...I think you are confusing "wolf" teeth, the first pre-molars, with
"canine" teeth, sometimes called "tusks". Wolf teeth appear directly in
front of the first true molars, in either/both top and bottom jaws. A bit
placed high enough to wrinkle the corners of the horse's lips would probably
touch wolf teeth. There is a lot of debate about removal of wolf teeth...I
once had them removed from one of my horses who was being shown in dressage
with the snaffle adjusted fairly high (which means tight) with nearly two
wrinkles. Nowadays, I adjust my bits much looser, and have no problem with
wolf teeth, or horses annoyed with or evading the bit.
"Canine" teeth, or tusks, appear closer to the incisors. The gap between
the canine teeth and the molars is commonly called the "bars"...the place
where the bit is located. Most stallions and geldings develop all four
canine teeth. Some mares have four, some have two, and some none. If a bit
is hung too loose, it will bang against the canine teeth, causing the horse
irritation and pain, and possibly a "clenched jaw" (and tongue) in an
attempt to hold the bit higher.
Some horses have "long" mouthes, with the lip opening coming way back nearly
to the molars. Some have "short" mouths, with the lip opening closing close
to the tusks or incisors. On a horse with a short mouth, one might have to
tighten the bit enough to wrinkle the lips in order not to have the bit hit
the tusks. On a horse with a long mouth, you may not need any wrinkles in
order to place the bit high enough to avoid the tusks. If you wrinkled this
horse's lips, the bit might be too tight against his molars or premolars.
If a mare does not have tusks at all, her bit can safely be placed lower in
her mouth.
So...place the bit according to the conformation of your individual horse's
mouth. The bit should be loose enough not to rub or irritate the lips, or
pull against the premolars or molars. It should be tight enough not to
clank against the tusks.
I tack up over 60 horses for my vacation business, and I agree with Alois
Podhajsky: horses should be fitted with the bit just high enough that it
does not crinkle the corners of the lips. (I'm aware that many texts and
instructors will tell you otherwise, but, after 25 years with hundreds of
horses, I'm pretty sure they're wrong)
Lari
Lari Shea http://www.horse-vacation.com
Ricochet Ridge Ranch Riding Vacations on the Mendocino Coast with
24201 North Highway One Lodging at Unique B&B Inns; International Riding
Fort Bragg, CA 95437 Akhal Teke and Russian Orlov/cross horses
707-964-7669ph/ 707-964-9669 fax At stud: RRR Stolichnaya & RRR Russia