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 Expert
Posts: 1520
 
Location: Illinois | The other day my 4 year old started acting a little odd while riding. She started raising her head when I asked to lope, and sometimes gets herself way behind the bit on her own with a loose rein. Then about 2 days after she balks when I ask her to increase speed. She'll trot around slowly fine, but when I ask to extend she just stops, plants her feet, & raises her head. Same when I ask her to lope. Saddle hasn't changed, she willingly goes into all of these gates while on the lunge line. I did big circles, little circles, she was fine, level headed, and willing. Her teeth were done last spring and the dentist is coming out April 6th to do her again. Has anyone ever had one do this because of teeth? I first thought it might be a soreness but she's not sore to the touch anywhere and I thought if it was saddle fit she'd do it while lunged too. I tried a couple different saddles last weekend and got the same result with them all. That's why I'm thinking teeth. I am going to try to ride her in a hackamore and I guess if she rides fine I probably have my answer. I realize she's at an age where I probably should have her checked twice a year for teeth, but I wasn't riding her last fall so I didn't notice an issue. She eats her food just fine as far as I've seen |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 974
 
Location: USA | If you get her teeth checked, make sure it’s by a reliable vet or dentist. I’ve had teeth floated by my local vet and a blind chimp could’ve done a better job. Still had hooks and all kinds of issues. I learned quick - not all are created equal. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 534
Location: Ohio girl moved to PA | It sounds like a teeth issue, or possibly her poll is out? I know my one guy will go completely weird if his poll is even out just the slightest. Have you checked her mouth for any thing else that might possibly be hurting her? |
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 Expert
Posts: 1631
Location: Somewhere around here | I know a few futurity trainers have their equine dentists out twice a year because so much is happening in their mouths when they're growing. |
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Expert
Posts: 1520
Location: Illinois | She wont let you get a good look in there, she'd need twitched or sedated to really look in. And I'm having a very reputable equine dentist come out from a few hours away. I asked previous owners and they said they typically have theirs done 3-4 times a year when they're 3/4. So she's most likely used to being done more often. I wasn't informed of that when I purchased, they just said she was UTD. Just hoping it really is teeth so I can get back on her and get her going, she's 4 and not started on the pattern yet so she's a bit behind. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1302
Location: California | I have a 5 year old gelding that sounds identical to this. He hasn't stopped refusing to go at this point but he carries himself way behind the bit and when I ask him to lope he throws his head up as well as when I ask him to stop. I looked in his mouth and he has massive wolf teeth. From the sounds of it your horse has had her teeth done multiple times so I can't imagine she has them but it could still easily be a tooth problem. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I wonder if maybe shes got something wedge in her teeth maybe, I had one get cactus nettles in his gums, goofy guy and I had a friend that her horse would chew wood and got a splinter in his gums and it caused him to raise his head up so had to take him in to vet and thats what he found got the splinter out and no more problems. |
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 Quiet Riot
Posts: 2568
Location: North Dakota | Check for loose teeth. They can quit working when the loose tooth pinches and causes pain. My mare was 5 and I had to get a couple loose teeth pulled due to new ones trying to grow in. |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| blyellowrose - 2018-03-23 10:28 AM Check for loose teeth. They can quit working when the loose tooth pinches and causes pain. My mare was 5 and I had to get a couple loose teeth pulled due to new ones trying to grow in.
Those are caps. My filly has lost a couple. She's 3. They can lose them naturally, or sometimes they need a little help. It's possible he's growing teeth and is uncomfortable. My vet recommended twice a year on her if I'm riding her deep into the fall to make sure to take care of any issues because a youngins mouth changes SO much during their first 5 years. |
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Expert
Posts: 1520
Location: Illinois | My vet took a quick peek inside in October as best she could with her not wanting her mouth messed with. She didn't see anything to make her think she couldn't wait until spring. But you're right, they can change fast at this age. My last colt I go lucky and had him until he was 2.5 years old and he never needed his mouth touched. We pulled his wolf teeth while he was on the ground getting gelded and his mouth was great, so I got spoiled with that. If I had been made aware she got done several times a year as a precaution I would have just had her done last fall anyway. Hopefully we can get the issue fixed, for now she's just getting lunged to keep fit and mentally exercised down. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Nateracer - 2018-03-23 10:30 AM blyellowrose - 2018-03-23 10:28 AM Check for loose teeth. They can quit working when the loose tooth pinches and causes pain. My mare was 5 and I had to get a couple loose teeth pulled due to new ones trying to grow in. Those are caps. My filly has lost a couple. She's 3. They can lose them naturally, or sometimes they need a little help. It's possible he's growing teeth and is uncomfortable. My vet recommended twice a year on her if I'm riding her deep into the fall to make sure to take care of any issues because a youngins mouth changes SO much during their first 5 years.
Yep, loose caps can cause alot of problems  |
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 Namesless in BHW
Posts: 10368
Location: At the race track with Ah Dee Ohs | Nateracer - 2018-03-23 10:30 AM blyellowrose - 2018-03-23 10:28 AM Check for loose teeth. They can quit working when the loose tooth pinches and causes pain. My mare was 5 and I had to get a couple loose teeth pulled due to new ones trying to grow in. Those are caps. My filly has lost a couple. She's 3. They can lose them naturally, or sometimes they need a little help. It's possible he's growing teeth and is uncomfortable. My vet recommended twice a year on her if I'm riding her deep into the fall to make sure to take care of any issues because a youngins mouth changes SO much during their first 5 years.
YES |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| I have my four year olds checked every three to four months to avoid problems since mine are at a trainer and being ridden everyday. |
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  Northern Chocolate Queen
Posts: 16576
Location: ND | I was having a lot of problems with my 3 year old last year. While loping circles she'd grab the bit & start running sideways, when I'd take a hold of her she'd then hop up & down & start fighting me.....took her to my vet, she had a loose cap that was digging into the roof of her mouth. Got that out & she instantly rode better. |
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anyone encountered this teeth issue?