How to stop horse grinding teeth?

little_flea

little_flea

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Our big mare grinds her teeth when she gets a little tense - it has improved since we got her two months ago, but she does do it for example at competitions - the dressage judges don't love this... Does anyone have any tips on how to stop her doing it? It is definitely related to tension so presumably the key is to get her to relax more, but are there any other things I could try? She is ridden in a Neue Schule salox training snaffle.
 
My mare did this when I first got her, at one yard I worked on we used to cover the bit in saddle soap if a horse did this, but as she was loath to take a contact i didnt do this with her, ignored it and she very rarely does it any more!
 
I have had that suggested to me - to rub a bar of saddle soap over her teeth - but I don't see exactly how this would work? Does the horrible taste stop them from grinding (but not mouthing/taking contact?) I just don't see how putting something disgusting in her mouth is going to relieve the tooth grinding...? Seems a bit mean!
 
It doesnt stop all taking the contact, but mine was a pig to get to take a contact, i used to rub it on the bit and they simply didnt want to mouth excessively on the bit so tended not to grind their teeth.
But yes IMO was a bit mean hence i didnt do it to my own mare. My instructor just told me to ignore it!
 
Teeth have been done, saddle and back as well - it is of course possible she is in pain, but she now does it a lot less than we first got her and it really does seem to be related to tension.
 
I agree with the ignore option - but she was marked down in dressage for doing it the other day so I was just wondering if anyone had any handy tips...
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Yes, maybe look into something to help her be calm and ignore it. It's a shame, but some horses do teeth grind when stressed. Hopefully she will get braver and feel your confidence and it will get less.
 
My horse does this too! He always has despite having teeth, back, saddle etc all checked regularly so not a pain thing. I think it is because he doesn't really like having a bit in his mouth (have tried loads of different ones, if he doesn't grind he sticks his tongue over them!). Infortunately he doesn't like hackamores either so he'll just have to put up with it! My boy tends to do it when you first take up a contact but then once you get him concentrating he stops. He also sometimes does it in his stable with nothing in his mouth, normally when he's trying to get my attention! He's done it for the two and half years I've had him and probably did before. Doesn't seem to affect him badly at all. Let me know if you find some way to stop it!
 
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