A too-thin bit or a bit adjusted too high in his mouth may discourage this chewing motion. Try lowering the bit a hole or two and experiment with different shapes and thicknesses of bits, as well as different types and combinations of metals, such as copper or sweet iron. What Read more…
It’s harder for your horse to properly chew with a bit. The bit rests on the tongue and therefore interferes with tongue/chewing action. I have seen a bit after a horse has snacked along the trail, often there are wads of grass mucked up on the bit. Should you cut Read more…
The horse’s lower jaw (the mandible) is narrower than his upper jaw (the maxilla), and the lower teeth are positioned slightly to the inside of the upper teeth. What is a horse’s chin called? Muzzle: the chin, mouth, and nostrils of the face. Pastern: the connection between the coronet and Read more…
Sometimes, horses get their tongues over the bit. When this happens, the tongue may loll out of the mouth in a very unsightly way, and all hope of achieving a good contact or communication line with the horse’s mouth will be lost. In horse racing, it is believed a tongue Read more…
When these ‘make do’ harnesses are used on animals working long hours under heavy loads, these painful harnesses can start to rub or cut the animals and create open wounds. Certain areas of the animal are more sensitive to this irritation and serious conditions such as fistulous withers can develop. Read more…
Severe cases of parrot mouth can be treated using fixed dental or orthodontic appliances. These surgical treatments are appropriate in foals from four weeks to six months of age, where there is still potential for growth of the mandible and incisive bones. Should I buy a horse with parrot mouth? Read more…
Feeds such as lucerne hay, grass hay and good quality sweetfeeds or pellets/cubes may be needed for the horse to maintain weight. If your horse won’t eat its normal feed you can try adding some things including: Bran. Honey. Molasses. Applesauce. Grated carrot or apple. Brewers yeast; or. Lucerne chaff. Read more…
It is unsightly, but may improve as the horse matures. Parrot mouth is caused when the upper and lower jaw do not grow at the same rate. It has been suggested that the most common reason is mating a mare and stallion that have jaws of markedly different shapes. What Read more…
TMJ issues – causes and effects Horses spend many hours a day grazing and chewing, and if there is a constant imbalance in the mouth, it will put undue stress on the TMJ. Issues such as a bit that doesn’t fit properly, incorrect balance in the feet, and poor saddle Read more…
Commonly, an affected horse will have white or gray matter that is moist and spongy appearing in the sulci region (grooves on either side and in the center of the frog) of the hoof. This characteristic growth’s appearance has been described as similar to wet cauliflower with cottage cheese like Read more…