Horse dislikes his drool, tries to wipe mouth. Suggestions?

[wildauddie]

My gelding has started a new thing slowly over the last few months. He seems to be really bothered once he starts to slobber. For background, he is 7, cross Morgan/Trakehner. He's stocky with a small mouth and fat tongue. We just started showing training level this year schooling 1st. So I'm asking him for more than at intro. He's pretty good about taking contact when we start. But when he gets some foam/slobber/drool he gets really desperate to wipe it on his leg. At the walk he tries to pull his head down to wipe. Worst at the halt. He's better at the trot and canter; I suspect because we are moving so he can't really wipe. Seems more bothered on hot days too.

He is really not super juicy, really just a table spoon or two at the most ever.

Any advice? Carry a napkin? Breath mints? ;) Wipe his mouth before entering the ring at a show? Isn't some moisture a good thing? I'd like to figure out a way to make him more comfortable with his drool because I'd hate to be part way through a class when he decides he really needs to wipe.

[sublimequine]

What kind of bit is the horse going in? Going to stainless steel may be a good idea. Sometimes the extra saliva produced by bits containing copper or any sort of alloy can annoy a horse, so plain stainless steel works better.

[snbess]

My mare thinks drooling is disgusting and wipes it off, too. Since we're not showing, I let her when we take a break. If we were showing, I'd probably have someone wipe it off before we went into the arena so she wouldn't be distracted.

[wildauddie]

He's using this bit: Myler brand mullen mouth (http://www.whiterose-equestrian.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=247). Eggbutt without hooks. It does have a few small copper inlays on the inside.

He went well in that for intro. He's always been light on the contact. It did occur to me that perhaps as we learn more he may want a different bit. So I'm open to suggestions along those lines as well. Wish there was a "bit library" try out thing...

[wildauddie]

My mare thinks drooling is disgusting and wipes it off, too. Since we're not showing, I let her when we take a break. If we were showing, I'd probably have someone wipe it off before we went into the arena so she wouldn't be distracted.

I wonder exactly what kind of bargain I'd need to make with my husband for him to agree to follow us around a show with napkins...

[twofatponies]

Most horses I know will wipe their mouths and so on if they are not being ridden (often when the rider dismounts and drops the reins, or when the rider stops to chat and doesn't pay attention), but are corrected for it when being ridden, just as you correct them for trying to graze when you are riding. Barring some kind of medical/pain problem, which it doesn't sound like, pony just needs to mind his manners and keep his mind on his job. If you let him do it sometimes but not others, he will probably keep trying to do it whenever he feels like it.

[pintopiaffe]

I'd try him without the copper... JP bits are similar to Mylers, *slightly* thicker (which can be a good thing) but still curved. They don't have a mullen mouth like that... but...

There always seem to be one or two horses in a lesson group or clinic who do this. I usually say that it makes their nose itch when they think.

He's not wearing wraps is he? More than one gets itchy when they sweat under wraps, and don't do it bare legged... if he's bare legged, it *is* the mouth, not the leg... ;)

[LarkspurCO]

I agree with this. It's a bad habit and a good idea to nip it in the bud now. My horse does this as soon as he can after I dismount. He tried it in a test during the free walk and messed up the free walk (don't know why because I don't allow him to do this when we're riding).

Also consider that if your horse is wearing wraps or boots and is allowed to rub his lips on his legs, something might get accidentally caught up, such as the cheek piece on a full-cheek snaffle or the chain hook on a bridoon. Then you'd have a wreck on your hands.

My horse goes in a JP eggbutt and slobbers a lot.

Most horses I know will wipe their mouths and so on if they are not being ridden (often when the rider dismounts and drops the reins, or when the rider stops to chat and doesn't pay attention), but are corrected for it when being ridden, just as you correct them for trying to graze when you are riding. Barring some kind of medical/pain problem, which it doesn't sound like, pony just needs to mind his manners and keep his mind on his job. If you let him do it sometimes but not others, he will probably keep trying to do it whenever he feels like it.

