Teeth Grinding etc

TheChestnutThing

TheChestnutThing

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I have a just turned 4 OTTB filly who insists on grinding her front teeth throughout her whole ride.
Despite the fact the she is only hacking and walking and trotting and a tiny bit of canter with the occasional arena work (nothing hectic just to let her have some fun) and has no pressure on her at all.

She is also a very difficult ride. In the 3 months I have had her I have yet to have one pleasant ride on her without her throwing a tantrum (not nasty, doesn't buck/rear) (think little girl not getting her own way) and stopping and staring and not moving and when asking for a trot going faster and faster until she canters. She also cannot walk on a loose rein. As soon as you offer that to her she tries to bolt.

Other than that, she is in perfect health. Everything has been checked (teeth, ulcers, saddle, feet, physio, chiro etc). She is a big girl at 16.2hh and really has an her way or the high way attitude. When on the ground she is as sweet as pie. Respects me. All ground work has been done and is continued daily.

I am not a novice rider. I would put myself in the experienced category. I school and bring on youngsters for showjumping and I compete my own hose at medium showjumping. This filly is the most difficult I have worked with and I am getting nowhere with her.

Please help and advise. And please no nasty comments. I can provide pictures and lineage if needed.
 
What you describe sounds like a horse that is not happy at all.

To me, teeth grinding is either a sign of stress, temper, or pain. Humans do it too when it pain, stressed or tense, and the same can be said for horses. Couple that with 'tantrums' or not wishing to move forward, then trying to bolt (possibly wishing to move away from pain/discomfort?) and I would be very suspicious that something else is going on.

Whatever the reason, I would be getting the vet out again and asking them to seriously look at what could be going on. Keep a note of all behaviours to discuss with them. You have a list of what can already be ruled out, but there is much more that can be explored, and I wouldn't be entirely happy that there is nothing wrong when horse consistently shows these signs.

Hope you get to the bottom of it.
 
As stated she has been checked out more than once. She is not in any pain whatsoever according to the vets (3 different ones) and specialists. I am at my wits end at what to do, she is also on brewers yeast as a supplement.
 
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Has she had a proper break since leaving racing, at least 3 months turned away totally may help, it may be nervous tension from being pushed during racing, either through pain or just being unable to do that job and her mind just cannot cope, even if her body is not in pain it may all just be too much for her.
 
be positive said:
Has she had a proper break since leaving racing, at least 3 months turned away totally may help, it may be nervous tension from being pushed during racing, either through pain or just being unable to do that job and her mind just cannot cope, even if her body is not in pain it may all just be too much for her.
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I think you may be spot on. She is a very immature horse in her mind. She had a month off to get used to being a horse, then got put into light long hacking 3 times a week and an in hand walk on the other days.
 
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