What a long tongue!

@JudyEv (382325)
Rockingham, Australia
September 26, 2022 3:13am CST
MyLotter DE (@DaddyEvil) noticed one of the horses in my previous post had its tongue poking out. Here is another photo of the same horse blown up so you can see its tongue. Its tongue is actually over the bit which is in its mouth. This often makes them a bit harder to manage but not in this case. For most horse-riding disciplines, it’s usual for there to be a bit in the horse’s mouth but many of the endurance riders use a simple halter or some form of bitless bridle. Mostly, there isn’t the need for a fine degree of control and it’s easier for a horse to eat and drink if it doesn’t have a bit in its mouth.
16 people like this
15 responses
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (222623)
• United States
26 Sep 22
Good photo. I would never put a bit in my horse's mouth. I'm too much of a softie.
2 people like this
Fleur
@Fleura (35069)
• United Kingdom
26 Sep 22
A bit isn't uncomfortable, unless the rider is extremely inept. A horse will eagerly put on a bridle to go out for a ride, just as a dog will bring the lead when a walk is in the offing.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382325)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Sep 22
Most horses don't seem to mind having a bit in their mouth and they quickly learn to eat and drink with it in place.
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LindaOH
@LindaOHio (222623)
• United States
26 Sep 22
@Fleura Thank you for the information.
2 people like this
Fiacre Banks
@xFiacre (14787)
• Ireland
26 Sep 22
@judyev I think it’s awful sticking a bit in a horse’s mouth. I know why it’s done, but I think it’s really not in the horse’s best interest.
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Fiacre Banks
@xFiacre (14787)
• Ireland
26 Sep 22
@Fleura No. I’d feel quite silly sitting up there. Horses must be quite stupid to cooperate with such things. I did fall off an elephant once though right in front of the Prime Minister of Malaysia when we were both (separately) in India and the cheeky man laughed, pointed and walked off.
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Fleur
@Fleura (35069)
• United Kingdom
26 Sep 22
@xFiacre So horses are stupid but not elephants? I'm confused. A horse generally doesn't mind the bit, it's just a way of enhancing communication between horse and rider, it isn't uncomfortable, unless the rider is extremely inept. A horse will eagerly put on a bridle to go out for a ride, just as a dog will bring the lead when a walk is in the offing.
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Fleur
@Fleura (35069)
• United Kingdom
26 Sep 22
Have you ever ridden?
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DE
@DaddyEvil (174590)
• United States
26 Sep 22
He looks like he's saying he's exhausted with his tongue hanging out like that!
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382325)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Sep 22
Some seem to like sticking their tongues out. I've no idea why but I guess they have their reasons.
2 people like this
DE
@DaddyEvil (174590)
• United States
26 Sep 22
@JudyEv I have no idea either. We raised horses on our farm and some did that a lot. Others almost never did it.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382325)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Sep 22
@DaddyEvil It was a general belief that it was an evasion and that they were harder to control with their tongues over the bit..
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Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (135910)
• Marion, Ohio
26 Sep 22
Many will play with the bits. I trained all of my preferred ones without a bit. I often rode with just a lead rope on the halter.
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Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (135910)
• Marion, Ohio
27 Sep 22
@JudyEv I had one mare that was very head strong. But she did better with a hackamore than a bit. I never had her checked to see if she had the wolf teeth in there. But with consistent work she was very controllable even with just a halter.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382325)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Sep 22
Some in endurance do that too but some get too excited by the occasion and become too uncontrollable without a bit.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382325)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Sep 22
@wolfgirl569 Some have quite fancy hackamores but others have a very simple halter. The latter usually have a very good understanding with their mounts. And some start off with a bit until the horse settles down then they just use a halter.
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RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (98072)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
26 Sep 22
That is a great picture, and yes, the horse has a long tongue,
1 person likes this
RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (98072)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
28 Sep 22
@JudyEv A long time ago I loved to watch horses race when I lived in NYC. They had a festival at the Belmont Race track, and I was happy I could get up close to some horses. This one horse fell madly in love with me and kept clomping behind me, and when I went to hug its neck, it took that slobbery tongue and licked the entire side of my face. Took quite a few napkins to clean up but I didn't mind,
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382325)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Sep 22
For some reason, this horse also likes to lick its owner.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382325)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Sep 22
@RasmaSandra Maybe you'd just eaten an apple!!
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JB_girl
@sol_cee (38669)
• Philippines
27 Sep 22
Omg that’s so cute. What was it licking?
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JB_girl
@sol_cee (38669)
• Philippines
27 Sep 22
@JudyEv tried to copy but I can’t
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382325)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Sep 22
It wasn't licking anything. It just had its tongue out.
1 person likes this
ShannyBananny
@shaggin (74987)
• United States
26 Sep 22
I wonder if this is a new owner so he felt he needed more control over the horse. It doesn’t seem very comfortable for the horse at all for it to be under his tongue that way.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382325)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Sep 22
Endurance is about the only horse sport where bits are not commonly used. Normally, it is just part and parcel of horse-riding apparel.
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snowy
@snowy22315 (209073)
• United States
26 Sep 22
I would think having a bit in your mouthduring an extended ride like that would be quite uncomfortable. Long legs, long face, longue tongue.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382325)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Sep 22
If a bit is used, the horse is quite comfortable with it as it would have had hours and hours of training with a bit - and a saddle, rider, etc.
1 person likes this
Always smiling
@allknowing (153529)
• India
27 Sep 22
I do not know what a bit is all about but something in the mouth? - not a good idea.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382325)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Sep 22
Bits have been used since horses were first domesticated - but it doesn't necessarily make it a good idea. However for most disciplines a bit is used.
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Sanjeev
@sjvg1976 (42727)
• Delhi, India
27 Sep 22
I think they do that when they are tired.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382325)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Sep 22
That could be so but some do it all the time.
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Anna
@LadyDuck (502653)
• Italy
26 Sep 22
I know that horses do not seem to mind to have a bit in their mouth. I imagine it's a much better to handle them.
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Anna
@LadyDuck (502653)
• Italy
27 Sep 22
@JudyEv I noticed that the horse of my great grandfather did not seem to care about the bit in his mouth.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382325)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Sep 22
They do get used to a bit in their mouths and are able to drink and eat without too much inconvenience.
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Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (21492)
• London, England
26 Sep 22
I have not seen a bitless bridle, but they do sound easier on the horse
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382325)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Sep 22
Some act on pressure on the nose. You can see that perhaps in this photo.
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Ron Rybs
@Ronrybs (21492)
• London, England
27 Sep 22
@JudyEv I have little doubt this more comfortable for the horse
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Krissttina Isobe
@oahuwriter (26773)
• United States
27 Sep 22
I see. Guess a bit is necessary ...does it hurt the horse?
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382325)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Sep 22
Bits have been used since time immemorial as an aid in controlling a horse. So while they do as you ask, it doesn't hurt but if they start to misbehave it becomes uncomfortable.
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Krissttina Isobe
@oahuwriter (26773)
• United States
28 Sep 22
@JudyEv I see. Understood. Thanks.
1 person likes this
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
26 Sep 22
What a nice catch here. Great photo. Learned more about horses.
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382325)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Sep 22
I love being able to share photos here and to explain more about it.
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CarolDM
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
27 Sep 22
@JudyEv We also enjoy your posts, as you can tell.
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rebelann1949
@rebelann (117259)
• El Paso, Texas
26 Sep 22
I've never really understood why a horse had to have a bit in her mouth but you did explain that here.
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382325)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Sep 22
Bits have been used since horses were first domesticated. Endurance is one discipline where bits are becoming less used.
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