How To Dressage

Main Menu

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Article Categories
    • The Scales of Training
    • Dressage Theory
    • For The Rider
    • The Horse’s Paces
    • Dressage Movements
    • Dressage Competition
    • Horse Care
    • Dressage Troubleshooting
    • Interviews with GP Riders
  • Training Forum
    • Recent Posts
    • Register
    • Login
  • Our Book Range
  • Our Podcast
  • FREE STUFF!

logo

How To Dressage

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Article Categories
    • The Scales of Training
    • Dressage Theory
    • For The Rider
    • The Horse’s Paces
    • Dressage Movements
    • Dressage Competition
    • Horse Care
    • Dressage Troubleshooting
    • Interviews with GP Riders
  • Training Forum
    • Recent Posts
    • Register
    • Login
  • Our Book Range
  • Our Podcast
  • FREE STUFF!
Dressage Theory
Home›Dressage Theory›Why do Horse’s Mouths Foam?

Why do Horse’s Mouths Foam?

By How To Dressage
March 2, 2018
6178
1
Why do Horse's Mouths Foam How to Dressage


Have you noticed foam around your horse’s mouth when you ride him? Or not?

Do you know what that foam is? (Hint – it doesn’t mean he’s rabid or going crazy!)

Is it desirable, or something to be concerned about?

What exactly IS that foam?

The white foam you see around a horse’s mouth is simply a little excess saliva.

We’ll talk a bit below about how and why it’s produced, but be assured, it’s nothing untoward. And if it’s green, he’s probably had either a sneaky mouthful of grass or hay after he was bridled, or orange likely means you fed him some carrots.

What you don’t want to see is pink, which might mean he’s bitten himself.

Is a foaming mouth desirable?

In a word, yes.

As a broad overview, it indicates a correct physical connection to the bridle and a relaxed state of mind.

How about a lack of foam?

This is not so desirable, as it indicates tension somewhere in either the mouth or the body, which is preventing a soft and confident acceptance of the contact.

How is the foam produced?

Salivation is caused by a degree of pressure being put on the salivary glands by the rim of the jaw bone and the neck musculature.

This happens only when the horse stretches his arched neck forward into the contact and flexes at the poll, AND is relaxed in the poll and jaw at the same time (note that the poll can be flexed without being relaxed).

In addition, the result of salivating like this is that the horse chews softly, moving his tongue and swallowing, which in turn helps the relaxation of the jaw and poll.

So how do we achieve this desirable state of a foaming mouth?

This depends on the horse’s whole physique being used correctly, not just on the state of his mouth.

He must learn to arch his topline correctly, using the correct musculature and ligament systems to raise his back, curve his neck and tuck his pelvis, to create that forward craning towards the bit.

This begins with the contraction of his belly muscles to lift his mid-section (try it yourself – get onto your hands and knees on the floor and see which muscles you use to lift and round your back) so that the shortening of his underline results in a lifting and stretching effect on his topline.

What do we do if this still does not produce a wet mouth?

Possibilities to address are:

  • He is still not supple enough, especially in the poll and throat latch area. He may also be stiff in one or both hind legs, making it hard for him to step under correctly.
  • If the base of his neck is rubbery and disconnected, it may not be able stable enough to achieve that ‘craning’ effect.
  • He might be “rounding” his neck, but may also be shortening it with dropped withers, and possibly with his face behind the vertical. If this happens, his back will be dropped, and he will be hiding behind the contact. To an uneducated eye, he might look more or less correct, but without the essential stretching towards the contact.
  • He may not be comfortable with his bit, either its shape or size might not suit him, making him reluctant to connect with it.
  • He may salivate only on one side, which will be the stiffer side where he makes too much contact, while tending to stay dry on the hollow side, where he avoids the contact. Once you can straighten him he should start to foam on both sides.

Can you have too much foam?

Yes, you can. Huge amounts may indicate tension in the jaw, with the tensed muscles pressing on the salivary glands, which is not desirable.

In conclusion

In general, seeing a horse with a reasonable amount of foam/saliva around his mouth is an indicator of a correct, soft acceptance of the contact, resulting from good posture, not directly from the action of the bit.

Related Reads:

  • How Much Contact Should You Have?
  • How to Keep a Consistent Rein Contact
  • How to Stop Your Horse Coming Behind the Contact
  • The Scales of Training: Scale 3 – Contact

Previous Article

How to Prepare for a Dressage Competition

Next Article

How to Improve Your Sitting Trot

How To Dressage

We are an information blog breaking down the How To's of dressage. All of our articles are put together by British Dressage judges to help you train your horse correctly, get higher scores and win your next dressage competition.

Related articles More from author

  • How to Activate Your Horse's Hind Legs Dressage
    Dressage Theory

    How to Activate Your Horse’s Hind Legs

    October 6, 2020
    By How To Dressage
  • What Does the 'Happy Athlete' Mean in Dressage
    Dressage Theory

    What Does the Term ‘Happy Athlete’ Mean in Dressage?

