Solving Tongue-Over-the-Bit: Why It's a Training Problem, Not a Character Flaw
A comprehensive guide to understanding and addressing tongue-over-bit behaviours through evidence-based training
The Myth We Need to Bust
Let's start by addressing a persistent myth that causes unnecessary frustration for both horses and riders: the idea that horses don't put their tongues over the bit to be naughty or defiant.
This behaviour is a symptom of a training issue, not a character flaw. When a horse consistently puts their tongue over the bit, they're telling us something important - usually that they're experiencing unrelenting, meaningless pressure without proper release.
The solution isn't a tighter noseband, a different bit, or any restrictive equipment. The answer lies in better training that teaches the horse about pressure-release-reward (combined reinforcement). In this article, we'll explore how to address tongue-over-bit through ethical, evidence-based training methods that respect your horse as the sentient individual they are.
Want to dive deeper into the science behind this behaviour? Check out my article, with Dr Andrew McLean, in Horses and People magazine: Why Does My Horse Put the Tongue Over the Bit?
The Foundation Fix: Teaching Give to the Bit
The most effective way to address tongue-over-bit is to go back to basics with "Give to the Bit" training. This foundational lesson teaches your horse the fundamental principle of pressure-release-reward that underpins all evidence-based horse training.
The Basic Elements:
- SPOT: The nose
- DIRECTION: Down and in towards the chest (in front of the vertical)
- MOTIVATION: Gentle rein pressure
- REWARD: Immediate release of pressure, praise, and a wither scratch
The Pattern:
Pick up gentle pressure on one rein and maintain it until the horse gives, then immediately release ALL pressure. You're teaching the horse that release comes from softening, not from pulling.
The key is consistency and clarity. Every time you pick up the rein, the horse should know precisely what response will make the pressure go away. There's no guessing, no confusion - just clear communication.
Why This Works:
Horses put their tongue over the bit because they've learned that bit pressure is constant and meaningless. When we teach clear pressure-release-reward patterns, the bit becomes a communication tool rather than something to escape from.
Think about it from the horse's perspective: if you're experiencing constant pressure with no relief, you'll try anything to find comfort. Putting the tongue over the bit often provides a small amount of physical relief and becomes a learned pattern. But when we teach the horse that softening to pressure brings immediate release, the motivation to escape disappears.
Key Takeaway: Consistent, clear pressure-release is the foundation. Get this right, and tongue-over-bit behaviours typically resolve themselves.
Ready to learn the complete Give to the Bit training? Download the FREE Kandoo Training App and start Module 1 today: https://www.kandooequine.com/store
The Welfare Perspective: Why Equipment Isn't the Answer
When faced with tongue-over-bit behaviours, many riders reach for equipment solutions: tighter nosebands, flash attachments, tongue ties, or increasingly severe bits. I understand the temptation - these seem like quick fixes to a frustrating problem.
But here's the welfare issue we need to confront: these "solutions" don't address the underlying problem. They just prevent the horse from showing us the symptom. We're essentially silencing their communication without fixing what they're trying to tell us.
The Welfare-Centred Approach:
✓ Recognise the behaviour as communication, not defiance - Your horse is telling you something needs to change in the training
✓ Address dental health first - Always rule out pain. Sharp points, hooks, or other dental issues can cause genuine discomfort that makes any bit uncomfortable
✓ Improve training through proper pressure-release-reward sequences - Go back to the basics and rebuild the foundation
✓ Give the horse time to learn new patterns - Unlearning takes time. Be patient and consistent
✓ Never use restrictive equipment as a "fix" - These devices don't solve anything; they mask the symptom
Horses deserve to be treated as sentient individuals capable of learning, not problems to be mechanically suppressed. When we use evidence-based training methods grounded in learning theory, we not only address the behaviour but also build a better partnership based on clear communication and mutual understanding.
Remember, horses are brilliant animals with sophisticated nervous systems. They're constantly learning from every interaction we have with them. The question is: what are we teaching them?
Connect with other welfare-focused horse owners in the FREE Kandoo Community Hub where we support reinforcement-focused, evidence-based training: https://www.kandooequine.com/store
A Success Story: From Tongue-Tied to Transformed
Let me tell you about Riley, an off-the-track Thoroughbred I worked with several years ago. Their story perfectly illustrates how tongue-over-bit is a training gap, not a permanent problem.
When Riley came to me, they had been racing in tongue ties for two years. His trainer insisted it was "just how Riley was" - a chronic tongue-over-bit horse who needed the tongue-tie to perform. The trainer had tried different bits and adjusted nosebands but concluded that Riley needed a tongue tie.
The Reality:
Like most racehorses, Riley had never been adequately taught about bit pressure and release. Years of unrelenting rein contact had taught him the bit meant constant pressure, so putting the tongue over was his only relief. No one had ever shown Riley what the bit was actually asking for.
The Process:
When I got Riley off the track, we went right back to basics - groundwork with Give to the Bit, building from there. No tongue tie, no restrictive noseband, just clear, consistent pressure-release-reward work.
