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  Discussion on Care for Damaged tongue and lips
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Posted on Sunday, Jul 29, 2001 - 1:56 pm:

I need help for a wonderfully kind and talented horse that was abused with a bit as a two year old. The abuse tore the tongue and corners of the lips leaving scar tissue. The horse was subsequently rescued and well-trained in dressage and jumping. Now ten, the horse is very willing but still suffers from discomfort when the bit contacts the corner of the lip on the right side. All appropriate equine dentistry has been performed. The vet removed some scar tissue from the tongue to make the horse as comfortable as possible. The horse uses a medium width french link snaffle and is ridden with very quiet hands. But the scar tissue at the corners of the lips is like the skin of a burn victim -- not pliable and moist. Ointment is applied to the corners of the mouth before every bridling but still the right corner of the lip will occasionally open up into a sore. The bitless bridle is not legal for dressge. Any ideas, surgical techniques, anything to make this good horse more comfortable?

Posted on Sunday, Jul 29, 2001 - 3:54 pm:

There is a surgery where you remove the scar tissue and pull normal skin over the area and suture it down. Cases have to reviewed individually for prognosis. It does require quite a long healing time, 45 days should do it in most cases.
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Jul 29, 2001 - 5:50 pm:

Brooke,

I picture that you may already have the bit low in the horse's mouth; no wrinkles in the corners of the mouth. If not, it is quite acceptable as long as the bit isn't hitting the horse's teeth.

Also, if time isn't crucial and showing isn't the priority, you can readjust your cues so that something other than a holding of the right rein means "turn right" or whatever. It would be bridleless riding, but with a bridle on the horse.

Holly

Posted on Tuesday, Jul 31, 2001 - 1:52 pm:

Thanks for the advice -- all ideas welcome! Placing the bit lower in the mouth so the horse can hold it in a comfortable place is a good idea and one I'm experiementing with. I'm also having another vet review the current condition of the mouth and previous surgery to see if there's anything more that can be done medically. Keep those good ideas coming -- this horse deserves the best.

Brooke

Posted on Thursday, May 16, 2002 - 1:24 am:

Just an update: Use of one of the original Myler Brothers specialty bits which has a link in the middle like a snaffle but doesn't pull up into the corners of the mouth allowed the old wounds in the mouth to heal. It's taken ten months of very careful training, however, to convince the horse that the bit is not going to hurt. Since her initial response to any sudden move of the bit on the right corner of her mouth was to fling her head up violently (and yes, rearing) I was very proud of myself when, at a recent dressage clinic, the instructor said the mare was going beautifully and would be capable of winning the dressage at the highest levels (of eventing that is). The horse is still a little stiffer tracking right than left, but watching our training videos it doesn't look obvious from the ground. Along the way I've gotten an amazing education.

Brooke

Posted on Thursday, May 16, 2002 - 7:00 am:

Thanks for the update Brooke your post may help others with this common problem.
DrO
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