    March 14, 2018
    By How To Dressage
  • How are Dressage Horses Trained
    Dressage Theory

    How are Dressage Horses Trained?

    October 14, 2019
    By How To Dressage
  • How to Use a Double Bridle How To Dressage
    Dressage Theory

    How to Use a Double Bridle

    February 26, 2018
    By How To Dressage
  • How to Develop Balance and Symmetry in Both Horse and Rider dressage
    Dressage Theory

    How to Develop Balance and Symmetry in Both Horse and Rider

    July 20, 2019
    By How To Dressage
  • Rollkur Explained What It Is And What It Isn't how to dressage
    Dressage Theory

    Rollkur Explained: What It Is And What It Isn’t

    September 29, 2018
    By How To Dressage

1 comment

  1. Wendy Ellis 27 June, 2020 at 19:24 Reply

    How is the measure applied, too little, just enough, too much. A light film really is all one would need. Especially if there was only one bit in the mouth?

Leave a reply Cancel reply

0

WANT MORE?

  • Recent

  • Popular

  • Comments

  • How to Create Cadence in the Dressage Horse

    How to Create Cadence in the Dressage Horse

    By How To Dressage
    March 2, 2021
  • How to Transition Between Piaffe and Passage Dressage

    How to Transition Between Piaffe and Passage

    By How To Dressage
    February 23, 2021
  • How to improve rider confidence dressage

    How to Improve Rider Confidence

    By How To Dressage
    February 16, 2021
  • How to Stop Your Horse From Changing Canter Leads Dressage

    How to Stop Your Horse From Changing Canter Leads

    By How To Dressage
    February 9, 2021
  • How to recognize an unhappy dressage horse

    How to Recognize an Unhappy Dressage Horse

    By How To Dressage
    February 2, 2021
  • How to Connect Your Horse Through the Use of Transitions Dressage

    How to “Connect” Your Horse Through the Use of Transitions

    By How To Dressage
    January 26, 2021
  • How to Have Patience With Your Dressage Training

    How to Have Patience With Your Dressage Training

    By How To Dressage
    January 19, 2021
  • Dressage Training Plan

    How to Structure a Dressage Training Plan for Your Horse

    By How To Dressage
    February 13, 2019
  • how to create the ideal arena surface footing for dressage

    How to Create the Ideal Arena Surface Footing for Dressage

    By How To Dressage
    October 31, 2019
  • How to Import a Dressage Horse

    How to Import a Dressage Horse (from Europe to the U.S.)

    By How To Dressage
    October 19, 2019
  • How to Fit Horse's Noseband

    How to Fit Your Horse’s Noseband

    By How To Dressage
    October 5, 2019
  • How to Safely Ride and Lead horses

    How to Safely Ride and Lead

    By How To Dressage
    March 13, 2019
  • How to Keep a Consistent Rein Contact How to dressage

    How to Keep a Consistent Rein Contact

    By How To Dressage
    June 13, 2018
  • How to Ride a Good Trot-Canter Transition how to dressage

    How to Ride a Good Trot-Canter Transition

    By How To Dressage
    May 1, 2018
  • How To Dressage
    on
    February 15, 2021

    How to Keep Your Horse Straight

    Thanks so much! :)
  • Niavoequestrian
    on
    February 15, 2021

    How to Keep Your Horse Straight

    Its a great post! ...
  • How To Dressage
    on
    February 14, 2021

    How to Ride a Good Trot-Canter Transition

    So glad we could ...
  • Adriana Roessner
    on
    February 14, 2021

    How to Ride a Good Trot-Canter Transition

    thank u so much, ...
  • How To Dressage
    on
    February 4, 2021

    How to Plan Dressage Freestyle to Music in 7 Steps

    Hi Anmari, That's a ...
  • Anmari
    on
    February 3, 2021

    How to Plan Dressage Freestyle to Music in 7 Steps

    Where can i find ...
  • How To Dressage
    on
    February 2, 2021

    The Scales of Training: Scale 1 – Rhythm

    Hi Sandi, It's a ...

Article Categories

  • Dressage Competition (28)
  • Dressage Movements (45)
  • Dressage Theory (48)
  • Dressage Troubleshooting (46)
  • For The Rider (31)
  • Horse Care (39)
  • Interviews with Grand Prix Riders (8)
  • The Horse's Paces (23)
  • The Scales of Training (8)

Free Email Courses

how to dressage newbie email course

how to dressage scales of training email course

how to dressage competition email course

WANT MORE?

Useful Pages

Home
About us
View Our Book Range
Join Our Facebook Group
Forum
FREE STUFF!
Contact Us

See our social side

Our Podcast

how to dressage podcast
Copyright © 2018-2021 How To Dressage
Privacy Policy
Disclosure: Please note that some of the links that are included on this website are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, we earn a commission if you make a purchase. If you would like to support this website in some way, using these links will help you do exactly that. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT