I know about sharpened edges causing cheek pain, but I wonder if the prevalence of many horse treatments, including annual floating, are more fad than fact. An old-timer that grew up on a ranch told me they have never floated their horse's teeth with no resultant problems whatsoever. They give vaccinations, trim hooves, shoe when necessary, and treat injuries, but that's it - and their horses have always been healthy %26amp; happy. He doesn't go online much however.
Is it always necessary to have a horse's teeth floated?
It depends on the horse. Some need it done more often than others, some may not need it done at all.
Reply:In the south you very rarely see a horse getting his teeth floated. The old-timer is pretty much correct. We and others in my area do the same thing as the old-timer and our horses tend to live 30+years.
Reply:Teeth floating for horses under 10 years of age is a valuable service, every 18 months or so. Horses' teeth continue to grow throughout their lives, and will, with wear and time, develop sharp points or edges that can damage the mouth and cause the horse distress and unwillingness to eat.
After 10 years of age, the dental game for horses becomes much more complicated. It is EXTREMELY important that the incisors and molars line up and interact properly. If the teeth have been floated several times, what we call 'waves' begin to appear on the molars, which can cause the incisors not to match up. The incisors themselves also grow too long, preventing the molars from touching and being able to grind the feed.
The result is a horse who will colic any time it eats anything that hasn't already been ground up, and if left until the teeth are too bad, the horse will lose condition and go off feed totally. The solution to this problem is sedation and dental restoration using power floaters and cutters, to restore the straight edge of the molars, and shorten and adjust the angle of the incisors to their proper place.
If the incisors are too long, and there are already waves in the molars, hand-floating is actually more damaging than helpful to the horse. Of course, there are many horses who don't have much trouble with their teeth, some of it is good genetics, and the other factor is proper feed and roughage to aid in natural conditioning of the teeth.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Does my horse's teeth have to be floated or anything before I start training him?
I heard somewhere that a horse's teeth have to be fixed by a vet before you can start breaking them with a bit...is this true? and my horse is a little over 2 years old now..I stood on the other side of the gate and made him stand there for 20 minutes to try to teach him to tie...well about 5-10 minutes of standing there he started pawing the ground and gate and started to rear...how can I teach him to not do this?
Does my horse's teeth have to be floated or anything before I start training him?
First the teeth issue. You only need to float if the teeth are sharp when you feel them . It is good to do this twice a year but you don't have to wait to break your horse. As for the standing isuue you never leave your horse do one thing for to long a time as they get bored very quickly and that is why he started to paw and rear you need to tie him everyday until he understsnds he must stand and behave. Also reward him for being good .
Reply:Tieing will take time, but horses are herd animals and they dont just like to be tied places where they cant see anyone for long periods of time. Keep that in mind. I would tie and groom.
About the teeth. All horses teeth need to be done. Some more frequent then others. If you haven't had your horses teeth checked i would do it soon, but hes young so i wouldn't be over worried, and i would say its ok to use a bit, just something very lite and no pulling hard on his mouth. Use a baby bit of some sort or just a simple egg butt.
Good Luck with your horse.
Reply:Other than a routine floating, there is no special dental treatment that a horse of this age needs- however, you will want to have him checked for the presence of wolf teeth that are hidden in his mouth below the gumline. These teeth tend to erupt near the bars of the mouth where the bit will rest, and if the bit hits one of them during training, it will cause your horse excruciating pain. This can lead to head tossing and being hard to bridle, and it can also make him resistant to training. Have your vet check him thoroughly for the presence of these teeth, and if any are found, have him remove them. Make sure that you make an appointment to have the horse checked again in 6 months- a horse's teeth change rapidly when the animal is young and growing, the way your horse is.
Next, the tying issue. Your horse needs to learn to stand tied before he ever has a saddle on his back- indeed, he should have been taught that as a baby when he was a few days old. Why are you tying him to the pasture gate? That's not a safe place to tie any horse, much less one that doesn't know how to stand and has no respect for the rope. I would tie your horse to a stout post that has been set in concrete or a similar material, and let him stand there for about 20 or 30 minutes. Make very sure that you keep the rope short, so he can't get a leg over it or get caught up in it, and just let him stand and figure it out on his own. Watch him to be sure he isn't in trouble in any way, and when the 30 minutes are up, release and reward him for standing and being quiet. Keeping the rope short will keep him from rearing, and your presence will keep him calm. Repeat this procedure several times over a period of at least a week or more, and as the horse gets used to it, you can leave him alone for short periods of time ( start with 5 minutes and work up from there) while you do something else. Your horse was pawing the ground because he was bored and looking for entertainment. Our horses do this too, and we have to discipline them on occasion to keep them from breaking the gate. After your horse learns to stand tied, then you can continue with the rest of his training. Hope this helps you.
Reply:I would not bother to train a horse without a full checkup by the vet and a equine dentist. You might of overheard this popular idea of only training fit and ready horses.Its just not practical to invest so much time and money in animals that are unfit or injured. That counts for teeth as well as bodies!
Teaching your horse to rear: Horses have moods and temperments, so tying and any other ground work need knowlege,patience, attention and praise for the good behavior before you worry about correcting and creating misunderatandings.Otherwise you just taught him a new trick: how to rear!
Reply:unless your horse has a problamatic bite he shouldn't need floated until age 4. you should check for the presence of wolf teeth, if they are there then yes you need to have dental work done before you can bit the horse. as for the rearing problem, sounds like you took the lesson too far. young horses like young children have very short attention spans and even shorter fuses. you needed to start with more lessons over less time. tie for 1-2 minutes, 3-4 times a day. increase the time until you get to a point where you are tying as long as you are resting. then decrease the repetitions and add more time. ideally you want to be stopping just before they start acting out. you want to stay on the edge of the comfort zone. shouldn't take all that long before you can tie for as long as you need ( within reason of course). very few horses dont get antsy while being tied for hours on end, but you should be able to tie for 30-45 minutes without problem. as for striking, i carry a short dressage whip and evertime they raise the leg to paw i rapp the front of the cannon bone lightly until they put the foot down. your not hitting or smaking or beating, just gently tapping the leg until you get the submission. if the leg is moving stand to the side and rapp the leg evertime it comes up into the air, you can even pick a point directly infront of the leg and let the horse tap himself each time he feels the need to paw. when you can get at least 5 seconds of stillness, release the horse and reward them. let them move around a bit to remove the urge to move. when the mind is quite again, tie and repeat until time is up. you really need to step down your lessons a bit, the rearing is a symptom, and if allowed to continue will only get worse. at this stage its normal for some rearing to occur. why? well many horses instinctively feel the urge to rear when they first encounter immobile pressure on the lean back. we have all seen it, a green horse sits back and pulls, when nothing gives they go straight up to escape the pressure. when teaching give to pressure i dont tie at all. i just loop the lead line around the hitching post and when they sit back i feed a little line out- just a little so they dont feel trapped. at the same time i cue to move forward. alot can be done while leading. apply gentle pressure to the halter, wait for the horse to move towards you then release. repeat again and again both exercises untill they stop sitting back on the lead line and you have progressed to actual tying. once you can tie without the sitting, rearing or pulling then start worrying about the pawing and length of time tied.
Does my horse's teeth have to be floated or anything before I start training him?
First the teeth issue. You only need to float if the teeth are sharp when you feel them . It is good to do this twice a year but you don't have to wait to break your horse. As for the standing isuue you never leave your horse do one thing for to long a time as they get bored very quickly and that is why he started to paw and rear you need to tie him everyday until he understsnds he must stand and behave. Also reward him for being good .
Reply:Tieing will take time, but horses are herd animals and they dont just like to be tied places where they cant see anyone for long periods of time. Keep that in mind. I would tie and groom.
About the teeth. All horses teeth need to be done. Some more frequent then others. If you haven't had your horses teeth checked i would do it soon, but hes young so i wouldn't be over worried, and i would say its ok to use a bit, just something very lite and no pulling hard on his mouth. Use a baby bit of some sort or just a simple egg butt.
Good Luck with your horse.
Reply:Other than a routine floating, there is no special dental treatment that a horse of this age needs- however, you will want to have him checked for the presence of wolf teeth that are hidden in his mouth below the gumline. These teeth tend to erupt near the bars of the mouth where the bit will rest, and if the bit hits one of them during training, it will cause your horse excruciating pain. This can lead to head tossing and being hard to bridle, and it can also make him resistant to training. Have your vet check him thoroughly for the presence of these teeth, and if any are found, have him remove them. Make sure that you make an appointment to have the horse checked again in 6 months- a horse's teeth change rapidly when the animal is young and growing, the way your horse is.
Next, the tying issue. Your horse needs to learn to stand tied before he ever has a saddle on his back- indeed, he should have been taught that as a baby when he was a few days old. Why are you tying him to the pasture gate? That's not a safe place to tie any horse, much less one that doesn't know how to stand and has no respect for the rope. I would tie your horse to a stout post that has been set in concrete or a similar material, and let him stand there for about 20 or 30 minutes. Make very sure that you keep the rope short, so he can't get a leg over it or get caught up in it, and just let him stand and figure it out on his own. Watch him to be sure he isn't in trouble in any way, and when the 30 minutes are up, release and reward him for standing and being quiet. Keeping the rope short will keep him from rearing, and your presence will keep him calm. Repeat this procedure several times over a period of at least a week or more, and as the horse gets used to it, you can leave him alone for short periods of time ( start with 5 minutes and work up from there) while you do something else. Your horse was pawing the ground because he was bored and looking for entertainment. Our horses do this too, and we have to discipline them on occasion to keep them from breaking the gate. After your horse learns to stand tied, then you can continue with the rest of his training. Hope this helps you.
Reply:I would not bother to train a horse without a full checkup by the vet and a equine dentist. You might of overheard this popular idea of only training fit and ready horses.Its just not practical to invest so much time and money in animals that are unfit or injured. That counts for teeth as well as bodies!
Teaching your horse to rear: Horses have moods and temperments, so tying and any other ground work need knowlege,patience, attention and praise for the good behavior before you worry about correcting and creating misunderatandings.Otherwise you just taught him a new trick: how to rear!
Reply:unless your horse has a problamatic bite he shouldn't need floated until age 4. you should check for the presence of wolf teeth, if they are there then yes you need to have dental work done before you can bit the horse. as for the rearing problem, sounds like you took the lesson too far. young horses like young children have very short attention spans and even shorter fuses. you needed to start with more lessons over less time. tie for 1-2 minutes, 3-4 times a day. increase the time until you get to a point where you are tying as long as you are resting. then decrease the repetitions and add more time. ideally you want to be stopping just before they start acting out. you want to stay on the edge of the comfort zone. shouldn't take all that long before you can tie for as long as you need ( within reason of course). very few horses dont get antsy while being tied for hours on end, but you should be able to tie for 30-45 minutes without problem. as for striking, i carry a short dressage whip and evertime they raise the leg to paw i rapp the front of the cannon bone lightly until they put the foot down. your not hitting or smaking or beating, just gently tapping the leg until you get the submission. if the leg is moving stand to the side and rapp the leg evertime it comes up into the air, you can even pick a point directly infront of the leg and let the horse tap himself each time he feels the need to paw. when you can get at least 5 seconds of stillness, release the horse and reward them. let them move around a bit to remove the urge to move. when the mind is quite again, tie and repeat until time is up. you really need to step down your lessons a bit, the rearing is a symptom, and if allowed to continue will only get worse. at this stage its normal for some rearing to occur. why? well many horses instinctively feel the urge to rear when they first encounter immobile pressure on the lean back. we have all seen it, a green horse sits back and pulls, when nothing gives they go straight up to escape the pressure. when teaching give to pressure i dont tie at all. i just loop the lead line around the hitching post and when they sit back i feed a little line out- just a little so they dont feel trapped. at the same time i cue to move forward. alot can be done while leading. apply gentle pressure to the halter, wait for the horse to move towards you then release. repeat again and again both exercises untill they stop sitting back on the lead line and you have progressed to actual tying. once you can tie without the sitting, rearing or pulling then start worrying about the pawing and length of time tied.
Horse grinding teeth???
My new horse has started to grind her teeth toghter when im tacking up and picking out her hooves so i was just wondering if you had any ideas to help me stop her from doing it.
Horse grinding teeth???
Grinding the teeth is one of the first signs of gastric ulcers. I would make sure her teeth have been floated recently to eliminate that as a cause and then have a vet check her for ulcers.
Reply:yes
Reply:Good answer. Ulcers, vet check...
If that was eliminated , try giving her an apple to chew on for a while . If it is physiological, this will help her think its a good thing.
Reply:My horse used to have this habit when i was doing the girth. I would first have his teeth checked, but more likely he is testing you and trying to get away with things. When he does this when you are doing something he doesn't like then give him a jab on the shoulder and tell him to quit, but when he is good when you are girthing him and picking his hoofs then reward him with praise and a treat.
Reply:Ive heard about ulcers :\
but one of the ponies at the barn I ride at does this.
mostly when she has to stand for a while....
im not sure if its just a thing they do when they're bored, or anticipating work time..
hope you find out! yipes!
Reply:I think your horse might have a slight anxiety problem
Grinding teeth can be a sign of anxiety. Try tacking up slowly. Do the girth up loosely to start with and then reward the horse with a treat. Then pick the feet out and give another treat.
Make sure you talk to the horse at all times while doing this. (in soothing tones)
Personally i whistle a tune while i am tacking up. This diverts the horses attention (you can hum a tune if you wish)
Tighten the girth a bit more and reward for good behaviour.
Keep an eye on your horses ears as they will give you a good guide to her mood.
As to what is causing the anxiety. New owner (change in routine) ?
Check that all your gear fits correctly and you are not pinching the girth area when u saddle up.
It could be that she just wants to get on with the job and is anxious to start.
Do u bridle her then clean out the feet ? She may be anxious about the bit.
If so maybe she needs to have her teeth checked ? Or are u using a different bit to what she was used to.?
I would not stress at this point. If your horse has ulcers you would see more changes in your horse than just grinding teeth.
EG. Performance, appetite, stomach problems.
Look for the basics first if there are no other signs of ill health.
Cheers hope this helps
Reply:Grinding is caused by a variety of things. I had a gelding that would grind his teeth throughout his whole ride, every ride! It's nerves, anticipation, anxious energy, etc. My vet checked my gelding top to bottom, we conculded that physically there was nothing wrong with him, the grinding, in his case, was an emotional issue, not a physical one.
If the vet has cleared her from any physical pain, then you have an emotional grinder too...and you really can't do much about that.
Horse grinding teeth???
Grinding the teeth is one of the first signs of gastric ulcers. I would make sure her teeth have been floated recently to eliminate that as a cause and then have a vet check her for ulcers.
Reply:yes
Reply:Good answer. Ulcers, vet check...
If that was eliminated , try giving her an apple to chew on for a while . If it is physiological, this will help her think its a good thing.
Reply:My horse used to have this habit when i was doing the girth. I would first have his teeth checked, but more likely he is testing you and trying to get away with things. When he does this when you are doing something he doesn't like then give him a jab on the shoulder and tell him to quit, but when he is good when you are girthing him and picking his hoofs then reward him with praise and a treat.
Reply:Ive heard about ulcers :\
but one of the ponies at the barn I ride at does this.
mostly when she has to stand for a while....
im not sure if its just a thing they do when they're bored, or anticipating work time..
hope you find out! yipes!
Reply:I think your horse might have a slight anxiety problem
Grinding teeth can be a sign of anxiety. Try tacking up slowly. Do the girth up loosely to start with and then reward the horse with a treat. Then pick the feet out and give another treat.
Make sure you talk to the horse at all times while doing this. (in soothing tones)
Personally i whistle a tune while i am tacking up. This diverts the horses attention (you can hum a tune if you wish)
Tighten the girth a bit more and reward for good behaviour.
Keep an eye on your horses ears as they will give you a good guide to her mood.
As to what is causing the anxiety. New owner (change in routine) ?
Check that all your gear fits correctly and you are not pinching the girth area when u saddle up.
It could be that she just wants to get on with the job and is anxious to start.
Do u bridle her then clean out the feet ? She may be anxious about the bit.
If so maybe she needs to have her teeth checked ? Or are u using a different bit to what she was used to.?
I would not stress at this point. If your horse has ulcers you would see more changes in your horse than just grinding teeth.
EG. Performance, appetite, stomach problems.
Look for the basics first if there are no other signs of ill health.
Cheers hope this helps
Reply:Grinding is caused by a variety of things. I had a gelding that would grind his teeth throughout his whole ride, every ride! It's nerves, anticipation, anxious energy, etc. My vet checked my gelding top to bottom, we conculded that physically there was nothing wrong with him, the grinding, in his case, was an emotional issue, not a physical one.
If the vet has cleared her from any physical pain, then you have an emotional grinder too...and you really can't do much about that.
Horse gritting teeth?
I have a female paint horse thats about 3 years old now. For some reason she is a huge pain in the butt with a horrible attitude. Everytime I get around her she throws her ears flat against her head and grits her teeth. If I get near her she grits her teeth, and if I load or unload hay she grits her teeth. So basically I would like to know what I can do to get her to stop being such a butt. She also likes to try to bite be from time to time and will try "nibbling" on me which ultimately leads to a bite. I havent worked with her much recently (bad winter) and so I dont know if shes getting spoiled or what her deal is. Any help would be great. Oh and shes very well taken care of, shes just a butt.
Horse gritting teeth?
100% agrees with Roadapple cider
Reply:You may want to have a vet check her out, just to eliminate any medical possibilities. Other than that, maybe you could try making every moment you spend with her as positive an experience for her as possible, pet her, walk her around (if she'll let you) and just do things that please her in general. Once she comes to associate you with positive experiences, it may be easier to work with her. And also, by no means should you let her nibble on you, it just condones the biting behavior and ensures that she will keep doing it. That's all I can think of, good luck!
Reply:some horses grit their teeth when their teeth are uncomfortable, they may not be correctly positioned or rubbinng the gums etc. and pain could be the cause of her nasty behaviour
Reply:First off, I'd have a vet check to see if she has any bad teeth or if her teeth need to be floated or whatever, just to make sure there are no medical or dental problems. If she checks out ok, I would say she is being willful and spoiled and does not respect you or recognize you as the leader (or boss) My guess is that when she acts up, you let her have her way, or leave her alone, instead of teaching her that she is exhibiting unacceptable behavior.
Horses are herd animals, so think about the natural structure of a herd. A herd has a leader that keeps them in line; not with soft nuzzling and gentle stroking. If they get out of line they are corrected with a kick or bite, etc. You need to be the herd leader and you are letting her assume the position every time you back off and leave a situation uncorrected.
Carry a 2 foot piece of garden hose with you. When she shows disrespect, bites at you, or turns her butt to you, anything that shows she has no reguard for you as the leader, give her a good smack and a firm word (NO!---HEY! or whatever) YOU need to be the one in control. It isn't being cruel. It's doing things like they are done in a herd. (Don't try kicking or biting her----all you'll get is a 'horse laugh!!')
Reply:As a 3 yr old its likely her 'adult' teeth are coming in, that's why she is bad tempered and mouthing you. It would be a good idea to have a horse dentist take a look. It seems all of her bad behaviour revolves around the mouth area, i'd say this is where the problem is. Good luck.
Reply:get a vet to cherck her out and if she still grits her teeththan get a animal behaviorist out to g=check on her
Reply:I agree about the teeth issue, she would be getting new teeth at that age, and that could be the problem, I have a horse that nibbled on me a lot at that age, and it did develop into biting which I then had to break that habit, I couldn't hit him because it scared him too much as he had been abused before I got him, I firmly held his nose on the end for a few seconds every time he nibbled or bit me, and made it uncomfortable for him and he stopped doing it very quickly.
I also agree there could be an underlying health issue and the vet could help with that. I don't know if this would help but my daughter grits her teeth when her neck or her bones in her head are out of alignment, and I need to take her to the chiropractor (back doctor), my horse had his top vertebra out of place recently and the chiropractor put it back in place, made a huge difference in helping him bring his head down and he is much happier. A lot of young horses backs go out of place when they are first ridden as their back isn't used to the strain of a rider.
That sort of teeth barring behaviour sounds very dangerous and should be dealt with by someone who has a lot of experience (I don't know how much experience you have had). Without meeting the horse it is hard to know if it is just bluffing or he really is plain old nasty (and I dont mean to be awful but if he is really nasty he is not much use to anyone and is extremely dangerous).
Whoever is going to handle him needs to be very firm with him and MAKE him do what he is told, the more he gets his own way the worse he will get, he needs boundaries and discipline, by discipline I dont mean hurting or starving him, at all, I mean make him be nice before he gets any treats, when you work him make sure he does what he is told and finish on a good note, he probably should be handled every day, and rewarded when he is good. If he does something bad make him keep working till he does something good.
I find training horses is like disciplining children, if you have a naughty child you don't say ok you have done something bad, if I ignore you for a week the behaviour will get better, you deal with the issue there and then, and show the child what it should be doing.
Hope this helps good luck.
Sandi
Reply:Well other than having a vet check her teeth and seeing if they need to be floated I have no other suggestions for the teeth grinding or gritting..But for the biting you or pinning of ears and that sort it sounds like you need to go back to the basics and work some respect training into the schedule. Seems to me your horse no longer sees you as the herd leader or a leader at all. I suggest you look into that part of it emmediately as this only gets worse and alot more dangerous...I really hope I was somewhat of a help to youl...
Reply:Have this horse checked/ treated for ULCERS. Gritting teeth is also a sign of pain.
She is at the prime age for that.
Agree with the others as to teeth as well,
Reply:Lets cut to the chase here people..... whats she needs is a good ole fashion whack. Claim your status in the herd, become alpha mare and show her you are no longer dealing with her attitude that you will no longer allow her to get away with. If you do not nip this behavior in the butt your mare is going to become even more dangerous and soon will escalate to charging you which is even more dangerous. Don't be afraid to show them who's boss. A whack to a horse is a attention getter but a whack From a horse can land us in the hospital or worse.
Is she gritting her teeth or grinding her teeth? Your horse has attitude problem but if she is Grinding her teeth deffitinely have a vet check her for ulcers.
Reply:try getting her teeth checked and check her back and quarters throughly, use your fingers and push gently up and down her spin, if she dips away from you then somethings wrong. Sometimes mares can just be nasty with attitudes as one of my mares use to be like that, try working with her more and she her your in charge and you wont put up with any antics such as biting
Reply:Horses usually grit there teeth if they agitated. (sometimes when experiencing pain, so first rule that out) My TB does the same thing every time he sees me messing in the feed room or another horse gets fed before him. The only thing you can really do to stop them from gritting their teeth is to feed them first, or turn them out where they have other things on there mind while you're doing anything with the feed. The fact that she does it ANY time you get around her, well, I honestly would have to say it sounds like she doesn't like you much, or sees you as an annoyance. If that's her reason for this behavior, you really need to work on your relationship with her.
Reply:Biting or threatening to bite is dangerous behavior for a horse! They can do real damage to you and anyone else. This mare needs to learn now, that she will not be the Alpha horse when people are present! At three, she's just starting to "feel her oats". And even if there is a medical reason for her agressive behavior, how will the vet be able to treat her if she has no respect for people! I like John Lyons, "three second rule", when a horse threatens you, you have three sseconds to correct them, after that, they forget and don't know why they are being punished. So, your response when this gal "grits her teeth" should be swift and sure, and then forget it. Even a mare will correct her baby by nipping it in the butt or on the back when it bites the nipple! I would whack her quickly and decisively on the nose, with the flat of your hand, once, and throw my ears back, make a noise (even growl) and make her step back! But you must be quick, if you wait, she won't know why you did this. It should ony take one, maybe two times and this mare should stop her bad manners. She's just decided that you are the inferior horse and she's trying to establish her dominance. Don't let her, or you'll be setting her up for a life time of harsh treatment. She must "know" that those behaviors are NOT allowed. And until her bahavior is better, I'd carry a crop, she could get worse.
Broken Teeth
Horse gritting teeth?
100% agrees with Roadapple cider
Reply:You may want to have a vet check her out, just to eliminate any medical possibilities. Other than that, maybe you could try making every moment you spend with her as positive an experience for her as possible, pet her, walk her around (if she'll let you) and just do things that please her in general. Once she comes to associate you with positive experiences, it may be easier to work with her. And also, by no means should you let her nibble on you, it just condones the biting behavior and ensures that she will keep doing it. That's all I can think of, good luck!
Reply:some horses grit their teeth when their teeth are uncomfortable, they may not be correctly positioned or rubbinng the gums etc. and pain could be the cause of her nasty behaviour
Reply:First off, I'd have a vet check to see if she has any bad teeth or if her teeth need to be floated or whatever, just to make sure there are no medical or dental problems. If she checks out ok, I would say she is being willful and spoiled and does not respect you or recognize you as the leader (or boss) My guess is that when she acts up, you let her have her way, or leave her alone, instead of teaching her that she is exhibiting unacceptable behavior.
Horses are herd animals, so think about the natural structure of a herd. A herd has a leader that keeps them in line; not with soft nuzzling and gentle stroking. If they get out of line they are corrected with a kick or bite, etc. You need to be the herd leader and you are letting her assume the position every time you back off and leave a situation uncorrected.
Carry a 2 foot piece of garden hose with you. When she shows disrespect, bites at you, or turns her butt to you, anything that shows she has no reguard for you as the leader, give her a good smack and a firm word (NO!---HEY! or whatever) YOU need to be the one in control. It isn't being cruel. It's doing things like they are done in a herd. (Don't try kicking or biting her----all you'll get is a 'horse laugh!!')
Reply:As a 3 yr old its likely her 'adult' teeth are coming in, that's why she is bad tempered and mouthing you. It would be a good idea to have a horse dentist take a look. It seems all of her bad behaviour revolves around the mouth area, i'd say this is where the problem is. Good luck.
Reply:get a vet to cherck her out and if she still grits her teeththan get a animal behaviorist out to g=check on her
Reply:I agree about the teeth issue, she would be getting new teeth at that age, and that could be the problem, I have a horse that nibbled on me a lot at that age, and it did develop into biting which I then had to break that habit, I couldn't hit him because it scared him too much as he had been abused before I got him, I firmly held his nose on the end for a few seconds every time he nibbled or bit me, and made it uncomfortable for him and he stopped doing it very quickly.
I also agree there could be an underlying health issue and the vet could help with that. I don't know if this would help but my daughter grits her teeth when her neck or her bones in her head are out of alignment, and I need to take her to the chiropractor (back doctor), my horse had his top vertebra out of place recently and the chiropractor put it back in place, made a huge difference in helping him bring his head down and he is much happier. A lot of young horses backs go out of place when they are first ridden as their back isn't used to the strain of a rider.
