IS YOUR PONY TELLING YOUR THEIR BIT IS NOT RIGHT FOR THEM?

By Christie Wolhuter

In our previous article on tight nosebands, we discussed some of the reasons for over-tightening a noseband, whether intentional or not. One of the reasons some riders over-tighten their nosebands is to stop the horse or pony from opening his mouth to get away from the bit. But do you know the reasons why horses and ponies might ‘evade’ the bit? Evade = try to get away

Every ‘negative’ behaviour a horse or pony shows has a reason behind it and thankfully, we, as riders, can take action to help. Ponies, just like humans, evade pressure and pain by trying to get away from it. Say someone teasingly squeezes your shoulder, and you find it painful - what do you do? You drop your shoulder and turn to get away from the pain. You may even screech out loud! Horses and ponies are exactly the same, though they are not so likely to screech!! They do however, tell us they are in pain, and we just need to learn to read the silent signs.

How to tell your pony is in pain

How does your pony tell you they are in pain? They may open their mouth and sometimes even tilt their head in an attempt to get away from the pressure. Others shake and throw their head up and down, especially when a rider tries to slow them down. This is seen most commonly between fences when the rider is trying to slow down.

Another way horses evade pressure from the bit is to move behind the vertical, otherwise known as being over-bent. This problem might be difficult to spot when riding as it feels as if the horse is ‘on the bit’, but they are not accepting the contact as it is uncomfortable for them.

Reasons for problems

Some horses and ponies have large, fleshy tongues. The tongue is a soft structure filled with blood vessels and nerves. Ponies with flesh tongues are often very sensitive to tongue pressure, and a bit that squashes their tongue, no matter how ‘soft’ the action is, will cause pain.

Another region that can be sensitive in the pony’s mouth is the bars. The bars are the sensitive gum area of the mouth where there are no teeth. A bit that sits incorrectly on the bars can cause nerve irritation and localised tissue pain.

Another potential problem can be bits that are too large. If, for example, a snaffle is too big for the horse’s mouth it is likely to slide from side to side. It can also mean that the pressure is not split between the two bars but rests more on one than the other. A bit that slides around will make it harder for the pony to understand the rein aids. This means that anything you do with your hands will feel less specific to the horse, and this can make your pony seem ‘dull’ or stubborn when they actually just can’t understand the instructions.

Why is it an issue?

Bit induced pain is not only a problem from your pony’s perspective but is also dangerous. Since horses and ponies are prey animals, when they experience pain, they don’t stop but instead, run away from it. A bit that is hurting them will therefore make them want to run away!

Dr Cook, who has researched bits extensively, used this brilliant example. “Imagine you’re riding in a bitted bridle, and a piece of paper blows across your path. Your horse spooks, and you lose your balance. Instinctively, you clutch at the reins and give your horse a painful bang in the mouth. This convinces him that the paper monster is dangerous, and he takes off,” he says.

Think of it from your pony’s perspective; he was concerned about the paper, and when he got a fright, he got a painful bang in the mouth because you lost your balance or tried to stop him from running off. All that happened is that, in a roundabout way, you confirmed that the paper was indeed dangerous because it caused pain! If you have a comfortable, well-fitting bit, the chance of banging your pony in the mouth when you lose your balance is reduced.

Solutions

So what do we do about it? Some riders choose to ride bitless, but some disciplines do not allow this. The most effective solution if your pony is displaying signs of bit discomfort is, therefore, to ensure you have the perfect bit fit and experiment a little to make sure you’ve got the bit fit as good as it can be. Some bits that are touted as being the best may not work for your pony.

You also need to make sure that your pony sees the dentist regularly as pain from the teeth and mouth can cause the symptoms of ‘bit evasion’.

The most effective solution of all, however, is to work on developing trust and communication with your horse in riding with light, understanding hands or what is otherwise known as ‘soft feel’. This takes patience and discipline, but when you get it right, it is really rewarding.