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Discussion on Chomping of mouth under saddle
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Member:
kriseyc
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Posted on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 - 11:22 pm:
I'm adding to the long list of behavioral issues.
In the past week 2 times, my horse, while under saddle "chomped his teeth". It was not licking or chewing...it was not grabbing the bit and pulling forward. he was at the trot, ears forward and focused. one time was with me riding, and one time was with my trainer riding. He is in excellent health, saddle fit checked 2 x per year, teeth checked by very good equine dentist 2 x per year, musculoskeletal system in great condition,excellent ground manners and disposition.
He is doing mostly training level/first level dressage movements mixed in with trail rides and a good amount of turnout. He has a good work ethic. In times when he has been a bit under stress during lesson's he has exhibited other slightly anxious behavior, but not the teeth chomping. He will just bite down and "clack" his teeth.
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Member:
leslie1
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 27, 2008 - 9:48 am:
I dont know but what popped into my mind was...maybe a ulcer? or maybe just an anxiety response. Is he an OTTB? does he do it only under saddle or will he do it when he is anxious, like at feed time?
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Member:
sunny66
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 27, 2008 - 10:46 am:
Could be ulcers... when you/trainer ride him and he does this, do you back off and get back to just relaxation on the training scale? My horse does this, and while it used to be a pain issue, now it's a relaxation issue. I back off whatever I'm doing and do something simple that he knows how to do, get the relaxation (you and him) and the chomping goes away. btw, sometimes I think, what's the matter with you? YOU can do this! But sometimes he just can't, has to start over... just listen to him  Good luck!
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Member:
terrido
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 27, 2008 - 11:23 am:
I agree with Aileen! If this is just a very occasional thing most likely it is a "OMG! I cannot do this!" action on his part. His way of reacting to what's being asked, especially if what is asked is a bit of a push beyond his comfort zone. It certainly does not sound like a reaction to the hands on the reins. If there is not another physical reason for this 'behavior' or action, then it may just be his way of saying "this is really hard for me to do!"
Go back to basics, re-ask yourself have I prepared him well for what I am now asking?? etc. Go from there and of course keep listening to him.
If this is not the case, or if this extreme chomping continues to become more frequent check the bit itself, the fit of it in his mouth or positioning of it on the bridle to how it sits in his mouth, etc. Or yes could be something new happening in his mouth.
Good on you for doing all the right things to help him be as comfortable as possible!! Still there may be a new issue starting to happen in his mouth, or this bit is no longer "right" for him for some reason.
Sometimes they just decide a certain bit is uncomfy and begin to protest it. I went thru a few to find one my mare wouldn't literally destroy by harsh biting of it as soon as it was in her mouth. But find one she is very comfy with I did. (I finally decided to just measure her mouth and get a more 'ergonomic' bit for her. And the issue of her extreme biting of it disappeared instantly.)
You have to become a bit of a detective, as you well know. Chase a clue and resolve or eliminate it, one at a time.
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Member:
kriseyc
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Posted on Wednesday, Aug 27, 2008 - 8:55 pm:
Thanks so much folks, for your welcome thoughtful responses. He is not an OTTB. He is a 13 yr. old paint. I have worked successfully with him for close to 5 years.
He has been in lighter work the past 5 weeks or so,instead of longer workouts 6x per week. he is being worked shorter periods (1/2 hour or so) about 4 x per week. The work is basically w,t,c with plenty of bending, warm up, cool down etc. Just enough to keep him relatively fit, but certainly not heavy training mode and "pushing" him. He was exhibiting the behavior simply at a trot. No shoulder/haunches in or major collection...
The bit is one has has been in for 6 months (kk ultra wilcox/hoyost) that he took to happily with no issues. I think I will have dentist check a little earlier than due, and also look at ulcers possibility, although he has no discomfort what so ever around thorax/girth ( I know this is not tell tale) has hay in front of him almost always, turned out 7 + hours a day and eats only 2 cups of grain per day and is very mild mannered about life in general.
many thanks again all,
Ike
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 28, 2008 - 6:50 am:
Teeth clacking is often a sign of nervousness in the horse and you do see it while bitted.
DrO
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Member:
kriseyc
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 28, 2008 - 9:34 pm:
Hi Dr.O. "Clacking" is the word I was looking for. I appreciate your response and will try to omit situations that cause him to be uncomfortable.
Many Thanks,
IKE
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Member:
zoey
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Posted on Friday, Sep 10, 2010 - 9:15 am:
My 8 year old Quarter horse gelding does the same, except instead of clacking he grits his teeth. Regardless of what bit we are using bit or whether my trainer or I am riding. He is a very sweet quiet horse,, anytime he is under pressure,, he grits his teeth. Such as when we are asking him to collect, DrOp his face abit more. We do not yank, or crank him back to the point of being uncomfortable. This gritting sounds terrible,, I actually am concerned about what it is doing to his teeth. He is not a cribber, or wood chewer, he is a quiet content horse for the most part. When he does grit, I usually try to break his concentration by scratching his neck,, rubbing behind the saddle, anything to take his mind off of doing this. I don't want it to become habitual. Course there is nothing I can do when in the showpen.
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Member:
cgby1
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 14, 2010 - 1:16 pm:
Sherri,
My mare does the same thing whenever we start teaching something new. It goes away as she gets more comfortable with the new exercise. Right now we are teaching her lateral movements and she is clacking her teeth. It is temporary with her, you will probably notice that as he gets more experience with what you are doing it will stop.
Cynthia
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