Teeth Problems?

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LittleSoph

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How would you expect a horse to react if it had pain in it's teeth/mouth?

Sorry, I know it seems a vague questions but there is a point to it and I didn't want to influence anyone's answers by explaining further.
 
It varies. The horse might throw head up high when ridden or tilt head. Any change in behaviour re head carriage would suggest teeth need attention.
 
My 2nd TB if she has the tiniest bit of sharp tooth would carry her head to one side when ridden, quid and let me know she was not happy.

Chancer when he is teething or recently had a loose wolf tooth was a little heavy and unresponsive on one rein but you would only have know this if you rode him regularly.

I have our horses teeth checked every six months - got into the habit of doing it twice a year with my golden oldies and now my two are rising 5 and have a lot going on in their mouths I am keeping to frequent check ups.
 
yes, bolting, pulling, yawning and any kind of evading are all classic avoid pain reactions,
of course they can also be from bad bitting, poor bridle fitting or cr*p riding,

bolting can also be a panic attack type reaction, i have had several horses who i would term as as psychological rescues, 1 of which was unfortunately inclined to blind panic take offs when stressed or when something inadvertently tripped a bad memory.

is there any pattern to the problem?
 
The four year old in my sig...
I bought him about three months ago and he's been as close to the 'perfect horse' as I've ever met!
Today a friend came to ride. I warmed him up and he was fine. She rode for about ten minutes and was about to call it a day but just thought she'd see if she could get a canter... and he rodeoed round the school and she fell off...

Then I got on, not having that, convinced he was taking the P because she was a stranger. I trotted round twice and suddenly we went from trot to flat out gallop in second! We did three laps of the school and I tried everything to settle him, sitting back and pulling, half halting, lightening my seat and giving him his head, etc etc. And in the end had no option but to bail out.

It's SO out of character for him! He's the sweetest horse and just never does anything wrong and never says no to anything you ask of him. At his first show the red arrows flew over us and whilst everything else went mad he just stood and watched them.

I know he's young but I know his full history and bought him as a safe horse to work with and get my confidence back, and this has knocked me for six.

The vet is coming out first thing in the morning and giving him an MOT. Fingers crossed it's just something physical that can be easily sorted, and not something more sinister.
 
What about quidding hay or food, away from riding this is a definite sign? Have a look around for small balls of food or hay dropped either in the stable or over his door, also an unwillingness to have the bit in his mouth when tacking up.
 
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