Question
horse tending to evade
hello ma'am. thanks for your answer about tongue tie. may i know why few horses gap their mouth like this? is this rider's fault since he made the reins short and bridged tightly? or the horse is tending to evade the bit? does it require a figure 8 nose band to keep its mouth shut?
Answer
Equine Mouth 
Horse's Mouth
Hello,
Many young horses will still have their wolf teeth and canine teeth, which can be very painful. They serve no useful purpose and need to be removed. Also, retained caps are often common in 3 year olds so be sure to check for that as well. I have included some images of a horse's mouth which will help you identify the location of those teeth.
Equine dental care is of utmost importance and is often an overlooked area when it comes to the behavior of your horse. If your horse is gapping its mouth, it could very will be in need of dental work. While a figure 8 noseband would reduce the horse's ability to gap its mouth open, I don't think you would want to force your horse's mouth shut if he is in pain. A full mouth inspection would be my first recommendation. Once you know your horse's teeth are in good shape, if you are still having a problem with its bit you could proceed on to the figure 8 noseband or other changes in equipment.
I have included some links below which you may find useful.
Let me know if I can be of further assistance.
Best wishes,
Maureen
http://www.horsedentist.com/Canines%20and%20Wolf%20Teeth%201.htm
http://www.fromthehorsesmouthne.com/#/equine-dentistry/4555169138
http://www.thehorsestooth.com/floating.php
http://www.thehorsestooth.com/
http://www.amscheqdentistry.com
