Damaged tongue, bit question.

[Andie Guess]

Hello, Andie here again. I am speaking about the horse who was lungeing around the barrels. I had his teeth floated, very sharp points, when vet was checking him out I saw his tongue had been nearly cut off :o Vet said no EPM. I have had him massaged and adjusted, they said his hip was out and was not reaching with left hind leg. I ride him in a 5" shank, sweet iron snaffle, argentine style bit- it's a mild bit- thick mouthpiece. He responds very well to seat and leg cues, flexes well and moves off leg pressure and is progressing on the pattern. The problem I am having, I feel, comes from the tongue being cut. This horse breaks at the poll real well, but when I stop him (no bit pressure, just from seat) he stops then pushes his nose out and kinda like he's trying to get relief from the bit, but there is no pressure on it (:((( He does this even if the reins are on his neck not in my hands. When I back him he does the same thing, but does back up very well. I do not ride in a nose ty down only a poll ty down. I am wondering if I should try a Jim Warner hackmore or some kind of hackmore to get a bit out of his mouth. I would like your opinion. I have no trouble with him on anything else. I really wonder what happened to his tongue, prior to our buying him. I train all my horses from the seat and leg pressure.

I would certainly try a hackamore on this horse and see how he responds. The old injury to his tongue could play a role in his resisting your hand and being able to "get out of his mouth" by using the hackamore might work to your advantage.

Martha Wright