Could my horse have bruised gums?

[PnO]

My horse has been working really sweetly over the last few months, everything seems to have come together at last! However the last 3 times I have schooled him he has reverted back to his old ways and been horrible, and i've reverted back into some of my old habbits when riding. I schooled him on fri and he was abit better than the previous 2 times where he was awful and I wanted to cry! So today thought i'd start a clean sheet and forget about how bad he's been and just ride him like I have been doing over the past few months and hopefully he was just having a bad few days. They have recently been turned out into there winter grazing so I thought perhaps the extra grass might of sent him a bit hyper for a while. He started out ok today, his trot work was quite good at times but his canter work was awful, and seemd to just get worse and worse

He seemed very uncomfortable in his mouth and was like a brick, he was either leaning on my hands or going completly over bent to try and avoid any kind of contact. When untacking him I thought i'd take a peek in his mouth and noticed that either side of his mouth where the bit sits his gums were almost black, could this be bruising? I don't normally ride with strong hands when he is working properly but today and the last few times i've schooled him he's been quite gobby with his mouth which has unfortunately made me be quite gobby with my hands. I feel really bad as I hope it's nothing I have done to him. For flatwork and hacking he's ridden in a D ring rubber snaffle. He wore his ducth gag on saturday to jump in at a show but seemed ok in than, although he was still quite inconsistent in the contact.

Sorry it's long, thanks for any advice x

 

[teddyt]

Yes, horses can get bruised gums. They can also get bone spurs on the jaw from bit trauma. Rubber snaffles are quite fat, so although cushioned there might not be sufficient room in his mouth.

I will also state the obvious to get the teeth and saddle checked if you havnt already.

Dont want to give you a lecture but getting gobby back with a horse that is showing discomfort/unsettled head is never an answer. im sure you know that though

 

[PnO]

I know this is never an answer, I honestly don't think i'm a harsh rider. I've had lessons with a 4* eventer and she comented on how quite I sat and how quite my hands were, I just got quite fustrated with him today as I know how well he can work, which I know will just make him worse, and we'd just end in a battle so I got off. His teeth are due, a good friend of mine is an equine dentist so I think i'll give her a text and see if she can come out tomorrow!

 

[vicky_sut]

They can bruise there gums an eventer that i use to look after was so strong x country that he would bruise his gums. I would defo get his teeth and back checked. And I agree with teddy that a rubber bit can be too fat for some horses mouths especially if they have a large tongue.
I would personally lunge him in just a head collar and try and borrow a hackamore or other bitless bridle till the bruising has all gone. At least you have noticed and are doing some thing about it

 

[PnO]

Contacted my dentist friend and she's coming on Fri at 3.30pm! Vicky_s I will give him atleast a week off ridden work and just lunge him in a head collar to keep him ticking over and then re-assess the brusing. I used to have him in just a normal metal loose ring french link and then changed to the rubber snaffle as thought it might be kinder, but looking at his mouth he does have a largeish tounge and also has quite a narrow small mouth. Think I'll change back to his french link for a while

Thanks, I hate to think he's in any sort of pain and if theres anything I can do to help him I will x