That sort of teeth barring behaviour sounds very dangerous and should be dealt with by someone who has a lot of experience (I don't know how much experience you have had). Without meeting the horse it is hard to know if it is just bluffing or he really is plain old nasty (and I dont mean to be awful but if he is really nasty he is not much use to anyone and is extremely dangerous).
Whoever is going to handle him needs to be very firm with him and MAKE him do what he is told, the more he gets his own way the worse he will get, he needs boundaries and discipline, by discipline I dont mean hurting or starving him, at all, I mean make him be nice before he gets any treats, when you work him make sure he does what he is told and finish on a good note, he probably should be handled every day, and rewarded when he is good. If he does something bad make him keep working till he does something good.
I find training horses is like disciplining children, if you have a naughty child you don't say ok you have done something bad, if I ignore you for a week the behaviour will get better, you deal with the issue there and then, and show the child what it should be doing.
Hope this helps good luck.
Sandi
Reply:Well other than having a vet check her teeth and seeing if they need to be floated I have no other suggestions for the teeth grinding or gritting..But for the biting you or pinning of ears and that sort it sounds like you need to go back to the basics and work some respect training into the schedule. Seems to me your horse no longer sees you as the herd leader or a leader at all. I suggest you look into that part of it emmediately as this only gets worse and alot more dangerous...I really hope I was somewhat of a help to youl...
Reply:Have this horse checked/ treated for ULCERS. Gritting teeth is also a sign of pain.
She is at the prime age for that.
Agree with the others as to teeth as well,
Reply:Lets cut to the chase here people..... whats she needs is a good ole fashion whack. Claim your status in the herd, become alpha mare and show her you are no longer dealing with her attitude that you will no longer allow her to get away with. If you do not nip this behavior in the butt your mare is going to become even more dangerous and soon will escalate to charging you which is even more dangerous. Don't be afraid to show them who's boss. A whack to a horse is a attention getter but a whack From a horse can land us in the hospital or worse.
Is she gritting her teeth or grinding her teeth? Your horse has attitude problem but if she is Grinding her teeth deffitinely have a vet check her for ulcers.
Reply:try getting her teeth checked and check her back and quarters throughly, use your fingers and push gently up and down her spin, if she dips away from you then somethings wrong. Sometimes mares can just be nasty with attitudes as one of my mares use to be like that, try working with her more and she her your in charge and you wont put up with any antics such as biting
Reply:Horses usually grit there teeth if they agitated. (sometimes when experiencing pain, so first rule that out) My TB does the same thing every time he sees me messing in the feed room or another horse gets fed before him. The only thing you can really do to stop them from gritting their teeth is to feed them first, or turn them out where they have other things on there mind while you're doing anything with the feed. The fact that she does it ANY time you get around her, well, I honestly would have to say it sounds like she doesn't like you much, or sees you as an annoyance. If that's her reason for this behavior, you really need to work on your relationship with her.
Reply:Biting or threatening to bite is dangerous behavior for a horse! They can do real damage to you and anyone else. This mare needs to learn now, that she will not be the Alpha horse when people are present! At three, she's just starting to "feel her oats". And even if there is a medical reason for her agressive behavior, how will the vet be able to treat her if she has no respect for people! I like John Lyons, "three second rule", when a horse threatens you, you have three sseconds to correct them, after that, they forget and don't know why they are being punished. So, your response when this gal "grits her teeth" should be swift and sure, and then forget it. Even a mare will correct her baby by nipping it in the butt or on the back when it bites the nipple! I would whack her quickly and decisively on the nose, with the flat of your hand, once, and throw my ears back, make a noise (even growl) and make her step back! But you must be quick, if you wait, she won't know why you did this. It should ony take one, maybe two times and this mare should stop her bad manners. She's just decided that you are the inferior horse and she's trying to establish her dominance. Don't let her, or you'll be setting her up for a life time of harsh treatment. She must "know" that those behaviors are NOT allowed. And until her bahavior is better, I'd carry a crop, she could get worse.
Broken Teeth
What is your experience with floating your horse's teeth?
We have our vet float our horses' teeth. Would we be better off to get an equine dentist? We have a good relationship with our vet and he has seen our pets and livestock for years.
Also, I have another question going in words/wordplay about floating. Please check it out: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;... .
Thank you for your time and for your thoughtful answers.
What is your experience with floating your horse's teeth?
If you are happy with the way your vet has been doing it then why change???
Reply:Thank you all for posting your opinions. Report It
Reply:I agree with the other person's answer. Ever heard the saying "If it works, don't fix it"? I always had my vet float my horses teeth. As long as he knows what he's doing and it's never caused your horse a problem....I would keep letting him do it. As for your other question....I peeked. Very good question. One I have always wondered as well! The word "Float" certainly does not fit the process! LOL
Reply:many vets have been floating horses teeth for a very long time and are very good at it. Equine Dentists are vets that took it to the next step. They are very expensive to do the same tasks that your vet can do for a reasonable price. I agree if it aint broke dont fix it. You will have good and bad services no matter which way you go so if you find a service that is good and you are happy with stay with it.
Reply:I would also have to agree with "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".
There are a few things to consider before switching to an equine dentist; is there one close by you? Cost vs. the vet performing the procedure, and knowledge / experience.
To help reduce the per-horse cost, you may want to consult your neighbors. Having multiple horses to work would help split the barn call and/or travel costs.
Another alternative is if you have a vet school within travelling distance. It allows the vet students supervised hands-on practice for a reduced price.