I started on the ground, teaching Riley the fundamental pattern: pressure applied, horse responds correctly, pressure immediately released, and horse rewarded. We worked from both sides, keeping sessions short and the emotional level right in the engagement zone - not too high (stressed), not too low (disengaged), but just right for learning.
Within a few short sessions, Riley was working softly in the bridle on the ground. We then transferred this understanding to ridden work, via long-reining, maintaining the same clarity and consistency. Within the month, they were back in full work - no tongue tie, no evasion, just a horse who understood the conversation.
The Transformation:
Riley went on to compete successfully in dressage at a higher level than he had before, and his owner reported he was a completely different horse to ride - softer, more responsive, and genuinely happy in his work. The owner later told me that Riley seemed to enjoy being ridden now, whereas before there had always been tension and resistance.
This transformation didn't require expensive equipment, harsh methods, or accepting that "some horses are just like that." It required patience, proper technique, and a commitment to evidence-based training.
Do you have an off-the-track horse? Tongue-over-bit is especially common in ex-racehorses who often experience constant rein contact during their racing careers. Try my FREE Race-2-Ride trial course and learn how to retrain them using evidence-based methods: https://www.kandooequine.com/race2ride-trial
Practical Steps: Your Action Plan
If you're dealing with tongue-over-bit right now, here's your step-by-step action plan:
Step 1: Rule Out Pain
Before any training intervention, have your horse's teeth checked by a qualified equine dentist. Sharp points, hooks, or wolf teeth can cause genuine discomfort that makes the bit painful. No amount of training will fix a pain problem.
Step 2: Check Your Equipment
- Is the bit the right size and properly adjusted?
- Is the bridle fitted correctly?
- Is the noseband correctly fitted, or is it creating unnecessary pressure?
Step 3: Go Back to Basics
Start with ground training using the Give to the Bit exercises:
- Work from both sides equally
- Keep sessions short (5-10 minutes)
- Focus on precise pressure-release timing
- Watch your horse's emotional level - keep them in the engagement zone
Step 4: Be Consistent
If you can, practice daily, even if just for a few minutes. Consistency is more important than duration.
Step 5: Be Patient
If your horse has been doing this behaviour for months or years, they need time to unlearn the old pattern and establish a new one. Don't expect overnight changes.
Step 6: Progress Gradually
Once your horse is responding well on the ground, transfer the work to under saddle. Start at a walk, maintain the same clarity, and build from there.
Step 7: Maintain the Training
Even once the behaviour is resolved, continue to prioritise clear pressure-release-reward in all your riding. This prevents the problem from returning.
Common Questions
Q: How long will it take to fix tongue-over-bit? A: It depends on how long the behaviour has been established and how consistent you are with the re-training. Some horses show improvement within days, others take weeks or months. The key is consistency and patience.
Q: What if my horse doesn't respond to the Give to the Bit training? A: If your horse isn't responding, check these things:
- Is there pain involved? (teeth, bit fit, physical issues)
- Is your timing clear? (immediate release when they respond correctly)
- Is the emotional level right? (not stressed, not disengaged)
- Are you being consistent?
- Are you breaking it down into small enough steps?
- Remember, you need to get some response to give that release - watch for it!
Q: Can I still compete while retraining? A: Yes, but be prepared for the fact that performance might dip temporarily as you rebuild the foundation. Think of it as an investment in long-term success.
The Bottom Line
Tongue-over-bit is not a character flaw, a sign of stubbornness, or "just how some horses are." It's a training gap that can be addressed through patient, consistent application of proper pressure-release-reward techniques.
Your horse isn't being difficult - they're responding to unclear communication. When we fix the communication through evidence-based training, we don't just solve the behaviour; we build a better partnership based on understanding and clear conversation.
Every horse deserves to be trained with methods that respect their intelligence and capacity to learn. Every horse can learn to work softly in the bridle when we teach them clearly and patiently what we're asking for.
The question isn't whether your horse can overcome tongue-over-bit. The question is: are you ready to invest the time in proper training to help them succeed?
Resources to Help You Succeed
For comprehensive training from the ground up: Download the FREE Kandoo Training App or subscribe to Kandoo GOLD for full access to all training modules, workbooks, and support: https://www.kandooequine.com/store
For off-the-track horses specifically: Try the FREE Race-2-Ride trial course explicitly designed for retraining ex-racehorses: https://www.kandooequine.com/race2ride-trial
For community support: Join the FREE Kandoo Community Hub and connect with other horse owners committed to ethical, evidence-based training: https://www.kandooequine.com/store
For more on the science: Read my full article on tongue-over-bit in Horses and People magazine: https://horsesandpeople.com.au/why-does-my-horse-put-the-tongue-over-the-bit/
About the Author: Kate Fenner works in equine education and content creation through Kandoo Equine, focusing on evidence-based horse training and equitation science. Her work translates scientific research into accessible content for horse owners, trainers, and equine professionals.
