Training Tip: Horse Sticks His Tongue Over the Bit

Question: I recently bought an 8-year-old Fjord that was supposedly a well-trained trail horse. I’ve found out that isn’t the case and have started to take him through the Fundamentals exercises. We’re making progress, but one thing I’ve noticed is that when I put the bridle on him and ride him, he sticks his tongue over the bit. How do I fix this?

Answer: Honestly, I don’t worry if a horse sticks his tongue over the bit, plays with the bit or even if he hangs his tongue out to the side of his mouth. My thought is if he can get his tongue over the bit, he can get it back under it. So I just ignore the behavior and keep training him. It’s much more uncomfortable for the horse to have his tongue under the bit than over it. When something is uncomfortable for a horse, he’ll eventually find a more comfortable position to be in, which in this case is to have his tongue underneath the bit. So let him play with the bit if he wants to. In time, he’ll learn to hold it quietly in his mouth.

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