Teeth Grinding...why

[stormox]

do some horses develop this? My rising 5 year old has just started it (his teeth are done and he is in a plain eggbutt snaffle and loose cavesson noseband), my friends horse whos rising has just stopped doing it of his own accord, he started it when he was 4 too. But I have known a lot of older horses who do it all the time they are ridden. Has anyone had experience of this, and what did they do about it?

 

[StormyMoments]

Mine used to do it because he was in pain. He also did it if he didn't like the bit he was in.

 

[justabob]

My TB grinds his teeth when anxious or excited, when ridden and in the stable when I am making his feed up. He has always done it and is not in pain.

 

[Fransurrey]

Both of mine grind if anxious and upset.

 

[eggs]

One of mine grinds his teeth when he is concentrating. We always say it is a good sign when he grinds his teeth when riding him as that is when he goes the best!

 

[ihatework]

It is more often than not tension related

 

[Embo]

My old horse did it when stressed/anxious, only when ridden.

 

[oldie48]

This. Mine did it a lot when ridden, I've been spending a lot of time encouraging him to relax when ridden and it has helped. It also helps if I keep my hands very quiet once he's relaxed down.

It is more often than not tension related

 

[Spring Feather]

One of my trail riding horses did this but only when she had a rider on her back who was trying to make her do things she knew she wasn't supposed to. I always had her directly behind me on the string so she always told me when her rider was up to no good!

 

[Bav]

My ex show jumper does this, but I've only caught him doing it towards the end of XC or SJ schooling and only in walk, teeth etc all fine so I've put it down to him being excited. Never caught him doing it in regular schooling or hacking regardless of how hard he's worked.

 

[Charlie007]

It is usually pain related, possibly ulcers??

 

[justabob]

It is usually pain related, possibly ulcers??

Utter rubbish.

 

[Greylegs]

It is usually pain related, possibly ulcers??

... But not always!! .... My highland does it when he's cross about something, such as being made to stand on grass without being allowed to eat it!!! 😃

 

[PolarSkye]

Pops has done it intermittently since I've owned him . . . usually related to tension and/or finding something difficult under saddle, and very occasionally when being girthed up (he is quite ticklish/touchy about his general girth area and we are a) tactful about how we handle him; and b) feed him a high fibre/oil diet making sure to eliminate as much starch and sugar as possible.

P

 

[Echo Bravo]

My heavyweight cob did it when we got him back from Rossdales and he was in pain.