Reply:For a young horse, or a horse that needs anything other than basic maintenance, I would definitely use the dentist. Would you let your doctor fill your cavities? But if your horses are older than 5 or 6 and there are no problems, you can use your vet.
I personally use an equine dentist who I LOVE, he's not that expensive (Cheaper than a barn call) and is really good at handling the horses. He sometimes works in conjunction with the vet, for horses with really bad mouths and the first time with baby's so he can sedate them. (He likes to make sure that the first experience isn't traumatic) My horse actually likes getting her teeth done.
Reply:I agree with the first person
Also, I have another question going in words/wordplay about floating. Please check it out: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;... .
Thank you for your time and for your thoughtful answers.
What is your experience with floating your horse's teeth?
If you are happy with the way your vet has been doing it then why change???
Reply:Thank you all for posting your opinions. Report It
Reply:I agree with the other person's answer. Ever heard the saying "If it works, don't fix it"? I always had my vet float my horses teeth. As long as he knows what he's doing and it's never caused your horse a problem....I would keep letting him do it. As for your other question....I peeked. Very good question. One I have always wondered as well! The word "Float" certainly does not fit the process! LOL
Reply:many vets have been floating horses teeth for a very long time and are very good at it. Equine Dentists are vets that took it to the next step. They are very expensive to do the same tasks that your vet can do for a reasonable price. I agree if it aint broke dont fix it. You will have good and bad services no matter which way you go so if you find a service that is good and you are happy with stay with it.
Reply:I would also have to agree with "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".
There are a few things to consider before switching to an equine dentist; is there one close by you? Cost vs. the vet performing the procedure, and knowledge / experience.
To help reduce the per-horse cost, you may want to consult your neighbors. Having multiple horses to work would help split the barn call and/or travel costs.
Another alternative is if you have a vet school within travelling distance. It allows the vet students supervised hands-on practice for a reduced price.
Reply:For a young horse, or a horse that needs anything other than basic maintenance, I would definitely use the dentist. Would you let your doctor fill your cavities? But if your horses are older than 5 or 6 and there are no problems, you can use your vet.
I personally use an equine dentist who I LOVE, he's not that expensive (Cheaper than a barn call) and is really good at handling the horses. He sometimes works in conjunction with the vet, for horses with really bad mouths and the first time with baby's so he can sedate them. (He likes to make sure that the first experience isn't traumatic) My horse actually likes getting her teeth done.
Reply:I agree with the first person
Floating horse's teeth?
hello everyone!
i was wondering, do you have to float all horses teeth or just older ones? My understanding is you only have to when their teeth don't grind properly, but dosn't that mostly happen in older horses? :-/
Please let me know A.S.A.P.!
thanks!!!
Floating horse's teeth?
Floating a horse's teeth when it is younger is a good idea (and a preventative measure for when they ARE older) to make sure that the horse has a propper grinding surface. The better the grinding surface of the teeth, the easier it will be for the horse to process his feed most effectively to get the most nutrition out of it. On top of that, it helps to keep possible sharp points down, and insures that the bit fits in the mouth comfortably, and that the horse isnt experiencing any pain from any overly sharp points on his teeth. All our school horses are on a pretty regular scedual to have their teeth floated to prevent worse problems down the road. The get their teeth floated about once a year.
Reply:Really, a horse needs his teeth looked at and floated every year or every other year....their teeth never stop growing and the arcades that develop in the line of molars can become very sharp and extremely uncomfortable. As yearling molars begin to appear....they particularly need their teeth looked after as the process begins of growing permanent teeth and of losing baby "caps" on their teeth.
Reply:we have the vet check them once a year at least
Reply:I would definitely float horses' teeth when they are younger as opposed to when they're older. Usually twice a year floats will suffice for most of their life.
Reply:i get one initial teeth floating for my horses and one touch up every 80 days for optimum oral health. never had any issues.
Reply:I have my horse's teeth checked when they are yearlings and before they are bridled, and have their wolf teeth removed as well as an initial float. Then I have them done on a yearly basis. An middled aged horse that has normal dental structure and has been well maintained might be able to get away with floating every two years or so. Once they become older such as late teens they will need to be done yearly again.
Dental problems can cause pain when being ridden, an increase in risk of colic due to chewing problems, a grumpy attitude from your horse due to constant pain, head tossing and other behavior problems, etc. It just isn't worth the risk to me.
Reply:Floating should be done at least once per year.
Some horses needs it done more often.
Until they are about 5-6 they should have them checked about every six months. While they are shedding out the baby teeth sometimes those will need to be pulled in order for the adult teeth to come in correctly.
As they age they may need to be done more often it depends on how the horse eats and wears it teeth down.
If they have hook and points it may hurt for them to chew.
Reply:yes all horses should have their tooth floated. every 6-12 months depanding on the horse. they will spill alot of food when they need to be done
i was wondering, do you have to float all horses teeth or just older ones? My understanding is you only have to when their teeth don't grind properly, but dosn't that mostly happen in older horses? :-/
Please let me know A.S.A.P.!
thanks!!!
Floating horse's teeth?
Floating a horse's teeth when it is younger is a good idea (and a preventative measure for when they ARE older) to make sure that the horse has a propper grinding surface. The better the grinding surface of the teeth, the easier it will be for the horse to process his feed most effectively to get the most nutrition out of it. On top of that, it helps to keep possible sharp points down, and insures that the bit fits in the mouth comfortably, and that the horse isnt experiencing any pain from any overly sharp points on his teeth. All our school horses are on a pretty regular scedual to have their teeth floated to prevent worse problems down the road. The get their teeth floated about once a year.
