Advice please, horse fussy in the mouth

[Stoxx]

Osc saw the dentist 10 days ago, he found that he hasn't been wearing his first pre molar evenly. We think this has happened because he had an abscess a while ago and has been eating more to one side. The dentist evened it out slightly and said that he should be easier to the left rein now.

I moved him 5 days ago and he has been going very nicely and is answering so much quicker down the left rein

however when I have been warming up he has been a little fussy in his mouth but I've just quietly ignored it and he's settled quickly. I put it down to him getting used to the new feeling.
Last night I was riding and he was going brilliantly, the feeling I was getting from him was just amazing

, when all of a sudden he got very snatchy and fussy in the mouth

. I tried to ride him quietly through it as I have before but he didn't settle

.
I'm not sure whether he had just got tired and was being sensitive because of that, or whether I should be worrying there is something wrong. The only other time he has ever been like this with his mouth (only it was worse) was the week before the abscess appeared.

Any advice?

 

[Jo C]

Personally I would ride him again today and see if he does the same, if he does I would get vet/dentist to have a look, if not I would put it down to a one off, having a bad day.

 

[Stoxx]

Thanks Jo, I hope I can just put it down to a bad day. Unfortunately I can't school him today, got to go to hospital for a check up and I ended up being on for a bit longer than normal last night so need to rest my hip today. But I'll try again tmrw and see what he says.
I've just spoken to the dentist who says I should ride him through it and see how he is in a week, but I know this just isn't like him.

 

[Rachel1]

Hi Ifield - if a horse is fussy in the mouth and it's medical related it usually indicates either pain somewhere in the mouth or discomfort in the hind leg (hence it shows through the connection when they push to the contact). As he's had a prob previously I would do as Jo suggests and get your dentist out if you find the problem is still occurring. If it turns out not to be a physical problem then it's probably a case of him not being truly in front of your leg and therefore not a genuine connection so just ride forwards into a quiet contact and keep pushing until he finds the contact himself and softens to it. I'm sure if there is some discomfort in his mouth then you can get it fixed fairly quickly as you've been quick to react

 

[Stoxx]

Thanks RachelSkeff.
As previously mentioned we have to have the day off today but I will see how he is tmrw. He is a horse that will tell me straight away if there is something he isn't happy with - he doesn't do beating around the bush! So if this continues I'll definitely have the dentist back out.

 

[Rachel1]

[ QUOTE ]

He is a horse that will tell me straight away if there is something he isn't happy with - he doesn't do beating around the bush!

[/ QUOTE ]

Hehe, Eric is like that, it is very useful! Esp for Anna if I'm having a lesson as he gives it away immediately if I'm not asking the correct way! But it is defo a good thing if they let you know they're not feeling great. Hope he is fixed soon!