Dramatic behaviour change - due to teeth?

[AbbyT90]

Hi everyone,

Before reading further, please do note I have already contacted 2 equine dentists and am waiting on whoever offers me an appointment first (difficult time of year!) So please don't worry that help for this pony is being delayed while I wait for forum replies.

I have had this Welsh section mix for 4 months now and he was out of work for nearly 2 years as past owner went to uni. I've had quite a lot of behaviour and rudeness issues with this pony, but through time I've managed to make lots of progress with his ground manners.

In the past few weeks however, his behaviour has suddenly changed dramatically and I want advice as to whether this is because he is fitter or due to pain in his mouth?

I'm fairly sure there is an issue with his mouth. He holds his head sideways in trot, snatches the reins to put his head down, headshakes when ridden and wasn't doing this when I got him, he seems to be eating normally but then he is incredibly greedy! He had his back checked when we got him as he was very lame behind but this was found to be due to being stiff and very unfit.

In the last few days his behaviour is a lot worse, he is constantly fidgety when he was reasonably calm before, he's become suddenly very anxious when ridden alone and he's started taking off to the arena gate with his head right down so I can't pull him up! He's become very difficult to ride all in all. Could all of this be down to the pain in his mouth?

Once we had identified that there was pain I switched to a bitless bridle, but this doesn't seem to be making much difference, this morning I tried being really mild and lunged him in a headcollar, but as soon as he went into trot his head tilted to the side, despite there being no pressure on his head or bit in his mouth.

So what I want to know is, does the above behaviour sound like teeth issues or is he starting to take the mick a bit and test his boundaries now he's fitter? Horses that take off do worry me and while I will never get off and "let him win" I cannot punish him for reacting due to pain - he's got every right to communicate his feelings! But what if it isn't pain? Should a bitless bridle have helped or does it depend on the source of the pain? And should he be taken out of work while I wait for a dentist? Ideally he needs to stay in work as he has Cushings and I need to manage his weight - even if it's loose schooling.

Any advice would be appreciated and again I am trying my best to get the earliest possible appointment from a dentist, replies to this thread won't delay that.

Thanks in advance

 

[Leo Walker]

Has he seen a physio/back person? If hes still doing it in a headcollar its more likely to be pain elsewhere, and its always worth doing if they have had a lot of time off and then come back into work

 

[AbbyT90]

Yes he had a physio out when we got him as he was lame when he started back into work - their advice was to work him through it as his back was fine and he did come sound after a couple of weeks.

That's not to say nothing has gone wrong since! It has been suggested his poll could be out

 

[be positive]

Depending on what is wrong with his teeth using a headcollar or bitless bridle may make no difference as the sore or sharp bits will still be painful to some extent, trotting can really hurt just from the extra movement, he may have something more serious going on, an abscess, a fractured tooth or diastema could all cause the symptoms you describe, if a dentist cannot get to you very soon I would get the vet rather than leave it any longer.

 

[AbbyT90]

He's having the dentist out on Monday thankfully! So will hopefully know a lot more after then, it's only a full day off so I don't have to worry about him not having work until I know more! Poor boy, I hope it's something that can be fixed on the spot.

 

[Booboos]

Has he seen a vet? Of course his behaviour could be down to pain and you need to get a vet out ASAP. I am very surprised at a physio recommending you ride a very lame horse because his back was fine, there are many more reasons that could cause a lameness.

 

[Tnavas]

To me this pony is crying out for the chiro - if you know in the past he has had trouble then you need to consider regular visits. Though head tilting is often teeth related, make sure the dentist gets right in to those back teeth - I once had a horse that despite regular dental care had problems, I moved out of the area and so had to get myself a new dentist - he used a gag and we found the previous dentist - who didn't use a gag had missed the last bottom molars and a large spike was growing into the roof of the horses mouth. Took a lot of removal but what a change in the horses attitude and eating.