What age to bit youngster?

[Ali27]

I’ve got a ID x Welsh filly who will be 3 in May. I got her in July and she was pretty much unhandled as had been living in a herd of other youngsters. She’s settled in beautifully with my other two and is now leading beautifully, just started desensitising her with spooky stuff and started clicker training. The vetting picked up that she had wolf teeth and she has dentist coming in April to remove. Should I wait to bit her until then? I just want to do my absolute best with her and make everything a positive experience for her! She is my absolute forever horse ?

 

[ihatework]

In general I’d say rising 3 and after wolf teeth removal

 

[The Xmas Furry]

In general I’d say rising 3 and after wolf teeth removal

I agree, def get wolf teeth sorted and well out of the way 1st, then crack on.
Many 3 yr olds are shown in hand bitted.

 

[Ali27]

Great, thank you? Will wait until mid April when wolf teeth are removed!

 

[maya2008]

When you need to… it’s not a difficult or long process, so nothing to worry about. I usually get dentist out first if I can to check teeth. I will say that my dentist advises them to have a check at 2yo to identify any retained caps that could cause misalignment of adult teeth. You can then discuss any wolf teeth - depending on placement they don’t always cause a problem.

 

[dorsetladette]

As @maya2008 said when you need too.

I've bitted colts at 18months and left some until they were 4 years. Robin was bitted before he was 2years and wears a rubber mouthing bit for showing. Reggie is 2 this year and has worn a bit a couple of times while been groomed. For me biting is really just getting them used to having something in their mouths. They won't really start to feel pressure in their mouths until they are long reined from the bit and start ridden work.

From experience I find the earlier you introduce them to things the easier every process becomes as most of the elements are 'normal' to them.

 

[Marnie]

Eric will be three in June. He had his wolf teeth removed last year, I left it a few months and then bitted him with a loose ring french link. I haven't done anything with him in it other than let him stand, eat hay and have led him round while bitted but with a rope attached to his headcollar rather than the bit. I do want to start walking him round the farm and village and just want to have a bit more control if needed.

 

[MarvelVillis]

I bitted my gelding when he turned 3 and after a dentist check up and wolf teeth removal

 

[GreyDot]

Mine is also rising three. Waiting for the dentist (due next month) to remove wolf teeth and then I will bit him once everything is well healed. Will take it from there and see how we get on. Exciting times ahead

 

[Ali27]

Mine is also rising three. Waiting for the dentist (due next month) to remove wolf teeth and then I will bit him once everything is well healed. Will take it from there and see how we get on. Exciting times ahead

I spoke to my instructor today and she said to wait for dentist before bitting her? Let’s see a picture of your baby? I’ve just started doing lots of desensitising/ groundwork with mine these last couple of weeks. So excited as she’s my first baby! Not going to back her until she is 4 though?

 

[tallyho!]

Don't bit until your EDT says it's OK to do so, I'd say as a rule of thumb. If there is an issue, then you will have bitting issues going forward and will be an unpleasant expereince, which you don't want with a baby.

 

[GreyDot]

I spoke to my instructor today and she said to wait for dentist before bitting her? Let’s see a picture of your baby? I’ve just started doing lots of desensitising/ groundwork with mine these last couple of weeks. So excited as she’s my first baby! Not going to back her until she is 4 though?

This is my boy - 3 in 2 months. Lovely, lovely horse.

 

[SpeedyPony]

I'm going to go against the grain here and say get them used to wearing a bit (not necessarily using it for any aids yet) before any dentistry- that way they have a positive/neutral experience with people handling their mouths before the uncomfortable one.

 

[ycbm]

This is my boy - 3 in 2 months. Lovely, lovely horse.
View attachment 105824

Looks Iberian?
.

 

[Caol Ila]

Yeah, don’t be me. I introduced Hermosa to the bit last year. She was super chilled about it. Great!! Wore it a bunch of times (not doing anything), then one day she decided she didn’t want it in her mouth.

Got vet out, and she removed a loose wolf tooth. I left it for a while but she’s now very doubtful of the bit. Cock. Starting her bitless at the moment. Will climb that mountain later.

In hindsight, I should have got the vet to check her mouth before introducing the bit.

 

[Ali27]

I'm going to go against the grain here and say get them used to wearing a bit (not necessarily using it for any aids yet) before any dentistry- that way they have a positive/neutral experience with people handling their mouths before the uncomfortable one.

She will be sedated for dentist visit. My dentist was a vet so sedates the majority unless really calm and chilled.

 

[tallyho!]

I'm going to go against the grain here and say get them used to wearing a bit (not necessarily using it for any aids yet) before any dentistry- that way they have a positive/neutral experience with people handling their mouths before the uncomfortable one.

Their brains don’t work like that from what I’ve read… a bit like how horses hate travelling but will happily walk into the trailer in the first place.

 

[SpeedyPony]

tallyho!, post: 15093703, member: 74082"]Their brains don’t work like that from what I’ve read… a bit like how horses hate travelling but will happily walk into the trailer in the first place.

I might be wrong, but it's certainly done no harm with mine- and I like to think the gag came as less of a surprise, since having foreign objects in their mouths isn't abnormal. I'm sure it wouldn't help if anything really traumatic happened while they were having their teeth done, but I feel it's a good step in their education to minimise the stress of having their mouth/face fiddled with, rather like handling feet at home will help them relax with the farrier. If you're sedating though, they'll probably be too stoned to make much of it anyway! ? (Not against sedation btw, just also like mine to be chilled with rasping and non-painful work sober, if possible- that way if I get a dentist out instead of the vet I don't need to order sedation)

 

[tallyho!]

I might be wrong, but it's certainly done no harm with mine- and I like to think the gag came as less of a surprise, since having foreign objects in their mouths isn't abnormal. I'm sure it wouldn't help if anything really traumatic happened while they were having their teeth done, but I feel it's a good step in their education to minimise the stress of having their mouth/face fiddled with, rather like handling feet at home will help them relax with the farrier. If you're sedating though, they'll probably be too stoned to make much of it anyway! ? (Not against sedation btw, just also like mine to be chilled with rasping and non-painful work sober, if possible- that way if I get a dentist out instead of the vet I don't need to order sedation)

I do see your POV. In my mind, an EDT should be looking in their mouths at a young age… mine certainly were before even yearlings. So you’d have that advice early on. Even if you bought a youngster at 2/3 you’d surely get someone to have a look and IME at least the dentist was very gentle. We did have to have wolf teeth removed and that never affected the bitting process. In fact had I bitted without knowing the wt were there it might not have gone so well. Each to their own I guess.