Gumbits

[FfionWinnie]

Tried these on my horse who grinds his teeth. They claim to eliminate tooth grinding and I do think they halved the frequency of it and the intensity also when he did do it. Does anyone use them, do you use them every ride (he doesn’t do it hacking very often at all). I believe with him it’s an anxiety response to new situations (the beach for instance was the most stressful trip ever!).

But what I don’t know is will it break the habit if I used them every ride because his mouth is a little wetter or just use them for dressage because at 10 quid a packet they are the most expensive sweeties in the world?

I did wonder if I could sneak a polo instead and if that would work as well lol.

 

[SpringArising]

Number one ingredient is sugar so I'd probably look into something else or only using them very very occasionally.

Or just use an 80p pack of soft mints!

 

[be positive]

I use a chewy/ soft mint rather than polos for anything that is tense, a sugar cube or two can work but some of mine wont take sugar and they are a pain to deal with once you are on, it gets a bit more sticky around the bit and can help, not tried gumbits so no idea if they compare but at the price it is worth trying at home.

 

[Batgirl]

Use softmints

 

[Abbeygale]

I've not tried gumbits, but feeding a couple of polos / mints before I get on definitely helps my tense mare get the idea that she needs to move and relax her mouth

 

[ester]

If they worked I'd probably consider making my own

 

[FfionWinnie]

Number one ingredient is sugar so I'd probably look into something else or only using them very very occasionally.

Or just use an 80p pack of soft mints!

Lol surely two tea spoons of even pure sugar on a 660kg plus horse less than daily is unlikely to make a big difference to his life?? He gets absolutely no other refined sugar or hard feed. Only hay.

I got some 65p softmints and thought that was a good deal lol

I use a chewy/ soft mint rather than polos for anything that is tense, a sugar cube or two can work but some of mine wont take sugar and they are a pain to deal with once you are on, it gets a bit more sticky around the bit and can help, not tried gumbits so no idea if they compare but at the price it is worth trying at home.

Thanks. I bought some soft mints he will eat anything at all at any time so that part isn’t a problem. Will keep the gumbits for special occasions

Use softmints

Will do!

I've not tried gumbits, but feeding a couple of polos / mints before I get on definitely helps my tense mare get the idea that she needs to move and relax her mouth

Thanks. I really didn’t think it would work at all so was quite pleased to find out it did!

If they worked I'd probably consider making my own

We can’t all be domestic goddesses! I don’t even make food for me!

 

[ester]

nah just a skinflint given that they are pretty expensive! Can you not rope miniFW in?

 

[SpringArising]

Lol surely two tea spoons of even pure sugar on a 660kg plus horse less than daily is unlikely to make a big difference to his life?? He gets absolutely no other refined sugar or hard feed. Only hay.

I was referring to the effect on teeth over time as opposed to giving him a sugar spike.

 

[FfionWinnie]

nah just a skinflint given that they are pretty expensive! Can you not rope miniFW in?

Ha she has less leisure time than I do, she’s only awake 12 out of 24hrs

 

[sjdress]

Made no difference to my mare as she just swallowed them!!! I used really juicy cooking type apples which worked wonders!