Has anyone used GumBits?

Y

YardGeek

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Just wondering if anyone had used these or something similar for a grinder? Its more a habbit thing as no problems with teeth back and tack, it happens when he is just chilling on the buckle as well..
I've had the usual advice of saddle soap but am not loving that idea as I know how horrible that stuff tastes! (long story ;) )

They seem quite expensive and I don't want to shell out for something that doesn't work and haven't managed to find out much about them!

Any opinions, good or bad, would be hugely helpful :)
 
No but would be interested to know if it works. I spend a bloody fortune buying these from Germany http://www.kahls-products.de/index.php?mID=2 for Maggie who is notorious for her tooth grinding when she is in that mood. Can safely say they do nothing whatsoever and Mags is NOT to be fooled into putting them into her mouth, even when mixed with an otherwise special treat. Sigh.
 
I know people who have used them with mixed results.

Some horses they are fab for, they keep their mouth shut, no grinding and much less gobbyness.

Others they don't touch. Friends horse like sticking his tongue out and they didn't make a bit of difference to him.

Also I'm pretty sure I have heard that you need at least 2/3 to make a difference.
 
I have some but haven't used them because since I bought them he hasn't done it (of course!). I bought them following a recommendation of someone on a clinic and I saw her horse change from grinding very loudly to absolute silence but as i didn't know the horse i can't vouch for whether it was the gumbits or something else that caused him to stop
;-). Sorry i know that's not hugely helpful but it's the only bit of "evidence" that i have seen.
 
little_flea said:
No but would be interested to know if it works. I spend a bloody fortune buying these from Germany http://www.kahls-products.de/index.php?mID=2
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These look really interesting as I've done some digging about found that the key part of the GumBits are a beeswax pellet, and I've managed to source a company who makes the pellets in the UK; then I've found a recipe for peppermint creams and I think I can re-create them for a fraction of the price. It's reasuring that there is already a product using JUST wax as it gives me peice of mind that I'm not being un-realistic! :)
 
YardGeek said:
These look really interesting as I've done some digging about found that the key part of the GumBits are a beeswax pellet, and I've managed to source a company who makes the pellets in the UK; then I've found a recipe for peppermint creams and I think I can re-create them for a fraction of the price. It's reasuring that there is already a product using JUST wax as it gives me peice of mind that I'm not being un-realistic! :)
Click to expand...

A dressage rider I know does just this. They saw gumbits abroad, worked out the ingredients, tried both gumbits and their home-made versions themselves (on the basis that if they expected the horse to eat them then they should be willing to check they weren't foul!) and now makes them for their horses!
 
I use them on my ex-racer to stop him grinding, have written a few blogs on them...

http://www.gifthorseeventing.co.uk/...e-teeth-grinding-bit-chomping-eliminated.html

I give him a small handful before I bridle him every time I ride and it has almost eliminated his grinding, he will very occasionally grind is he gets very stressed/excited.

One thing I would say is that sometimes consistaency varies between packets, and if you feed them when mounted eg just before going in to do a test. make sure that you allow enough time for your horse to munch them up, because they do make the contact very 'mobile' to begin with.

I think they are great. Dustry's mouth is in top top condition sadly the scrunching noise was something he learned to make during racing and is not related to any dental issues so these are a fab way to stop him making the noise and he thinks he's getting a lovely tasty treat each time.

p.s. i have eaten some to see what they are like, bit like soft mints! :)
 
I bought some the other day. They worked slightly on one horse but he was very very reluctant to even try them, mixed them with some feed but he refuses to even eat them. Tried them on 2 of my others just to see and neither of them will even contemplate trying them, all 3 just spit them out. So for me a complete waste and I have nearly a full bag left. :confused:
 
I wanted to try them on a horse I ride who often grinds in walk (medium and free), frequently in trot and never in canter (no physical issues found) He gets good submission and contact marks generally. My trainer had a fit and said something about quick fixes, and grinding is usually the result of tension somewhere and she was sure it was in his poll. I thought no chance, this is a relaxed laid back horse who works nicely in a good frame, is soft in the hand etc.

I kid you not that the grinding has 99% stopped after a few months of hard work now we have cracked how to "unlock" the poll and get him much more supple. And if it starts I know how to stop it which I never thought was possible. Amazing trainer! His canter has always been naturally through which is why I guess he never grinds then.

Just food for thought, worth seeing if you can identify and fix the actual problem.
 
Anyone wanting to sell their left over bags of gumbits PM me and I'll buy them off you.

Clear Light interesting that your horse managed to work through the issue and it was related to something physical, sadly Dustry has had everything checked, massaged, tweaked etc and it is just down to a bad habit he picked up in racing (when his teeth were awful) I am going to start giving him GB's every other session now and in-between try to fool him with polos....we shall see how this goes....
 
I've also tried them for my grinder. They worked an absolute treat the first time I used them but since then he won't touch them! have tried mising with feed, mints etc but he just won't take them.
 
Anyone with a bag or half a bag they don't want. Il buy them off you. Just pm me :) Might work on my very very fussy in the mouth girth! She loves mints aswell!!
 
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