Reply:Really, a horse needs his teeth looked at and floated every year or every other year....their teeth never stop growing and the arcades that develop in the line of molars can become very sharp and extremely uncomfortable. As yearling molars begin to appear....they particularly need their teeth looked after as the process begins of growing permanent teeth and of losing baby "caps" on their teeth.
Reply:we have the vet check them once a year at least
Reply:I would definitely float horses' teeth when they are younger as opposed to when they're older. Usually twice a year floats will suffice for most of their life.
Reply:i get one initial teeth floating for my horses and one touch up every 80 days for optimum oral health. never had any issues.
Reply:I have my horse's teeth checked when they are yearlings and before they are bridled, and have their wolf teeth removed as well as an initial float. Then I have them done on a yearly basis. An middled aged horse that has normal dental structure and has been well maintained might be able to get away with floating every two years or so. Once they become older such as late teens they will need to be done yearly again.
Dental problems can cause pain when being ridden, an increase in risk of colic due to chewing problems, a grumpy attitude from your horse due to constant pain, head tossing and other behavior problems, etc. It just isn't worth the risk to me.
Reply:Floating should be done at least once per year.
Some horses needs it done more often.
Until they are about 5-6 they should have them checked about every six months. While they are shedding out the baby teeth sometimes those will need to be pulled in order for the adult teeth to come in correctly.
As they age they may need to be done more often it depends on how the horse eats and wears it teeth down.
If they have hook and points it may hurt for them to chew.
Reply:yes all horses should have their tooth floated. every 6-12 months depanding on the horse. they will spill alot of food when they need to be done
Horse Teeth?
She is two and a half years old and one of her front teeth is cracked in half and almost completly split through the middle.I've read that they "shed" teeth How old are they when they do so, is this part of the process or could it have been a kick from another one of the horses? And could it affect the way she eats?
The cracked tooth does not seem to hurt her when she eats now, but could it later?
Horse Teeth?
This would be a permenant tooth, and what you described does happen more often than you think. I have a 10 year old Arab gelding who has a cracked front tooth, and my good friend has a 16 year old TB with the same thing, and both are just fine. Next time that your Vet comes out to give shots, mention it him/her and see what he/she thinks about it. If it's not sore, not absessed and doesn't affect the way that she eats, then don't worry about it.
Reply:This would be her permanent tooth. A vet should look at it. Even though you think that it is not a problem now a vet can prevent it from becoming one later. If it becomes a problem later it will be a LOT more expensive then. Also animals are good at hiding illness or injury until it gets really bad.
Reply:This has never happend to any of my 3 horses. I would not take any chances. Go to your vet and check it out asap.
Reply:Horses start loosing their baby teeth around that age and it can look pretty bad when it's happening. Believe me, it's nothing to worry about. I've bred and raised horses for the past 30 years, trust me on this.
Reply:Call the vet becasue it may stop her eating because it could be painful
Reply:i would call the vet out.. because i dont' know that much about teeth sorry i can' t help more
Reply:if shes eating OK for now i wouldn't ring the vet, they'll charge you a bomb just to tell you shes OK, you could always ring the vet ask advice..?
Reply:there her permanent teeth and the vet would probably float your horses teeth.
but i would talk to your local vet about it before you do anything.
Reply:Horses' permanent teeth grow throughout their lives. My mare belted herself in the mouth once when she pulled back while tied and fell over backward when the rope snapped. She knocked off about an inch of one of her top front teeth. It took about 6 or 7 years to grow out, but she never had any problems grazing or eating grain, and did not appear to be in any pain. Follow the advice of one of the other answers; have the vet have a look at it during the next routine checkup.
The cracked tooth does not seem to hurt her when she eats now, but could it later?
Horse Teeth?
This would be a permenant tooth, and what you described does happen more often than you think. I have a 10 year old Arab gelding who has a cracked front tooth, and my good friend has a 16 year old TB with the same thing, and both are just fine. Next time that your Vet comes out to give shots, mention it him/her and see what he/she thinks about it. If it's not sore, not absessed and doesn't affect the way that she eats, then don't worry about it.
Reply:This would be her permanent tooth. A vet should look at it. Even though you think that it is not a problem now a vet can prevent it from becoming one later. If it becomes a problem later it will be a LOT more expensive then. Also animals are good at hiding illness or injury until it gets really bad.
Reply:This has never happend to any of my 3 horses. I would not take any chances. Go to your vet and check it out asap.
Reply:Horses start loosing their baby teeth around that age and it can look pretty bad when it's happening. Believe me, it's nothing to worry about. I've bred and raised horses for the past 30 years, trust me on this.
Reply:Call the vet becasue it may stop her eating because it could be painful
Reply:i would call the vet out.. because i dont' know that much about teeth sorry i can' t help more
Reply:if shes eating OK for now i wouldn't ring the vet, they'll charge you a bomb just to tell you shes OK, you could always ring the vet ask advice..?
Reply:there her permanent teeth and the vet would probably float your horses teeth.
but i would talk to your local vet about it before you do anything.
Reply:Horses' permanent teeth grow throughout their lives. My mare belted herself in the mouth once when she pulled back while tied and fell over backward when the rope snapped. She knocked off about an inch of one of her top front teeth. It took about 6 or 7 years to grow out, but she never had any problems grazing or eating grain, and did not appear to be in any pain. Follow the advice of one of the other answers; have the vet have a look at it during the next routine checkup.
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