Teeth Grinding

[rcm_73]

My 15 y.o TB grinds her teeth! It is usually when she is 'hyped up' but can be whilst schooling or even out hacking particularly when she's keen to get home and being held back from legging it! Has anyone else got or had a horse that does this???!

 

[Bossanova]

One of my sister's horses name is 'Grinder' Gives a great head start in the dressage phase *not*!!
He grinds mainly when he is working hard or a bit stressed, he's currently having accupuncture and it settles down after each session.
Have you tried changing the bit? Sometimes a tight flash will discourage them a little and we had one that completely stopped grinding when we put him in a myler comfort snaffle

 

[cariadssogreat]

Teeth grinding is usually either a sign of pain or stress, the best option being to try and eliminate the cause - sometimes easier said that done! Good luck

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[lizlew]

I have a mare that grinds her teeth, usually when she is waiting to be turning out in the morning or when shes worried about something, dosent have any affect on her, she quite happy!!!!

 

[elles]

My boy M went through a little stage of this again when he was "hyped up" after some fast work out hacking. Seems to have stopped now though...

 

[rcm_73]

Bitting is a nightmare..had the mare 12 months, still haven't found 'the one', maybe try a Myler comfort. Tried the Myler short shank for SJ she didn't seen to like it.

Do use a flash but she still manages to grind. Grinding did stop when hacking out but have recently moved yard and she's started again so could be the stress element. Have had teeth checked and floated previously. This mare also sticks her tongue out when she's fighting the bit..

 

[MillionDollar]

My danish mare grinded her teeth really bad when she was working hard and became tense. So i changed her bit to a Myler high wide comfort snaffle and she has completely stopped it now!!!! I def recommend it, i think she hated the tongue pressure/nut cracker act on her tongue and this completely stops this.

I also put her in a mexican noseband for a short while, but she is now back in her caverson noseband.

 

[4whitesocks]

Hmmm - noticed my boy grinding or chewing the whole way around an hours hack on Sunday - I actually didn't consider that it could be grinding as I am in fact a bit dim....ride him in a french link and assumed he was just chewing the bit (god that does make me sound really dim!) not something I've really noticed with him before but how does you tell if it's grinding teeth and not chewing the bit (again please note the fact that I am dim!!)

 

[4whitesocks]

ignore my previous post - he is definitely grinding - rode him tonight and he was grinding about 70% of the time....I'm thinking it's stress as it's a new yard and he takes a while to settle so I'll keep an eye on it

 

[rcm_73]

Hmmm..sounds like the same problem I have..on a new yard too. My mare makes an awful squeaking noise as she grinds...sounds like a squeaky saddle!!

 

[pocket]

Ralph does it sometimes when he's waiting for his dinner, or agitated. Became worse when Flyer died, but settled after a month. He has never done it whilst riding though.

 

[H's mum]

Have you thought about using something to help him cope whist he's feeling stressy? That may be the way forward with this one!

Kate x

 

[H's mum]

That sounds like a reaction to gastric acid to me - when a horse gets stressy or agitated his levels of gastric acid raise - which can cause them to grind their teeth and salivate - also some wind suck and make gurgling noises - It may be worth using a supplement to help him with this - you'd be surprised how settled he would become!

Kate x

 

[4whitesocks]

Did some googling last night on this and one reason given was a snaffle too high in the mouth - when had lesson last week instructor said he though bit was too low and put it up - that was Sat and we had grinding Sunday and last night....am hoping that's the connection...

gonna post on other concerns too so it could be a combination of stress and the bit position....

H's Mum when you mean 'something to help him cope' what would you suggest?

 

[H's mum]

I have PM'd you!

Kate x

 

[rcm_73]

Have heard of the gastric acid reaction, what supplement(s) can help with this?