horse grinding the teeth

Question
hello ma'am, i am sorry to say that this might be a bit out of your expertise. but can you please give a try in answering?

i always put on the halter with lead rope before i start grooming any horse. the trainer is buying only metal curry comb to groom horses not the rubber as it is unavailable. when i was grooming a 6 year old seal brown thoroughbred gelding on its neck, he was shaking his head. i made a kissing sound and sensed that he's getting frustrated as the bristles are sharp, so i started groom with less pressure in circular fashion. when i reached the body to groom, he started grinding his teeth, turning his head to me, his eyes were not soft, again started shaking his head.

i really got fired but as it is an animal, i neither shouted or slapped the animal. when i was grooming his hind quarters, he started hitting me with its tail.

ma'am, whats the problem with the horse, why he's grinding his teeth? is it a vice or health problem? i also observed the horse when he was holding the bit. he has a rubber D ring bit. he makes a different sound as if chewing off the rubber. may i know why?

Answer
Rohit,

I forgot to address the bit grinding in my previous answer.
Grinding his teeth is a sign of frustration, anxiety,and an attempt to relieve some of his
discomfort. (Think of an anxious person wringing their hands or chewing their nails.)


The rubber bit makes that sounds as his teeth are coming into contact with the rubber material. You have to be careful with rubber bits. It is common for these bits to lose some of the rubber material around the bit and wear it down to the metal. This is extremely uncomfortable for the horse.

Also it is important to realize that if the horse does not have a "wet" mouth.....that there is sufficient saliva to enable the bit to stay moist, it can be dry when it is in the horse's mouth...and this can cause tearing of the tissue in the horse's mouth.


Mitzi
www.MitziSummers.com