Bits normally lay comfortably in the interdental space between the incisors and premolars, commonly called the “bars” of the mouth. Except when they don’t.
I ride three times a week: two days in the arena and one day with a riding instructor, trying to learn the basics of dressage while also trying to teach the mare I ride, Joey, the same. Dressage has been called the gymnastics of horseback riding, and has to do with the horse and rider learning to accommodate each other with the movements of their bodies. If I were to compare myself to a child learning in school, I would probably put myself in the 2nd grade—the really good dressage riders would have their PhD’s. Recently I was riding Joey when suddenly her head came up and she began to shake it violently from side to side, then violently up and down. In the midst of this I noticed that I could see her tongue, which wasn’t right. Horse’s tongue’s are very long and very large, although we don’t usually see them unless they’re yawning. It was several minutes before I realized what was going: she had somehow managed to get her tongue over the bit instead of under it. I got off, and, with a great deal of effort, managed to remove her bridle and put it back on. Once back on, we resumed our ride and all was fine.
