Help with really fussy/mouthy horse..

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EquestrianFairy

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Teeth have been checked 3 times by 3 different dentists, saddle, back- all clear and currently in a NS trans snaffle.. Yet my new young girlie can be really really fussy in her mouth- the slightest pressure and she chucks her head up in a very unhappy way.

I am not a heavy rider, just come back from a stockland Lovell camp and was told that it's certainly not my hands causing the issue. She is in a lovely comfort bridle and I check her mouth regularly for any bruising- there HAS been some over the past few months so dentist came out and filed down her upper and lower molers to cause some 'bit seats' in the hope incase any skin is getting caught it will stop it. It's not made any difference to her fussiness.

Can someone help me suggest something? Would it be worth trying a micklem bridle? A (nother!) new bit?

Help please :-(
 
You say three different dentists but was one as them a vet and has he been sedated for the dentals if not I would definatly get him done by a vet who specialises in dentistry under a lot of sedation in a gag to get his mouth open really wide and I would take him to a hospital which a good set of stocks that allows the vet to immobilise the head at the best hieght to get a really good look at the very back of his mouth.
 
Personally I would think you're better sticking with a dentist given it's their specialism. Have you tried different bits, I'm guessing you have, only asking as my boy seems to not tolerate anything which moves on his Tongue or a link, a loose ring pinches his lips. He would throw his head up a lot, this has improved massively with a straight bar and schooling. Hope you get it sorted. :)
 
xxMozlarxx said:
Personally I would think you're better sticking with a dentist given it's their specialism.
Click to expand...

I agree, a vet spends 3 weeks out of all those years of training on teeth. A dentist see's nothing BUT teeth and more likely to spot a problem a vet might potentially miss.

You might need to get a bit specially made to suit her. I know a couple of people have done this and it has worked very well for them.
These people are great!
http://www.abitspecial.com/
 
The first dentist was my vet- who I value greatly but I sought other opinions just incase (alas no one could see anything anyway)

She is a tbx cob and rising 6.

I have tried- Myers, happy mouth and now a NS.

They are/were all snaffles. The happy mouth caused the bruising and she chomped on it so much it became quite rough. (she chews a lot on the bit) the myler was a comfort one and the NS is the trans lonsenge.
 
What about a demi anky, or a straight bar? They would give her quite a different feel in her mouth to the three double jointed bits you have tried.

You could also try a hanging cheek or full cheek to give her more stability in her mouth. Mine was very fussy with a loose ring french link but better in something a bit more still. Maybe talk to one of the bit banks and hire rather than buy so you can try lots.

You could also consider hiring a Dr Cooks bitless for a trial, that would demonstrate to you whether it is the bit or the bridle. It would be cheaper than buying a micklem bridle, and i don't think you can hire a Micklem.
 
I would try to borrow a Micklem bridle to try. I have seen two horses recently that have contact/fussy mouth/acceptance issues go much more comfortably in them(and yes both horses had been checked for physical problems!). A new product has to prove itself to me and I was very impressed with the difference in these two horses.
 
The myler was a straight bar full cheek, the others were eggbutts.

None made any difference :(

I've actually just emailed a few places including the 'abitspecial' so thank you for that.

I've been looking to lend a micklem for months- never any around which is a huge huge pain.
 
How about a nathe bit, a flexible straight bar. No joint, no metal, nice and soft. Also fairly cheap.

Not so good if she has a dry mouth or very little space in her mouth but worth a try.

Have you only tried one myler? Might be worth trying one of their fairly simple jointed bits with a low port, maybe one of the dressage legal ones if you can borrow one. They tend to be marmite bits, but worth a try for a fussy horse.

Some of the other NS bits might be worth a try too, the starter or team up maybe with a slim mouthpeice if she hasn't got much room in her mouth.

Might be worth trying a change of noseband too. Try her totally without, and also with a drop and a mexican grackle, they don't have to be fastened tightly, but often a noseband can squash the cheek into the teeth and make the horse uncomfortable. A drop or grackle works in a very different place and can avoid this problem.
 
The 2 that spring to mind for very sensitive horses are either a nathe or a magic bit (also known as cambridge snaffle)
 
I so feel for you because ............ I am in just the same boat. Am also looking at trying a Nathe and a Peewee. Currently trialling a NS Verbindend, which is better than the slightly ported Myler that I was using. Nightmare! Keep us posted?
 
I've just tried my horse in a Sprenger Dynamic RS and she loves it! I tried neue schule (various types), myler, happy mouth straight bar etc and she was still very fussy with her mouth.

