Split Mouth - Laser treatment?

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pootler

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A friend of mine is having real problems with her Medium level dressage horse. He had a split in the corner of his mouth where the bit sits, it heals and then opens up again. She rides him in a bitless (Dr Cook) bridle whilst it is healing and then schools him in a snaffle. She isn't heavy handed or using a strong bit. The problem is that it keeps re-opening.

A friend of a friend mentioned someone with the same problem who had their horse's mouth lasered. Does anyone know anything about this or have any other suggestions on how to deal with it?
 
When it has healed & she has a bit in him again, has she tried putting loads of vaseline where the split usually opens each time she rides him?
 
Js mouth does this and it is really annoying. I would suggest not using vasaline as this softens the mouth and makes it split easier. I managed Js ok in a rubber bit but it split again yesterday so going to hack him in a hackamore for a few days and hope it heals in time for my lesson.


If you find out about any solutions, can you let me know?
 
Aloe Vera gel is great!
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The thing about the rubber bit is that she needs to compete in a double. I don't think you can wear a rubber bit as part of a double bridle for BD.
 
Hannah is exactly the same... she mouth the bit A LOT and I think it is this moisture which is then causing the cracks. It was bleeding yesterday but she does not seem in any discomfort. I am not heavy handed at all, in fact quite the opposite
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And like you have said it heals and then comes back
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I have a very soft bit in, but I think the one that initially caused it was a Myler... you can't get much softer than that!
 
also i found that rubber bit actually made my mares worse as it seemed to cause a friction burn.....i stuck to a plain snaffle and my sintructor says hemeroid cream is good :s i found that one my mares was healed i could keep just adding vaseline and then it didnt split at all.
 
I used to have the same problen when I first got my mare, although on both sides of her mouth. She's grey with a very pink fleshy mouth. My instructor at the time told me to put vaseline on corners of mouth and keep riding. I didn't like doing it but after a few weeks her mouth was fine and it's never split since.

If it's only on one side could it be the bit is not quite even or could your friend be stronger with one hand than other?
 
Friend used to cover the edges of her bit in latex rubber which seemed to help, but I suppose you can't use that for Dressage comps?

Can you not just put the bit lower in the mouth for competing so it's not causing a 'smile' / wrinkle at the bars?
 
I'm glad I'm not the only one that has this problem. My Horse is exactly the same, and it is also on one side. The odd thing is that it must be sore yet he doesn't seem to bother. I did think about a plastic/rubber bit but again worry that friction might happen. I was thinking about a Dr Cook but just don't know if he'd take to one.
 
I have heard about someone using a laser pen but i don't know much more than that, well other than yes it is supposed to be quite good, it encourages faster healing.

I used to work on a hunt yard and one of their horses used to have a permanently slpit mouth, it was really nasty, they only rode her on hunt days twice a week, the rest of the time she was take out on a headcollar and lead rope to get fit!! Worst thing was the vulcanite cheltenham gags they used we really bady chewed which meant quite sharp edges and they were too tight to replace them, so poor rosie had no chance of her mouth healing!!
 
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