sore pink skin from Grackle

K

kentridingclubber

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 August 2013
Messages
57
Visit site
my horse gets sore above the corner of his mouth from his grackle/flash.
Its not done up too tight (if anything i need to punch another hole in it but its doing the job for now)
bridle is kept clean
Its not new he has this bridle over a year and its always to a degree made his pink skin a little sore (as did previous bridles x2)
I've tried skin hardening gel from Gold label - seems to do little/nothing noticeable
I keep it as sweat free/clean as possible.

Any other ideas? For regular work its not too bad but for 'bit chomping' exciting stuff the skin is becoming a little aggravated.

I used to Vaseline my ponys grackle for hunting to make her pink skin more comfortable - however would regular use of vaseline weaken the skin further?
 
Would you be able to ride without a flash/grackle? If not, I'm all out of ideas.

Although, I vaguely remember in the past someone using white spirit on a horse whose head collar was rubbing, it worked, but I've never seen or heard of people using it again, so I'm guessing it could potentially be a cruel way of dealing with a problem or just plain risky.
 
Shysmum said:
erm, if anything made my horse sore, I would stop using it immediately :confused:
Click to expand...

obviously by the term 'sore' I don't mean as in pained, but the skin is a bit pinker after work and I wouldn't wish it to become broken or such as obviously being pink it is weaker than the other side of his face which is black

My horse is a cantankerous brute so trust me if it was sore he wouldn't let me put the bridle on him at all.
 
Elvis said:
Would you be able to ride without a flash/grackle? If not, I'm all out of ideas.

Although, I vaguely remember in the past someone using white spirit on a horse whose head collar was rubbing, it worked, but I've never seen or heard of people using it again, so I'm guessing it could potentially be a cruel way of dealing with a problem or just plain risky.
Click to expand...

I've heard of that too but don't know enough about the method therefore not comfortable trying it - sounds a bit iffy doesn't it.

and no unfortunately cant go without. Well not strictly true - I could if I never rode out with anyone else, never got out of trot and never did anything that resembled anything vaguely exciting or enjoyable for horse.
 
Last edited:
I think you might mean Witch Hazel, not White Spirit? Witch Hazel used to be used for toughening up the skin after girth galls as I remember...?
 
He might be getting wound up because of the discomfort of the noseband, perhaps you could give it a go with a plain cavesson and see if you can get him to relax more?
 
oo er my reply has gone.

Using the word sore was obviously not the right description - to clarify hes not in pain, never broken the skin etc. If he was in any form of discomfort he would point blank not let me get a bridle any where near him - as he did not when his teeth needed doing, or indeed like the time he decked me because his saddle was about 1 millimetre out! He is not the type to put up with it so I really have no conerns on that front.

The pink part of his skin is the corner of his mouth where the bit comes out. Perhaps I shouldve been more descriptive/added a pic - why you cant you edit posts on here anymore?!

He is in a cavesson for dressage - he still comes away pink after work at the corner of his mouth.
Not using a flash wont eliminate the problem. Even the bit rings rubbing his face as they do normally will make him sweat and therefore his skin pinker.

He sweats a lot which doesn't help. The slightly pinker skin is quickly back to a normal colour. I would like to strengthen the skin to assist his level of comfort and make it stronger - if this is a possible thing.
 
Last edited:
Is it a grackle or is it a flash?

I also would remove any piece of equipment that made my horse sore. If the skin is pink then it is inflamed and that means the horse will be at least feeling some discomfort and it is probably pretty sore being in such a sensitive place.

If you really must leave it on then I would suggest checking the fit, I can't see why it would cause pink skin unless it was pinching skin between it and the bit, if this is the case the grackle or flash or whatever it is must be too low

Oh just seen your description, so it is the bit causing the problem? Have you tried a different mouthpiece or a different metal.

I would give a couple of weeks off so the skin can heal properly and then have a think about a different bit
 
Last edited:
Wheels said:
Is it a grackle or is it a flash?

I also would remove any piece of equipment that made my horse sore. If the skin is pink then it is inflamed and that means the horse will be at least feeling some discomfort and it is probably pretty sore being in such a sensitive place.

If you really must leave it on then I would suggest checking the fit, I can't see why it would cause pink skin unless it was pinching skin between it and the bit, if this is the case the grackle or flash or whatever it is must be too low
Click to expand...

He is in a cavesson for dressage - he still comes away pink after work at the corner of his mouth.
Not using a flash wont eliminate the problem. Even the bit rings rubbing his face as they do normally will make him sweat and therefore his skin pinker.

Perhaps its more a reaction to sweat / getting hot? Obviously as the other side is black I wouldn't notice.
 
Wheels said:
I would give a couple of weeks off so the skin can heal properly and then have a think about a different bit
Click to expand...

there's nothing to heal...nothing is broken...skin is not marked or broken...skin is pink-ER for a few minutes then is normal. Therefore was wanting some preventative advice - i.e. there is no injury to cure

Never mind, wish I could rephrase post "Goldlabel skin hardening cream - is there anything more effective to help pink skinned horse"
 
FGS if your horses skin goes pink and then back to normal it is most probably sore during riding.

What type of bit are you using?
 
Put Vaseline where it rubs! Or if your any good at sewing then get sheepskin of a girth sleeve or something and then sew with velcro to fit on strap where it rubs :)
 
Wheels said:
Could the skin be getting trapped where the bit ring joins the mouthpiece?
Click to expand...

this was my initial thought when I got him years ago (his skin as always been this way in various bits/bridles whatever) but if it was surely it would have hurt him/broke the skin/cause him pain/caused him to react when ridden (he's the type to chuck himself on the floor over a splinter)

I've got some rubber bit rings to try with the waterford - however part of me is wondering if its a reaction to getting hot and sweaty then this may not help but we shall see.
 
Tern said:
Put Vaseline where it rubs! Or if your any good at sewing then get sheepskin of a girth sleeve or something and then sew with velcro to fit on strap where it rubs :)
Click to expand...

do you think Vaseline weakens the skin over time? I thought I heard this but am not sure and cant find any actual evidence that is does...
 
If it's just the skin changing tone slightly when he's worked then I wouldn't worry too much probably the blood vessels pumping and being pink skin it's just showing more and will always be more noticeable. If it's his mouth actually becoming sore due to the bit, maybe the bit material doesn't suit him, could try wrapping the bars in latex. If it's due to the position of the leather work then all you can do is either move or remove it or pad it out slightly.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top