[hoopoe]

some horses can have a sensitivity to nickle and do better in the Aurigan metal bits. Sensitivity can develop any time

You might want to double check his paddock / pasture to make sure there are no plants/ weeds (clovers) that might contribute

Double check cleaning routine... not use bit cleaners, rinse in water and wipe with a clean cloth. make sure that if someone else is cleaning the tack that they are not using a bit cleaner ( toothpaste/ brush or even a contaminated scrubby) or wipe on the bit. Be careful of cross contamination in your cleaning supplies

don't give treats before ride, particularly ones containing a lot of salt. I know my horse loves salt but it does seem to make him "rubby" on his lips

[mypaintwattie]

My mare would try to wipe her mouth more than often when I had her in a flash. I put her in a regular cavesson and have had much less rubbing than before.

[wildauddie]

He's never worn wraps. No cleaners, just water after each ride. No treats before. He does wear a flash, but he has always worn one. His cavesson and flash are fitted but never tight (can slide finger under). Really nothing has changed with our routine and set up, except slowly transitioning to training level. He is carrying himself a lot more on the contact than he used to.

Hoopoe nickel is in stainless steel right?

I thought an advertised feature of Aurigan metal is more salivation? It does seem as though it is the drool, not the bit directly, which itches him. Or do you think my horse could just possibly be irritated by stainless? Well if I could find a aurigan bit I'd certainly be willing to try but I haven't found one to borrow. :(

[wildauddie]

Another question, are those "happy mouth" rubbery bits dressage legal? Because they wouldn't be stainless either.

[hoopoe]

there are different types of stainless and yes many stainless bits contain nickle.

rubber and plastic are legal but they must be rigid, not flexible

[quietann]

My mare would try to wipe her mouth more than often when I had her in a flash. I put her in a regular cavesson and have had much less rubbing than before.

I have also heard that a flash that is too tight will make a horse's nose get "pins and needles," causing them to rub. My mare (pure Morgan, similar mouth issues, hard to match to a bit) does this, but she is less likely to when the flash is kept looser. (I am hoping to try her without the flash entirely soon.)

For some horses with a thick tongue and small mouth, using a *thinner* bit is better. We're taught that thinner bits are more harsh, but thick ones can be uncomfortable for these horses.

[slc2]

Just say no horsey. I didn't and I will regret it to the end of my days. What a habit. I have one that absolutely frantically rubs his mouth clean on anything and every one. He once stopped abruptly to do so while running away, launching me like a weeble over his head.

[pintopiaffe]

I had no idea there was nickle in SS. Huh.

See, learned yet another thing.;)

[anchorsaway]

I've always been taught that rubbing their mouth/nose comes from the nerve that runs along the top of the back; and when working it makes their nose itchy?...
Most horses I've encountered rub. So I can't imagine that it's *just* caused by salivation. Although maybe it is the nickle *shrugs*

I agree with slc though, nip it in the bud immediately. Such an annoying habit!

[quietann]

Just say no horsey. I didn't and I will regret it to the end of my days. What a habit. I have one that absolutely frantically rubs his mouth clean on anything and every one. He once stopped abruptly to do so while running away, launching me like a weeble over his head.

We did have to reinforce "no rubbing while working!" on Feronia after she came to a dead stop out of a nice working canter once so she could rub, and I nearly went flying! :eek: She handles like a little sports car and when she puts on the brakes, she STOPS (but her rider might not!) She knows she is allowed to rub when she is halted and the reins are out to their full length, and at NO other time.

[JB]

I've always been taught that rubbing their mouth/nose comes from the nerve that runs along the top of the back; and when working it makes their nose itchy?...

NO idea if that is true or not, but if it is, it sure would lend credence to why some (many?) horses seem to want to "blow their nose" when they settle in to working, which was the subject of a whole 'nother thread.

[anchorsaway]

NO idea if that is true or not, but if it is, it sure would lend credence to why some (many?) horses seem to want to "blow their nose" when they settle in to working, which was the subject of a whole 'nother thread.

I hadn't even thought about that aspect of it!
I don't know if it's true or not either :lol: