that ideal spot, and the ideal mouthpiece, can vary as much as horses do.

[menagerie]

Ahhhhh, I'll try that. Thanks WB!!!

[Peggy Sue]

after moving the bit up and down if he still does it BORROW several different sizes and styles of mouthpieces... if it is a nervous habit maybe try one with a roller to keep him busy

[Miracle Whip]

Roller bits never worked for us. Bit guards might help, is the bit the proper width?

My mare used to be a regular chomper and the trainer just thought she was nervous. She still chews on the bit but with her English riding has come into the bit more like she should. Like you I switched to a D ring and this is her bit exclusively, it doesn't have copper. Riding lessons with a good instructor can greatly improve your communication. When I take lessons on a regular basis she listens to me much better and is more accepting of the bit because of the things that we work on. Just a thought.

If he only does it when he has a lot of energy then you need to get him working right away, "give him a job" to occupy his mind, and he will forget the bit.

[Country Girl 43]

I also agree with Washingtons suggestion. How old is your horse?? Dallas used to chomp on his bit all the time and it drove me crazy. Now that he is a year older he has settled down with it, but if he is bored he will start chomping away, so I work him up a awhile and he stops.

Your D-ring snaffle should be just fine. As long as he responds to your cues and doesn't try to pull through it, keep him busy and the chomping should settle down. ;)

[menagerie]

Thanks for more input on this. He's almost 6 now I believe and, yes, he mostly does it when we are just walking along. Now that I think about it if we are out somewhere new on a trail ride I can't remember him ever doing it...... so maybe it does have to do with his energy/boredom level Miracle. I didn't think of that I always assumed it was attitude cause thats when he is the most prone to act up as well. I'm currently working with loping him so maybe when I get that sorted and settled out he will settle down.

And Country, yea, so far he does respond so far.

[Miracle Whip]

Happy to help :)

[quest]

Twilight does it all the time when I am working on teaching her something new, once she understands the concept she usually quits.

[starkitten]

My horse :( doesn't seem to matter what bit we have tried (swear I have been through 100), where it is positioned, what we are doing, he is a chewer on that thing :(

[cloedoll]

Definitely try the suggestions given so far - move the holes up & down, make sure it's the correct bit size, etc. Also, I'd give a roller mouthpiece a shot! Clo does this a lot, too, but I have no found a solution...yet.

[hobby farmer]

My 9yr old gelding Tuffy use to chew on the bit as well and the only thing I could do was put him in a hackamore. otherwise he would chew no matter what bit or where is was positioned.

[IrisGreen]

Matty does this too. The previous owner gave me his bridle with flash. He is used to riding with a flash band and I guess that helps him not chew or keeps his mouth more closed and holds the bit in place? I know next to nothing about English so I'm just guessing. I noticed with him at the walk he chews, frames up and is ready to WORK. I don't think he has ever been taught to relax and just take a nice walk around the neighborhood.

He has energy about him but it's controlled nicely, he just gets nervous or anticipates arena work and starts chewing. After a while he starts to calm down, will stand still a little longer and relaxes. He just expects every time you get on him it's going to be work, framed up, arena riding and he has to get ready for it chomping the bit and not standing still. He's learning to relax more with me, calm down and just go for a nice ride.

I'm hoping to ween him off the full contact English rein to a loser more western rein but I have to get him relaxed more. He doesn't know what to do when he can't feel you in his mouth but he's moving off leg really well and starting to relax and not depend on that bit contact, ready for work all the time feeling. I think he's starting to enjoy a little freedom and relaxing more so he's not chewing on the bit as much now like he did in the beginning. He's lowering his head and relaxing.

I think it's just nervousness and a way to burn energy with out being bad under saddle. Matty seemed to chomp more when he would expect to be worked or do arena riding. He's much more calm now and learning theres more to riding then just arena work and his mind is more curious, engaged and thinking then it was before when he was perpetually waiting for a command to start arena work and it would make him more nervous as time passed.

He was a Dressage horse for years so riding meant going to work and being perfect for shows. The previous owner said he got burned out on arena riding and started not liking it, getting more nervous and not relaxing. I think he didn't get a chance to know the difference between when to relax and when to go to work, he just chomped at the bit every time you got on him, expecting arena work.

So, maybe change it up a little to keep the horse interested if possible. I know Matty is doing so much better now that he's learning to relax and it's not always about work.