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Help please!!!! Gelding HATES the bit....

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#1 ·
My problem is that our older gelding Sky hates the bit. The second I put it in his mouth he starts chomping at it. Sometimes he even kinda tilts his head tilts inside and down, this is usually only when I put contact on but sometimes he does it just because (I'm very careful my reins are even). He's getting a little better with his chomping and head as I've just been leaving the bit in without getting on. And he is getting better at bringing his head side to side. He just can't get over the bit. Any ideas? It's driving me crazy.

Also I use a loose ring snaffle I've tried thick and thin and none make a difference.
 
#2 ·
Has he had his teeth checked out? Or his wolf-teeth removed? My horse never had his out but for many horses it's a problem. How old is he? Is he new to riding? are you sure it's fitted properly?

Sometimes using the bit your using the horses tongue can get pinched.
 
#4 ·
I hate to repeat whats been said already but it does sound like there could be a teeth issue. A friend of mines gelding did this and when the dentist came out his whole jaw was out of alignment, had to have some major work. He was a different boy afterwards. If not, I would say you need to try a different bit. May I ask what kind of training he has? How old? What do you do with him. I have never had an issue like this, but I have spoken with people that say their horse does much better bitless. I don't know if its an option for you, but if you exhaust the other options you might consider it.
 
#6 ·
Thanks everyone...

He's 14is (I'd have to check his papers). He is broke but he has only ever had a bosal until I started working him. he has never has his teeth done. How do I check his wolf teeth? I've tried a eggbutt snaffle and it does not change anything. What bit would you use? I had this in the horse health page and it seemed everyone thought it was a training issue. Now it goes back to his teeth!!!

I'd like to do more arena work with him, so I would like to get a bit on him.
 
#7 ·
Definitely sounds like a tooth issue, if he's 14 and they've never been floated!

You need to get a vet out ASAP, and have them take a look at his teeth and get them done.

Poor thing! No WONDER he's pitching a fit about being bitted.
 
#8 ·
If it's a single jointed bit he's probably complaining about the pinching and poking single jointed bits do. It pinches the tongue and pokes them in the roof of the mouth when the rider picks up contact. Our mustang was like that with the single jointed bit....chomped like mad, put his tongue over the bit, pulled on the reins....we put a bit in his mouth that has maximum tongue relief (Myler Level 3 mouthpiece) and all that stopped once he figured out it wasn't going to be uncomfortable when we picked up contact on his mouth. Some horses will tolorate single jointed bits, but a lot really don't like them.
 
#21 ·
Some horses will tolorate single jointed bits, but a lot really don't like them.
In the last ten years I have ridden 200-250 horses in single-jointed snaffle bits and not one of them had a problem that they didn't get over in the first couple days. The vast majority of horses have no problem with a snaffle. Let him get used to it and get his teeth floated. Make sure the bridle is adjusted correctly.
 
#11 ·
The Wolf teeth are in the gap between their front and back teeth, right where the bit goes. Some horses never have an issue because of the way they're placed, but the majority interfere with the bit and cause discomfort. Be careful sticking your fingers in there,lol. Jacks were right up against his rear teeth, but IME they can be anywhere in there,lol. Whether its his wolf teeth or not though, he definitely needs his teeth looked at. I am sure he has hooks and maybe a few impacted caps, he will be a much happier boy after you get him floated.
 
#20 · (Edited)
The thing is, is he is FAT and does not have any cuts in his mouth. He is eating fine and does not go to the water to rince his mouth while he eats.
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Are you serious?

He is giving you the most obvious sign that his teeth bother him. You apply pressure with the bit and he reacts.

Why are you asking us if you if you are certain you know its not his teeth? Go ahead and try any bit you can find. My experience (with stubborn, cheap boarders) is you will make your horse headshy, crabby and no fun what so ever to be around.
 
