what does this mean??

Myself and my sister were trying out a horse we want to free lease yesterday and we found that when we increased pressure on the reins, like asking him to stop. He would stick his tongue out and wiggle it around lol it looked really weird. I've never seen a horse that did this before and I was wondering why he'd do it? I don't know how old he is, I was told 8 or 9 but judging by is teeth, I'd say he's more like 18. Any ideas why he'd be doing this? Could he need his teeth rasped? OR just a habit he has?

The horse is clearly uncomfortable with bit pressure to the mouth.

Horses will do this to avoid bit pressure on the tongue or bars of the mouth. This could be because of poor training or even with good training some horses are just super sensative.

It could also be that this horse responds to seat/leg aids and less on rein aids ( the way it should) and resented the bit pressure.

Unless you are skilled trainer I would pass this horse by.

He's definitely not a sensitive horse - he's the quietest horse I've ever met lol We are going to get him for this reason alone - my sister has confidence issues so she really needs a dead quiet horse. He was really well behaved when we rode him but he's definitely not well schooled. So its more likely to be poor training than anything Spyder. My own mare is much better schooled than him and she's the same breed (standardbred) and much younger. This guy didn't respond to legs or seat at all and rein signals needed to be firm, not just touching the reins like i'm used to with my mare. I think'll get his teeth looked at just in case that's an issue...

Bit issues.

I agree with Spyder - pass on the horse unless you guys have a lot of experience.

Maybe try him in a hackamore and see if he responds better?

A 7 year old qh i'm looking at would stick his tongue out and try to get the bit out of his mouth, even if there was no contact on the reins. Once he was in a hackamore, he was a happy camper.

Yeah, a hackamore might be an option. We really don't know the history of this horse because he was a rescue case... poor thing. But, like I said before, he's so quiet and sensible so he's the perfect temperament for my sister. I understand where you're coming from, Soon & Spyder, but he's free lease and we have the option of returning him if it doesn't work out. We're going to try him and if he's no good, then we'll return him. He doesn't fight the contact... just puts his tongue around it - I had no problems stopping or slowing him down.

Quiet does not imply he's not sensitive. What kind of bit is in his mouth?

Maybe I am old fashioned but when I go to see a horse I expect to see it and not have to wonder what I need to do to make it the way it should have been when prospects come to view.

This is what I expect to see or have done to any horse I view.

I expect all shots
I expect proper shoeing or trimming
I expect proper dental care

I expect the training to be according to the age and what was advertised.

I DO NOT expect to take a free lease, do all their training, vet bills, and hoof care bills for the owners.

We only had a very mild eggbutt snaffle in his mouth.

Spyder, the people who own him now rescued him from a girl who loved these horses but didn't have enough money to feed or look after them properly. That's why he hasn't had his teeth done etc. The people who rescued him don't want him because they already have a horse but they just want him to go to a good home.

Mild or not an eggbutt is a harsh bit. Try a full cheek snaffel or a hackamore. I had a horse do the same thing and when my trainer found that we were using a eggbutt she told me " well no wonder he is ignoring all comands, his mind is on his mouth". When I switched to a full cheek snaffel he was worried about comands rather that an awful pian in his mouth.