teeth grinding, the four legged ones...

[3rdrock]

I have a nice TB mare (not raced) who just started grinding her back molars. Yes, I have had her teeth checked. She is going forward off my leg, her back is soft and she seems happy. If I turn up the work load that seems when it starts. She understands what I am doing, but the teeth get going. It is not the OMG!, but I dont want to get there. She goes in a mullen mouth full cheek snaffle. Interested in thoughts and what you have done to stop grinding.

[Seven-up]

I knew of a 2 year old stalled next door to 2 other horses who did it, and before too long the 2 year old had picked it up. She thought it was the neatest sound, and would gleefully make that duck quacking sound anytime you walked past her.


That particular instance aside, which was clearly based on imitation and not irritation with something, it usually seems to be an anger or pain issue. I'd be inclined to think your mare is either pissed off about working harder, or maybe there's something physical bothering her when asked to increase the workload. Is there anything specific movement that causes her to do it, like maybe asking for more intense collection or something like that? That might help in isolating the area that could be bothering her. If it's generalized, and it's just the "I don't feel like working harder" crankiness, maybe tone down the progression to a slower pace, or shake up her routine a little more; take her on some trail rides or something to freshen up her brain a little.

I think if it were me, I'd want a vet to go over her with a fine toothed comb. It doesn't have to be tooth related. I grind my teeth when I'm anxious about something.

And if she's truly happy and relaxed like you say she is, maybe it's one of those strange instances where they just like the sound it makes. :o

Sorry that's not really the solution you were looking for!

[TesignedInGold]

My horse does it to. He's been checked over three times and nothing. There is no pain, his teeth are done, he's fine. But he grinds when he's doing something he doesn't want to...Never grinds when jumping, He loves to jump. But grinds away doing flatwork when I make him work hard - lateral work etc. He also grinds when he passes other horses... its a nervous habit i guess.

[Eventer55]

Ulcergard:yes: Teeth grinding is the first, after colic sign of ulcers.

[Mamare]

I had a TB mare who did it. Her 4 y/o filly does it as well.

[Bearhunter]

Yes, it can be teeth, saddle, or ulcers. My guy does it when he is stressed out. Some do it as a habit. If you have owned your girl for a while and she just started doing it, there is a reason. I would check for the physical first. My old trainers kept saying my boy kept doing it cause it was a habit. I knew with my horse this WAS NOT true. It was interesting how when we changed his work, environment, and barn that he stopped it completely.

[findeight]

Ulcers for sure need to be checked for...but those I know that have been treated for ulcers that did this still would grind their teeth. Turns into a bad habit that is hard to break pretty quick.
Seems to be more with the girls and definately when you put a little pressure on them.

I got a mare that does not grind her teeth but puffs like a steam engine when she does not care for the more intensive flatwork excercises. Kind of embarrassing :o.

You may be stuck with it, you cannot get rid of everything.

Might suggest getting rid of that mullen mouth, try a mult part bit-might keep her busier. She may not like the way the mullen sits in her mouth either. French link, waterford, something along those lines. Try different size mouthpieces too...some do not like fat, some won't tolerate the thin ones. Width could be an issue, she may prefer the sides real loose or a little snug.

Borrow everything in the tack room and see if she likes any of them.

And, other then scoping and checking for ulcers, do not react to the grinding. You can't ease off what you are asking for or she will learn it annoys you and she can use it as evasion.

[hollyhorse2000]

Just my personal experience -- I didn't bother scoping when I suspected ulcers. I just treated with Ulcergard, which is OTC, and when I saw an improvement, I knew I was right. If you do it for a week/10 days without a change, then it wasn't ulcer IMHO.

[chestnutmarebeware]

The chestnut mare does this as a way of expressing her irritation with me, or anyone else who is compelling her to do something she dislikes. :lol:

As a yearling, she hated her first trainer so much for making her behave that she would start grinding her teeth as soon as she heard the truck pull up to the barn!

[Christa P]

I was dealing with this last summer with a very green 5 yr old WB/TB. H would avoid contact and grind his teeth when asked to work. I finally put a soft rubber bar on and just kept working him. The grinding lessened and then disappeared after about 2 weeks. I now ride him in a rubber single joint snaffle and he is fine.

I have not ridden him in a regular metal bit since last spring, but I did try a latex wrapped bit and he started grinding again almost immediately.

My suggestion is try different flavors of bits as well as mouthpieces and make sure to give each one several rides as it might take that long for the habit to go away.

Christa

[Samantha37]

My horse started grinding his teeth during harder work about a month ago- in the past week he started grinding during every ride. I spoke w/ my vet and the first thing she said was ulcers- I had him scoped this morning and he did have Grade 1 ulcers which the vet said the ulcers should be the cause of the grinding. I had just had his teeth done in January...
Definitely check for ulcers!

MTA: This was the only symptom- good weight, good coat, good attitude, forward from the leg, nothing abnormal except the grinding. That is the worst noise ever.

[SWpreciousfew]

both my off the track boys do it and they always have. Both under saddle when they get pissed that their working hard (on the flat only...they love over fences) they also do it when another horse is getting too close to their personal "bubble" of space...lol...or anytime they get angry at the world :) I love my grumpy lovable boys. I would definitely tend to agree though that if she just started doing it, it could be something pain related. Good luck in any case!

[twobays]

Mine ONLY does it while taking a walk break after working. Never while actually working. If I put him to work he'll stop. No physical problems...we don't know too much about his history, so maybe his dam did it?

[rugbygirl]

My TB is also off the track. He does it when I am getting handsy or my leg is too loud. He also did it whenever his previous owners asked for a collected trot or any kind of canter.

Teeth checked, chiro out, no ulcers...just his way of expressing displeasure, I think.

[pixie]

My horse did this also when I ask him to work a bit harder. He never does it in the warm-up, just when I ask him to push from behind harder. I suspected ulcers and treated him and he cut the amount he did it in half. Had the vet back and his hocks were a bit stiff, injected them and now he doesn't grind his teeth!
Keep checking if you want to get to the bottom of it.....could be sore anywhere: hocks, back, SI ? Some horses just complain more than others!