Okay,
Riley's teeth grinding thing came out of nowhere, and this weekend my trainer and I talked about it. Here's what we came up with in our search for precipitating factors:
- It got cold. Very cold, very suddenly.
- Riley started being ridden in the indoor.
- Riley went on 1/2 day turnout.
- Riley's energy level went up.
- Riley started spooking, big time. He's even bolted for a few strides over goofy stuff like a patch of mirror that's fogged up. This is so unlike him! He's always been a rock.
I really wonder if it is the combination of cold and the indoor. I need to test that assumption on the next warm day. We'll ride outside when possible, but the ground is frozen now. Aside from that, here's how I'm going to proceed:
- Have trainer ride in her saddle rather than mine -- check for improvement
- Administer bute -- check for improvement
- Remove flash and noseband.
- Try gumbits (THANKS DRESSAGE MOM for the suggestion!)
- Ride in a fix-a-test clinic on February 6 in NJ. See what Marilyn Payne says...
Update 12/18: Well, with just a few more rides, and a few more data points, I'm starting to think the cold weather, and possibly the indoor, may have just made him more prone to tension. In an upcoming post I'll tell ya why I think this...
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Is he on ulcer meds, such as U-Gard? Teeth grinding is often a sign of pain, sometimes from ulcers. Good luck - it can be a hard one to figure out.
ReplyDeleteBoy, Kate beat me to it. Ulcers are a definite possibility.
ReplyDeleteSaddle issue, too, of course, as you apparently have on your list since you are suggesting the trainer's saddle.
Either issue could account for both the grinding and the spooking.
Boy, Kate beat me to it. Ulcers are a definite possibility.
ReplyDeleteSaddle issue, too, of course, as you apparently have on your list since you are suggesting the trainer's saddle.
Either issue could account for both the grinding and the spooking.
Boy, Kate beat me to it. Ulcers are a definite possibility.
ReplyDeleteSaddle issue, too, of course, as you apparently have on your list since you are suggesting the trainer's saddle.
Either issue could account for both the grinding and the spooking.
I know I am having cold weather/indoor problems with both my Morabs. The 4-year-old has an excuse, but the 23-year-old sure doesn't. I can't wait until spring!
ReplyDeleteI assume Riley probably has a chiro who checks for these things, but if not, it could be TMJ. I only say this because I remember you mentioned something about Riley's head tilting in on of your recent lesson videos. Regular chiro every 6 weeks or so keeps my guy pain free and he is very prone to TMJ.
ReplyDeleteWith Oscar, we noticed a big difference when we moved back indoors. The cold snap combined with the more restricted environment (indoors is a half-sized arena) definitely takes some getting used to for him. Plus, it gets dark so early here!
ReplyDeleteThis is with an almost-ten-year-old horse so I can only imagine what it's like for Riley!
I just rode a mare over the weekend who was not her usual appendix-rock self, turns out, it was the uneven surface and color changes in the indoor ring! We handraked "those spots" and she settled into work. You'll figure it out!
ReplyDeletebe careful with the bute, if he does have ulcers you don't want to make matters worse.
ReplyDeleteThanks guys -- I won't rule out ulcers but he is missing a lot of the symptoms -- his condition and coat are beautiful, and his performance under saddle is willing and fluid. He does not grind in his stall, and he looks comfortable. He gets minimal grain, probably two measuring cups/feeding if that. He is on nearly free choice hay, in fact a lot of it is wasted.
ReplyDeleteThat said, it's an easy thing to test. I've had U7 recommended to me in the past, maybe I'll try that.
Can he see the other horses when he is in the indoor? May be some separation anxiety going on. And as you said, too much energy. The horse's brain wants to be moving around outside where the horizons are.
ReplyDeleteStacey--ulcers. My Tucker was fat, shiny and worked pretty well with just a few behavior problems at home. The only real problem was when I took him to a show and he was dangerous in the warmup. I did get occasional teeth grinding, but not much.
ReplyDeleteI treated him for ulcers and there was an immediate and dramatic change in his show demeanor to the point where he was actually too relaxed. It was a total transformation.
So physical condition is not the only ulcer indicator. Sometimes it is just behavior.
The good thing about ulcer meds--including Ulcergard/Gastrogard, is that, according to my vet, they do no harm. So it's a home remedy you can try yourself without worry.
As a matter of fact, one way of diagnosing ulcers is to put the horse on ulcer meds and see if there is a difference.
I hope the Riley teeth-grinding issue resolves easily and inexpensively! I'm praying no ulcer.
ReplyDeleteOn another front, my curiosity was piqued by the GumBits and I clicked the link. I don't know if it's lack of adequate caffeine intake or not, but I can't quite figure out what they are. Help!
Thanks for checking the saddle by swapping in your trainer's tack. Remember you said that he was usually only over-flexing or head tilting when you rode him? The other common variable is your saddle! ;)
ReplyDeleteThat being said, my horse has a very difficult time relaxing while cantering in an indoor (He is twelve.) He has a peppy tempo, so the walls come up pretty quickly. I also tend to lean away from the walls, which I have noticed other riders do subconsciously. I have to be vigilant or I contribute to his difficulty with cantering indoors. Rotating towards the wall helps me straighten out and frees him up to move.
I hope it's only a case of "Cougar Weather." Sudden changes in the barometer and/or drops in the temperature put our horses on alert for the cougars that they are convinced lurk just outside the arena. They are extra anxious and spooky at these times.
ReplyDelete