Youngster not accepting the bridle after the dentist

[jules9203]

Looking for advice - I have a 3yr old that I'm starting to back. She was shown as a 2 & 3yr old and accepted her bridle with no problem. Before starting lunging her I had the dentist come and remove her wolf teeth (August) She fought the sedative and the vet was worried about the amount he had to give her. Tried putting a bridle on again 2 weeks after and she hates it. Nothing awful but snorts when I enter the box with it and tries to evade having it put on. I am only using a happy mouth as worried about a metal bit hitting her teeth. I am putting it on daily, using treats as a reward, she is reluctant but slowly getting better. I have not used any pressure on the bit - such as side reins - and won't until she accepts it.
I was told by the dentist that she wouldn't remember the experience but she definitely does. I am in no hurry but if anyone has been through something similar I'd appreciate their advice

 

[Red-1]

IME, when they don't have much bitting experience then they are more sensitive to a 'bad' experience. I have had a baby who threw his head up just as I was removing the bridle and the bit ring caught on a tooth, he threw his head higher and reversed and it all went to cr@p. One of those Noooooo moments.

It took weeks of bridling and off-bridling to come right. In fact, we had to change to a nylon bit for the re-train.

 

[be positive]

I cannot think why they said she would not remember the experience, sedation is not the same as a GA they are aware of what is going on just unable to react as they would without it, not to mention the sore area left after removal which could have taken a while to heal if they were deep, she will get better with time.
If she were mine I would probably give her a complete break for a couple of weeks and then use a bendy rubber bit, a nathe or possibly a metal one covered in latex and something tasty as I am not keen on the happy mouths as I have rarely had a horse that was happy in one.

 

[jules9203]

Thanks people, pretty much what I thought. the wolf teeth were tiny (almost popped out) so not deep but clearly had an effect. Happy to take the time and have purchased a nathe bit. Fingers x

 

[jules9203]

just to up date you - Colgate toothpaste on the bit has worked. She's even happy with my Bomber bit with toothpaste. (other toothpaste brands are available)

 

[Glitterandrainbows]

Literally going through this same thing with my mare now and it’s so upsetting her going from happily accepting the bridle to full on rearing how did it work out for you if you don’t mine x

 

[Littlebear]

I had this exact situation, after dentist, could not get a bridle on 3 yr old. My friend lent me a nathe bit which was much easier to manage than one that moved around and softer in the mount and I just did it slowly every single day, that was about 8 months ago now and you would never know it had ever happened, can pop the bridle on easily now. I did try nice tasting stuff on the original bit first and that didn't help at all.

So time and patience and the right bit needed x

 

[Glitterandrainbows]

I honestly feel like are relationship is never going to be repaired I tried the putting stuff on the bit she’s reared and me strikes out and it’s becoming unmanageable x

 

[jules9203]

Glitterandrainbows what a shame. My youngster is fine now 99% of the time. Its involved lots of treats and bribery but it's worked.

 

[daydreamer]

It might just be worth checking how she is with her ears/poll. I’d guess there is a very small chance the dental work (gag etc) put something out of alignment and it is an ear issue not a teeth/bit issue. Is she still happy having her ears flicked backwards and forwards and having the end of the lead rope around her ears?

 

[Birker2020]

My 10 year olds wolf tooth was removed, it was described as big but easily removed and was done under sedation, I don't believe any pain relief was administered although the vet gave sedation. I text the EDT after to ask when the horse could have a bit in his mouth and was told over the weekend. The removal was done on the Wednesday. In the end I waited until the Monday and long reined in the dually instead.

Mouths heal incredibly quickly, memories do not.

I still remember having 4 teeth out 39 years ago (to make room for a brace and existing teeth to more naturally grow) and the nurse holding my legs down on the chair. It was one of the most traumatic things to have happened to me, that I have gone through and I was quiet for a week following the procedure.

 

[Glitterandrainbows]

She will let me put it on with no bit but she’s now rearing and flipping over at every attempt I’m absolutely gutted I’ve had physio out no back pain getting her scoped for ulcers then she’s going to a natural horsemanship trainer as now she’s learnt the rearing she’s doing it all the time I’ve been in tears over it it’s awful

 

[McFluff]

Will she go bitless at all?
just wonder if this would help the two of you get confidence back - on top of getting the other physical checks done too.
I hope you find a solution. But do be kind to yourself, you may need to find a way to regain your own confidence too, it’ll be a spiral at the moment.
There seems to be huge variance in how long to leave after tooth removal before using a bit. My 11 yo had his wolf tooth removed this summer. the vet advice was he’d need a couple of weeks with no bit, but the surgeon told me four weeks. I used a bitless bridle (as wanted to keep him fit for a championship) And left him four weeks.

 

[Glitterandrainbows]

@McFluff she is a three year old and is rearing and flipping herself over I think the dentist has trigged something else it’s all very blizzare hopefully I don’t loose my confidence as I didn’t mind rearing/bucking etc but watching my horse flip herself backwards is stomach turning

 

[McFluff]

Apologies, I misunderstood how bad it was - hope you get to the bottom of it. Sounds very much like something has gone wrong. If not physical, then maybe mentally.
if nothing physical is found, is turning away an option? She is young enough that a few months off could help reset her mentally (obviously won’t work if there is a physical cause needing addressed).
good luck.

 

[Glitterandrainbows]

Yes definitely I’ll try my best on her as she’s had the worst life before she came to me it’s probably mentle physio has been out vet next then turn out but if I can re back her in future I will try bitless as her mouth is clearly a place of trauma for her x

 

[southerncomfort]

Did the dentist use a stand to rest her head on?

Probably not relevant but I've noticed some have the stand very high and it looks uncomfortable for the horse.

I'd be wondering if something like that has led to a pinched nerve in the neck. Nerve pain can be horrible, like a lightening bolt.

Hope you find the cause, it sounds distressing for both of you.

 

[paddi22]

happy mouths aren't great bits for stuff like that. it would be worth getting a bitting specialist to see what's going on, there can be so much stuff going on with mouth shape/tongue type etc that can make a huge difference. we get rescues in and we tend to go back to the start and rebit them as if they were starting again. give them time to process it properly and get used to the new feel in their mouth. but def stay away from a happy mouth, they are large chunky bits that can just be too big for some horses and press on sensitive parts.

does the behaviour start as soon as you go near her with bridle/near poll area, can you headcollar her ok?. or does it only start once bit is in?

 

[SpotsandBays]

My youngster had a bitting issue after having laser surgery on the corner of his mouth (and then the subsequent cleaning, checking etc). He’s still abit sticky about accepting anything in his mouth, but I started clicker training him. Once he understood the concept of the click, I moved to the bridle and when he opens his mouth to accept the bit , I click (the clicker is small enough that it fits nicely in my hand), then I can put the bridle over his ears and give him a treat.
Whilst we’re not 100% there yet, it’s now much quicker for us!
(he’s 16.2 so when he sticks his head up I can’t reach ?)

 

[Glitterandrainbows]

No stand was used she starts when u try out the bit in will let me head collar saddle etc no problem bridle with no bit fine let’s me look at her teeth ?? But as soon as she feels the bit near her she’s up

 

[Glitterandrainbows]

I’ve rang a different vets as I can’t leave this hanging over me untill Christmas I need to know if she’s in pain

 

[Apizz2019]

Ours had craniosacral therapy after dental work - it helped no end as I think the gag and stand had made him stiff and sore.