Horses Crossing their Jaws

Today, a good friend of mine asked me what I knew about horses crossing their jaws.  I must admit that I knew very little about it, other than it being a form of evasion, and because I love to learn new things I decided to do some research on the topic and share what I found here.

Why a horse crosses the jaw
The important thing is to try to discover why a horse does something, in order to deal with the actual problem and to not just treat the symptom (in this case the crossing of the jaw).  Not only is it the correct thing to do, but also by dealing with the cause of a problem you are less likely to have to deal with new problems arising from the original problem.
By doing a bit of reading, I found that, as riders, we have to consider the possibility of there being a problem on both sides of the rein (i.e. not only a problem with the horse, but with the rider as well).  It is also important to remember that a horse will not be evasive unless he has a reason to.  Below I have outlined the most common reasons for a horse crossing his jaw.

Pain in the Mouth
First, it is important to make sure that there is nothing wrong with the horse's mouth.  That means getting a vet or equine dentist to come out and check for sharp edges and points, retained gaps, ulcers and wolf teeth (which start to grow as early as 18 months) and resulting lacerations to the horse's tongue and cheeks.

(Image from equisports.net)

Because crossing the jaw can be a reaction of oral pain, it is important to ensure that the horse's mouth is healthy before you consider anything else.

Problem caused by the rider
First I want to note that even if you are a good rider, you could still be doing something incorrect in your riding (whether it is your hands, seat or something else) which could be causing a problem with your horse.  Likewise, just because something in your riding is incorrect, or you may have picked up a bad habit, it does not necessarily mean that you are a bad rider.  There are several things that a rider could be doing to cause a horse to cross his jaw:
Unyielding hands and pulling in the mouth:  First, it is important to remember the correct positioning of a riders hands.  There should be an invisible straight line from the horse's mouth to the rider's hands and through the rider's elbow.

(Image from cumbrianrider.co.uk)

This position of the hands allows the rider's hands to be yielding and contact to be soft and elastic.  Riding with your hands low and your elbows locked results in unyielding hands which can cause a horse to become evasive and resistant because there is never any "give" from the rider's hands.  I have often seen people riding with their hands low and and elbows locked in an attempt to make the horse go "round".  This is a forceful and incorrect way of making a horse go on the bit, because the horse is not engaging the hind, working forward and through the back and coming softly into the bit.  Instead the rider is forcing the horse's head into position and it only makes sense that evasion should follow.  The rider's hands should also be still and soft with a soft, light contact to the horse's mouth to allow the horse to come correctly from behind, through the back and into the bridle.
Incorrect seat:  It is equally important to ensure that your seat is correct and that you are not tensing in the saddle, but being as relaxed, supple and correct as you expect your horse to be.  A rider twisting their wrist, while incorrectly placing their seat bone against the horse's spine can cause discomfort and therefore resistance.  Also, a rider who is rotating his/her shoulders could cause a movement that travels down the arm and into the horse's mouth resulting in resistance and possibly crossing of the jaw.

Problem with the bit or incorrect fitting bridle
Crossing the jaw seems to be a common reaction from a single joint snaffle.

(Image from horsenpetoutlet.com)

As well as acting on the bars of the mouth and the horse's lips, a single jointed snaffle has a "nutcracker" action, where pressure is applied on the horse's tongue in a downward, squeezing action.  Some horses may cross their jaws to evade this nutcracker effect.  Using a double jointed snaffle such as a french link snaffle, which only acts on the lips and bars of the horse's mouth, may result in a horse not being inclined to cross his jaw, provided there is nothing wrong with the horse's mouth or muscular or skeletal structure.
It is also always important to be sure that your tack fits correctly and  remember that different nosebands fit differently.  Always do your research to make sure that your tack fits correctly and that it is not causing your horse problems such as pinching or incorrect pressure.  This is a good guide to correct noseband fitting which can be a huge help if you are trying to fit a new noseband, or even if you just want to make sure that your current noseband is sitting correctly.

Muscular problems
If a horse has a muscular problem, it could result in pain or discomfort for the horse when being ridden and therefore resistance and evasion such as crossing the jaw.  In this case, you should consult an accredited equine masseuse recommended by your vet, and remember that if there is a muscular problem, it will take time to overcome and for the horse to be able to work comfortably.

Skeletal problems
If a horse suddenly starts to cross his jaw, his spinal alignment may be out (perhaps at the poll) in which case you should consult an equine chiropractor.


A note on training
If you have taken measures and consulted with equine professionals to ensure that your horse's evasiveness is not a result of discomfort or pain, you might consider how you are actually riding the horse to try to achieve a correct "frame".  If you are trying to ride the horse "on the bit" make sure that you are riding the horse forward and into the bit with your seat and legs and not just trying to make your horse round by using your hands.  By trying to put a horse into a frame with only (or mostly) your hands often results in tension and therefore resistance and evasion.  Also remember, that just because your horse is walking or trotting, it does not necessarily mean that your horse is moving forward.  


The figure 8 Noseband
I am going to mention this noseband, as a lot of people use it, and it was developed for this exact purpose.  However by just putting a nose band on your horse to prevent him from crossing his jaw, you may only be treating the symptom and not the actual cause of the evasion, and by doing this you could very well be ignoring your horse's attempts at trying to tell you that there is something wrong and that he is in pain.

(Image from sustainabledressage.net)

The figure 8 or Grackle noseband is restricts the horse from crossing his jaw through pressure with the front "crossover" point being the main point of pressure.  If you do decide to try this noseband, ensure that it is fitted correctly and note that it should sit higher up on the horse's face than a cavesson.

I hope you find this interesting and informative.  I know I learned a great deal researching and writing it.  As horse people, we all know that the learning never ends and that learning new things not only makes us better and more knowledgeable riders and horse moms (and dads), but better people too.

If you would like to comment or have anything more to offer on the topic, please feel free to leave a comment by clicking on the "neighs" link at the bottom of this post.

Happy riding!

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Horses Crossing their Jaws