#13 ·
I know i am repeating what has already been said but i would certainly have his teeth checked. I ride a gelding that started to do the same thing you have described and we automatically assumed it was his teeth. We had the dentist out who said that it could have been his wolf teeth but he wasnt convinced. He advised us to drop a couple of crushed up asprins in his feed as he may et hedaches i have never heard this before but it sure did work! Hope you get it sorted
 
#15 ·
Human aspirin?

See, for me it's not as simple as calling the vet out. I need a dentist (we don't have one here). Our vets here do NOT have enough knowledge to do the teeth. I've been advised not to let them touch my horses teeth.
 
#16 · (Edited)
Where the heck do you live that there are no equine vets who can perform a float? Because I never, ever want to go there, even by mistake.

If he's 14 y/o and NEVER had his teeth floated, they need to be done, period.

Giving him aspirin isn't going to take care of his teeth, for cryin' out loud!

YOU'RE his owner and caregiver and it's up to YOU to make sure he's taken care of properly. Medically, dentally, and nutritionally.

Making excuses, being cheap, or trying some idiotic 'cure' you heard about from someone on the interwebz, doesn't cut it for me. Either take care of your animal the way he deserves, or get rid of him.
 
#17 ·
We don't really have equine vets, just all around vets. I'm not going to have a vet here do his teeth and have more problems from it, or need them to be done shortly after. I want someone who knows 100% what there doing not someone who just knows the basics. It takes time and money to get someone down here. I'll look into it more later on today. It's also up to me to make sure the person floating his teeth knows what he or she is doing:)
 
#18 ·
You are a walking excuse hu?

Do you realize how far back a horses teeth go? There is no way you can know if there are ulcerations back there. Have you stuck her fingers all the way to the back and felt the edges of his teeth? I am betting you would cut your finger.

A large animal vet doing a float is better than no float!!!!!!! I personally have found that my vet does a better job than the dentist. How can you say that it is either a dentist or nothing?
Next time you need stitches are you going to say it is a plastic surgeon or nothing? Or is having your primary care doctor stop the bleeding good enough? For sure the scar will be less with bad stitches than with no stitches.

Call the freaking vet.

And for the record, even non-bit control devices will be causing your horse discomfort at this point, since they will push his cheeks into those sharp teeth.

But I guess your horses comfort does not really matter......
 
#22 ·
You are a walking excuse hu?

Do you realize how far back a horses teeth go? There is no way you can know if there are ulcerations back there. Have you stuck her fingers all the way to the back and felt the edges of his teeth? I am betting you would cut your finger.

A large animal vet doing a float is better than no float!!!!!!! I personally have found that my vet does a better job than the dentist. How can you say that it is either a dentist or nothing?
Next time you need stitches are you going to say it is a plastic surgeon or nothing? Or is having your primary care doctor stop the bleeding good enough? For sure the scar will be less with bad stitches than with no stitches.

Call the freaking vet.

And for the record, even non-bit control devices will be causing your horse discomfort at this point, since they will push his cheeks into those sharp teeth.

But I guess your horses comfort does not really matter......
It's not fair to say my horses comfort doesn't matter to me. my horses are everything to me. I just have to get all the facts straight because it will not be cheep.

Not once did I say I was not going to get his teeth done. It's something I need to call and talk around to people about. I had this in the health forum and the responses seemed more like a training issue than a teeth problem. I am NOT getting a vet to do it. I will get a equine dentist when I can get the money and he can come down.

I'm just getting an opinion on this thread. I've also talked to people who have seen my horse and know the vets here.

Thanks everyone else for the quick responses.
 
#32 ·
On the point of having his teeth checked as soon as possible, I agree. As for how he is reacting to the bit, that may not be all a tooth issue. If he has never been ridden in a bit at all, then he is no different than any other unbroke horse as far as bitting/training goes. He is just doing what I see nearly every young horse do the first few times they get bitted; he is fiddling with the bit and trying to get it out of his mouth. That doesn't mean that he hates it, it just means that it is new to him and he isn't comfortable with it yet. My suggestion, quite fiddling with it. Just give him a job and ride him like you would any other working horse. If you give him something to get his mind occupied, he will forget about the bit and after that, it will be no big deal to him.
 
