Horse won't let anything near his mouth now....

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TequilaMist

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Vet(locum) came out to check my friends14.2 3 yrs old teeth a few weeks ago.He had been head shaking a bit and she wanted this excluded from the picture.The horse has had teeth checked/done by 2 vets previously with little problems.By the time this vet had finished blood was coming from his mouth and he was quite an upset youngster.Gag also collapsed.
Thing is now he won't tolerate anything near his face just backs up and tries to rear,can't get a muzzle on tho he was quite happy with it before.Same with bit won't accept it tho you can put bridle on without bit no problem.Again he has never shown any problems with bits prior to this incident -he has been shown in hand since a yearling.
Suggested sort of start from scratch again?? but any ideas to get him to reaccept the bit without making it worse.
He was going away to get backed this year but she obviously wants this sorted before that.
Thanks
 
TequilaMist said:
Vet(locum) came out to check my friends14.2 3 yrs old teeth a few weeks ago.He had been head shaking a bit and she wanted this excluded from the picture.The horse has had teeth checked/done by 2 vets previously with little problems.By the time this vet had finished blood was coming from his mouth and he was quite an upset youngster.Gag also collapsed.
Thing is now he won't tolerate anything near his face just backs up and tries to rear,can't get a muzzle on tho he was quite happy with it before.Same with bit won't accept it tho you can put bridle on without bit no problem.Again he has never shown any problems with bits prior to this incident -he has been shown in hand since a yearling.
Suggested sort of start from scratch again?? but any ideas to get him to reaccept the bit without making it worse.
He was going away to get backed this year but she obviously wants this sorted before that.
Thanks
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Sadly Vets, generally not good with teeth, better to get an equine horse dentist.....not helpful for you, now. Your horse, I am sure will be OK in a week or so's time - but for next time......
 
Other vet tbh was actually really good but yes you are right.Said to my friend we'll go back to using horsedentist.
We used to use one but he disappeared and they travel to here usually when they have a certain amount to do so vets were used and just carried on
 
Sugar water or honey. Just work quietly with him in a headcollar, put the sweet stuff on your finger and work your finger around the side of his mouth and in between the teeth, as you might when asking him to open for a bit. When he's got that, add the bit on a simple bridel, with more sweet stuff all over it, just present it in front of his mouth while you work his mouth as before with your finger. Let him lick the bit, and remove it. As soon as he opens his mouth, allow the bit in, but gently remove it straight away, just let him have time to taste the sweetness in his mouth. I think you can take it from there in easy stages and all will be well. Be prepared for it to take hours and a few sessions, and it might just take minutes instead, who knows?
 
More thoughts, you could undo one side of the bit, to make it less upsetting for him, see how it goes. The key is to get him looking down for sweetness on your hand and the bit, rather than bringing the bit up to his mouth.
 
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