The sprenger bit has made a massive difference, so I'd say that was worth a try if you've not tried already.
 
Ideally I want to try and hire before buying-
I can hire the sprenger and the Cambridge one but not the nathe. She chews like mad and I can see the nathe getting eaten within days!

I borrowed a bit less bridle some time ago and she was exceptionally unhappy about the pressure action.
 
When you say fussy, can you see exactly what she is doing with her tongue etc as it may help pinpoint what sort of bit would suit her?

I would try a Hippus if you can, has really helped me with a few fussy horses.

Would also try a drop noseband as the lack of pressure and the stability it provides can improve some horses.

If you can find a Micklem to try, I definitely would. I bought one for my current fussy horse and really think it has helped him compared to his normal comfort bridle.

I have bought him a nathe (he draws his tongue up and down as opposed to chewing) but he seems to have settled with the hippus and micklem so I have left him for the moment.
 
She doesn't do anything with her tongue, that's what's so frustrating. She just chews and chews and chews and then any pressure and bam! Up her head goes along with my confidence :-/
 
My fussy mouthed horse went well in a Nathe french link as a youngster. She's now age 10 and goes well in a Happy Mouth straight bar.

She's regularly checked by an equine dentist who always tells me that she has an excellent set of teeth - every appointment since the age of 3 has involved nothing other than routine rasping. She's just fussy about her mouth!
 
joeanne said:
I agree, a vet spends 3 weeks out of all those years of training on teeth. A dentist see's nothing BUT teeth and more likely to spot a problem a vet might potentially miss.

You might need to get a bit specially made to suit her. I know a couple of people have done this and it has worked very well for them.
These people are great!
http://www.abitspecial.com/
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Not so many vets go on to specialist training in dentistry while in practice my horses dentist had never noticed his severe issue while he was with his previous owner the moment I sat on the horse to try him I knew there was an issue THB I did realise how awful it was for him he has had amazing care from specialist vets and while he faces ongoing work there is no way a dentist can do the work he has had it would be illegal.
 
EquestrianFairy said:
She doesn't do anything with her tongue, that's what's so frustrating. She just chews and chews and chews and then any pressure and bam! Up her head goes along with my confidence :-/
Click to expand...

She sounds similar to my mare- chews and chews and is very unwilling to go forward. Tried her with a bitless which helped, but recently got a Micklem (hubby picked it up as 1/2 price in Robinsons!) and she is so much better in it. I'd say it's worth a try if you can borrow one, or maybe see if one is advertised secondhand near you? If it doesn't help you can always sell it on?
 
Has your horse been taught correctly to yield to the bit?

It might be worth looking into getting a bitting expert out to assess your horse. I haven't used her personally, but I know a couple of people who highly recommend Elaine Sutcliffe.
 
She is backwards thinking but is learning to go forward nicely- trot and canter are establishing really really well. Her automatic reaction is backwards though so I appreciate this can be an additional issue, we are certainly coming out of the end of this though.
I've been looking for a second hand micklem for ages :( how was your hubby so lucky to find one 1/2 price?

Hannah- where is Elaine based?
 
Not to be the bearer of doom and gloom ............. I contacted Heather Hyde who has designed the Neue Schule bits and who years ago used to run a bit bank.

After having chatted with her about the quantity of bits that we have tried and none of which seem to be successful, she recommended that for my horse we trial two different bits.

She did however email me a paper that she has written on horses with TMJ, which it would appear seems to be more common than we would think.

I have the vet coming on Monday to check my horses teeth again - last year we could only go 9 months and he started quidding. Vet said there was nothing enough there that should have made him do that. Teeth rasped and he stopped. His feet grow quickly, so I guess his teeth do as well.

Am going to enquire about this TMJ issue - have never had a horse so fussy in his mouth.
 
I am wondering if it is actually the bit-
Why?
I am 3 weeks into owning a very gobby horse, who in addition to chewing like mad, also can grab hold & run through the bit. I just had a lesson with my extremely skilled dressage trainer. She had me riding him a lot differently ( basically on a longer rein) & commented that horses that are not working through from behind are often very chewy. This may not be your horses problem, but you have tried ALOT of bits, which suggests that the problem may lie elsewhere & the chewing is a symptom. Good luck!
 
My mare NEVER accepted a jointed of any kind...one day I tried the happy mouth straight bar mullen mouth....never looked back...different horse.

She used to COVER me in goo...whilst riding she would chomp and foam and it went everywhere...had dentist, vet, she had filing done using a drill !! nothing helped.

The day I put in the happy mouth, she took hold of it and it helped her confidence.

hope that helps.
 
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