Blind wolf teeth removal and behavioral changes esp bucking

[FjordGirl]

I’m looking for some success stories of positive behavioral changes after removal of blind wolf teeth.

I adore my mare, she’s very forward, brave, could probably go all day without tiring. Her one quirk is occasional sudden bucking— big bucks, not little crow hops. My dressage instructor, jump instructor, and various clinicians have never been able to identify the cause, other than “naughty pony”, since it seems so random. Saddle, vet checks, dental, everything checked out fine (caveat on the dental, though!)

I read an article about how blind wolf teeth can cause bucking, even without typical bridle-issue symptoms, so I had my dental vet come out again to do full mouth xrays. He found two blind wolf teeth, a little farther forward than the usual placement, exactly where they would be painful with a bit, especially since they were sharp. He removed them and said he would expect to see positive changes under saddle (giving her plenty of time off to heal).

So, I’d like to hear your blind wolf teeth stories… any night and day behavioral differences after removal? Especially re random bucking?

 

[Dasher66]

Yes, when the tiny wolf tooth was taken out the bucking when asking for canter stopped. She also had problems taking a contact and jogging which went as well.
The tooth was half the size of my little finger nail And had been missed by three different horse dentists.

 

[myheartinahoofbeat]

Yes, when the tiny wolf tooth was taken out the bucking when asking for canter stopped. She also had problems taking a contact and jogging which went as well.
The tooth was half the size of my little finger nail And had been missed by three different horse dentists.

That's really interesting. What age was your mare please? My boy can buck going into canter and the physio said she thinks he has a dental issue as some of the nerves in his face are very tight despite the routine dental check finding nothing. I have only had the horse 2 months and was wondering whether to get xrays of his mouth. he likes to chomp on the bit a lot especially hacking

 

[FjordGirl]

Yes, when the tiny wolf tooth was taken out the bucking when asking for canter stopped. She also had problems taking a contact and jogging which went as well.
The tooth was half the size of my little finger nail And had been missed by three different horse dentists.

I’m glad they finally found it! I’m glad to hear this, as my mare has also struggled with canter transitions…

 

[FjordGirl]

That's really interesting. What age was your mare please? My boy can buck going into canter and the physio said she thinks he has a dental issue as some of the nerves in his face are very tight despite the routine dental check finding nothing. I have only had the horse 2 months and was wondering whether to get xrays of his mouth. he likes to chomp on the bit a lot especially hacking

Just FYI, with my mare (13 years old) the lateral view xrays showed nothing, but when the vet got creative and put the plate right between her teeth to get a different angle, he could finally see the wolf teeth.

 

[ycbm]

I've learnt a new thing. I've never heard of this. Would it be possible to tell that the horse has a problem by pressing your fingers firmly into the bars, or does it have to be pressure from a bit?
.

 

[Carrottom]

A show producer I knew had a horse who was fine schooling at home but would buck in the ring. The vet found blind wolf teeth that had been missed by the dentist and removed them. The bucking stopped and it was thought that that the added tension at a show caused a slightly different bit position which had touched the wolf teeth.

 

[FjordGirl]

I've learnt a new thing. I've never heard of this. Would it be possible to tell that the horse has a problem by pressing your fingers firmly into the bars, or does it have to be pressure from a bit?
.

The dental vet had palpated her bars in yearly visits before this and never found them, no marked reaction. After he finally found them on xrays I was able to reach inside and just barely feel them under gums, but by that time she was drugged and wouldn’t have reacted anyway. So I’m not sure… I suppose on a non drugged horse it might depend on how sensitive they are to fingers in their mouth pressing around, some might react out of annoyance and some might give a true pain reaction, is my guess

 

[FjordGirl]

A show producer I knew had a horse who was fine schooling at home but would buck in the ring. The vet found blind wolf teeth that had been missed by the dentist and removed them. The bucking stopped and it was thought that that the added tension at a show caused a slightly different bit position which had touched the wolf teeth.

That is good to know! This mare has always had a tendency to bomb off in clinics, where clinician was asking for more and more contact… which lead me to quit the dressage clinics and stick to hacking this year, since she was becoming short strided with the contact they were asking for in clinics.

 

[Dasher66]

The mare was about 8yrs. She was calm and cooperative, didn’t object to being ridden just wouldn’t take a consistent contact.