How do you stop a horse from clacking their front teeth when you ride them?

My mare will constantly nash or clack her front teeth while I'm riding. I know it's a sign of tension, but I thought maybe there was a bit or method to get her to relax and accept the bit in a relaxed manor. The ironic part is the rest of her will be relaxed, just her teeth and jaw will be tense. She only does it when I pick up any contact. The bit I'm using is a fat rubber egg butt snaffle, very mild bit. She HATES double jointed bits, I've tried a hallow mouth snaffle and a Mylar bit with no luck. I'm thinking about doing a bitless bridle but then I won't be able to show her in it....

How do you stop a horse from clacking their front teeth when you ride them?
I would also have the vet evaluate her for ulcers.





Clinching,grinding of teeth etc definately can signify ulcers and if its under saddle, even more sign of a screaming signal.





Definately have the horse vetted out.





If it comes back clean, then I can help you more, but I really suspect thats the issue.





Good luck.
Reply:Horses can do this just with the anticipation of wanting to get going.. Does she stop when your reins are relaxed? Some horses, its just one of those things. You can try using a hannoverian noseband, to help encourage to keep her mouth shut, but there may be a little resistance from her. You could also try something with copper rollers, and that can encourage her to play with the bit more rather than fight it like its evil.





Its a little hard to say without seeing how the horse is actually behaving. Sometimes its just anxiety, anticipation, evasion or not mouthed correctly. It may pay to have her teeth checked too if they have not been done in the past 6 months or so
Reply:The first thing to do is make sure her teeth have been checked to make sure she's not in any pain from them. I've used a straight bar by happy mouth with good results. It has a wire core so is slightly flexible and is a lot softer than a vulcanite bit. Also have you tried her in a thiner bit as she may have a small mouth and find it difficult to close her mouth properly around the fat bit. I know that people say fat is softer and thin can be harsher but if there isn't much space in her mouth then she will struggle with a fat bit, just be nice and soft with your hands with the thinner bit.


The other thing to try is you can get reins that have an elastic insert like side reins do. That may soften the contact and encourage her to accept it.


If she is still struggling then try her in a bitless of some sort, you can work her in that for a couple of months to encourage her to relax into a bridle and then slowly try to reintroduce the bit. The other thing is if she is still tensing her jaw in a bitless then she might be sore around her poll and neck which would make accepting a contact painful as she has to round her neck to properly accept it.
Reply:Have you checked to see if she has 'wolf teeth'. These are extra premolars that horses no longer use but still appear in many horses anyways. Not all horses are bothered by them but sometimes they get in the way of the bit and the bit hits on them. When this happens it can cause pain and or discomfort.





Personally I have never had a horse with the problem (I have had horses with wolf teeth but they did not get in the way). However I witnessed one paint that got to where he wouldn't budge if you put a bit in his mouth. After the vet removed his wolf teeth he was fine.





Also have the teeth checked to see if there are any sharp edges. That causes the same type of problems and needs floating to correct.
Reply:i had a pony that used to do that and he was better when i found a bit with a roller in the middle. he played with it with his tongue. didnt chomp the bit anymore