#34 ·
On the point of having his teeth checked as soon as possible, I agree. As for how he is reacting to the bit, that may not be all a tooth issue. If he has never been ridden in a bit at all, then he is no different than any other unbroke horse as far as bitting/training goes. He is just doing what I see nearly every young horse do the first few times they get bitted; he is fiddling with the bit and trying to get it out of his mouth. That doesn't mean that he hates it, it just means that it is new to him and he isn't comfortable with it yet. My suggestion, quite fiddling with it. Just give him a job and ride him like you would any other working horse. If you give him something to get his mind occupied, he will forget about the bit and after that, it will be no big deal to him.
This is what my instructor thinks he's doing. She checked him and that's the only problem he has that can be tooth related so she told me if he was hers she would wait to see if there was another problem.

Thanks for the training advice.
 
#35 ·
This thread kind of reminds me of a neighbor who never got her horse's teeth checked until he was like 15 years old.

But the regular vet wasn't good enough in her opinion, so she got the equine dentist out and they sedated the horse and worked on him a long time until he was a sweaty mess and couldn't eat properly for two weeks.

I would have been mad if my horse couldn't eat properly for two weeks.

Meanwhile, I get my regular vet to check my horse's teeth and do a regular float job once a year. Never any problems. To each his own I guess.
 
#36 ·
Stupid idea having horse(s) and not having an equine dentist close enough to you. I feel sorry for the poor thing! Horses should get there teeth done at least once a year. Down right appauling. Better a vet than nothing!
 
#38 ·
Stupid idea having horse(s) and not having an equine dentist close enough to you. I feel sorry for the poor thing! Horses should get there teeth done at least once a year. Down right appauling. Better a vet than nothing![/QUOl It's a very small town. Not the biggest horse place in the world, but it's better than other places. I'm getting his teeth done by a equine dentist. I called and they need to line up some more people, but it will be sometime this month even if no other horses need to be done. They will get back to me. He can wait until then....
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#40 ·
Yes human asprins! He is an ex jockey and used to do this with the racehorses. I would personaly wait and let him rest until you hear what the dentist has to say :).

I also think that everyone should give you a break and stop attacking you when they dont know your circumstances! I hope you get it all sorted.
 
#41 ·
oh yes, another vote for the equine dentist. I got my horse at 4 and she never had had her teeth done. The dentist was really flabberghasted when she saw how many points Fri had and had to come out twice. Luckily her wolf teeth were flush with her molars and were already wiggly, so they came right out. I got them looked at before I attempted to put the bridle in, but since your horse gone over ten years without one, putting a bit in even after you get him teeth done, you might still have issues because he will remember the pain and discomfort he felt. I've never used one, but what about a happy mouth bit?
 
#42 ·
Another vote for the equine dentist, or vet or whatever, here. Teeth are always one of the first things I have done on a new horse. If your boy is older and never had it done, he is almost certainly in need. Not every horse needs it done every year. I've had a horse go 5 years without it being done (but still being checked every year) and I've also had a gelding that absolutely HAD to have teeth work every six months because he had ramp mouth. You should have them checked every year when they get their vaccs, and then have it done as needed.

As an aside, and by no means a fix for necessary medical attention, but just curious, if he has always been rode in a bosal, is there any reason you can't continue to?
 
#44 ·
As an aside, and by no means a fix for necessary medical attention, but just curious, if he has always been rode in a bosal, is there any reason you can't continue to?
Not really any reason I can't keep riding in a bosal. I have just been using a rope halter and lead or a bosal and he's starting to drop off the pressure and bend side to side. All our horses are bosal/hackamore(sp?) horses. I just want them to get used to a bit as well as a bosal.
 
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