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  Discussion on Mouth issue
Author Message
Member:
Miamoo

Posted on Monday, Oct 11, 2004 - 9:46 am:

Hi Dr. O and others,

We did a prepurchase exam on a Quarter Horse for a student. She has been a bit fussy with the bit in her mouth but settles in and rides nicely. We took her to the vet for a prepurchase exam. They found wolf teeth on top and took them out. She seemed much better after and she is now home. I am still seeing some mouth fussiness on the lower right side of her jaw. (I tried to worm her from the right side and she had a fit but when I gave it to her from the left she was fine). If I push with some pressure on the lower right side of her jaw she throws her head but doesn't seem to mind a light rub. She doesn't mind the harder pressure on the left side. The vet did not see anything other than the top wolf teeth in her mouth.

I would like to know if there could be teeth troubles under the gums on the right side (I don't know - a lower wolf tooth that is impacted?) that the vet could not see, or should I be looking in a different direction?

Thanks,

Ella :-)
Member:
Christos

Posted on Monday, Oct 11, 2004 - 4:35 pm:

Hi, Ella,
It is very likely that the horse is simply not accustomed to being handled from the right side.
Even in the unlikely situation that a horse has been equally disensitised from both sides, most handlers are not trained as well, so they are a tiny bit clumsy on the off side. A tiny bit, albeit enough to get a different response from the horse.
If the horse has experience with a bit, some resistance to pressure on the right side is also to be expected, as this is the side that will most often be abused, since most horses are left handed.

Christos
Member:
Miamoo

Posted on Monday, Oct 11, 2004 - 6:36 pm:

Hi Christos,

Thanks for the reply. I do think it is more than not being accustomed to work from the right side because she reacts as though to pain - quick and with surprise. What I can't decide is if she is reacting to actual discomfort, or to the expectation of discomfort. I do see the possiblility of her having been handled roughly in the past and she anticipates what might hurt.

What I got from your post that is really helpful is the thought of working more from the right. If it is the anticipation of pain, a lot of right handed, gentle work should help relax her.

A good thought!

Thanks,

Ella :-)
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 12, 2004 - 7:41 am:

There is not a lot of hiding of pathology in this area and if visually the area is normal, reaction secondary to pain from disease is unlikely. As Christos outlines above, horses often "learn" to be messed with from the "on" (left) side but not the off side. Work gently on this side only reward good behavior only and this will be better soon.
DrO
Member:
Miamoo

Posted on Tuesday, Oct 12, 2004 - 9:27 am:

Thank you Dr. O,

That puts things into perspective. I was unsure if there could be hidden problems. A 5 year old, beautifully moving Quarter Horse mare that a 10 year old child can walk, trot and canter on safely is a find. We will do one more mouth exam to make sure nothing was missed previously. If that is clean we will do a lot of gentle work and some experimenting with what will make the most comfortable bit for her.

Thank You,

Ella :-)
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