Question

[Marsha Cassada]

Last time I had Dusty out, he kept veering right. He has been all checked over and nothing seems wrong physically. But something just didn't seem right with him. I posted on the main forum about taking him to the vet yesterday and having a deciduous tooth removed that was causing trouble.

My question: do you think the tooth was causing him to veer? The tooth was upper right.

If that isn't the reason, I'll have to be thinking of something else. I won't be driving him for several days, to let his mouth heal; in the mean time I'm thinking about it.

 

[Reignmaker Miniatures]

It easily could have been the tooth and in fact probably was. The only other thing that comes to my mind right off is that I have had horses want to drift one way or the other due to the placement of the blinders. If one is much closer to the face than the other the horse seems to want to turn its head to even up the view and where the head turns the body tends to follow.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

It easily could have been the tooth and in fact probably was. The only other thing that comes to my mind right off is that I have had horses want to drift one way or the other due to the placement of the blinders. If one is much closer to the face than the other the horse seems to want to turn its head to even up the view and where the head turns the body tends to follow.

I did work on adjusting the blinders while we were driving, thinking that might be a factor. It didn't help.

This horse has had trouble shedding teeth. He had to have front caps removed also because they didn't shed. That is one reason I've been very dilligent about his dental checkups. I'm rather upset that the molar problem wasn't observed earlier. It could even be one reason he performed so poorly at the show where he was hurt in May.

 

[Reignmaker Miniatures]

Yes it could. These minis often seem to have dental issues that were not seen (or rarely) in full size horses. I've had a mare here who didn't get the work when she was young (we got her as a mature horse) who had a double set of teeth. Not one was shed and by the time we got her our vet at the time said it would leave her with greater issues to pull the baby teeth at that point. She never seemed to be bothered by them but then we never bitted her either. On the veering issue (pls don't be offended by this suggestion, I mean no insult to your ability or knowledge) is it possible that you are unintentionally cueing him to go right? I knew a girl who drove her stallion for years (they entered many many shows ) who had an issue with him counterflexing. She had a trainer/coach watch her one time and they tried him and he stopped. Turned out when she started him he always wanted to drift to the inside of the arena so she would guide him back to the rail. Eventually that just became her holding onto that outside rein a bit heavier to keep him there. Once he was there he would respond with a counterflex because he couldn't move over any further.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

I certainly realize it could be my driving. However, this is a new development. I was very conscious of how I was holding the reins, since that could have been the cause.

Interesting that you had one also that didn't shed teeth. I wonder if ours are related!

 

[MiLo Minis]

It has been my experience that about 98% of the problems with riding/driving horses are dental related and chances are this one is too. I would give it a day or two and try him again but don't expect the problem to be solved instantly. It may take him a bit of time to realize that it isn't going to hurt anymore. I have a horse here that came in for training with an almost full set of extra teeth - deciduous teeth that hadn't shed as his adult teeth came in. Over the last couple years they have all gradually fallen out and he has an almost perfect set of teeth now.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

Thanks, Lori. I can already tell he seems more relaxed. He is still packing grass in the area, probably a habit now, that will hopefully stop with time. We are keeping the area flushed. The vet said he probably packed the chewed grass there to cushion the painful area. I don't plan to drive him until I see this is resolved.

 

[MiLo Minis]

Thanks, Lori. I can already tell he seems more relaxed. He is still packing grass in the area, probably a habit now, that will hopefully stop with time. We are keeping the area flushed. The vet said he probably packed the chewed grass there to cushion the painful area. I don't plan to drive him until I see this is resolved.

I would question the experience of your vet. That "packed chewed grass" is called a quid and results from difficulty chewing properly not just as a habit. It may well be nature's way of cushioning the cheek (who knows) but it is food that falls out the side, when the horse has a dental problem, and gets trapped there. It can rot if not removed and cause more trouble. It should stop VERY shortly (meanwhile do keep flushing) and if it doesn't then I would look for another dentist.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

I would question the experience of your vet. That "packed chewed grass" is called a quid and results from difficulty chewing properly not just as a habit. It may well be nature's way of cushioning the cheek (who knows) but it is food that falls out the side, when the horse has a dental problem, and gets trapped there. It can rot if not removed and cause more trouble. It should stop VERY shortly (meanwhile do keep flushing) and if it doesn't then I would look for another dentist.

This is the third vet I've taken him to for the problem The deciduous tooth was removed on Monday. I can tell he is doing better. The flushed material is less. He did say the arcade had a slight wave, so it could be something we deal with from now on, off and on. I'm not sure I understand exactly about a wave in the arcade, but it isn't keeping him from eating heartily and keeping good weight.

I think I will call and ask the arcade question. There was so much going on at that visit it was hard to think of all the questions to ask.

I looked online, but couldn't find anything that mentioned that condition specifically.

 

[hobbyhorse23]

Another thought I'd offer is that this was one of his first few times back in cart since his injury. He may still be favoring one side which would result in shorter strides and hence the appearance of veering off to the side he's babying.

I knew a girl who drove her stallion for years (they entered many many shows ) who had an issue with him counterflexing. She had a trainer/coach watch her one time and they tried him and he stopped. Turned out when she started him he always wanted to drift to the inside of the arena so she would guide him back to the rail. Eventually that just became her holding onto that outside rein a bit heavier to keep him there. Once he was there he would respond with a counterflex because he couldn't move over any further.

Oh, this sounds far too familiar!!

That's what I did with Kody for years and every clinician I had take a look at me (somewhat desperately searching for a solution) said we were fine and there was nothing to worry about.

Needless to say, this was rather frustrating as I knew darn well that constant counterbending was not correct.

When I finally found the trainer I use now, she took one look at us and correctly identified the problem as you describe above and showed me how to shove his wither over with a half-halt on the inside rein which then straightened him out and allowed me to soften on the outside rein. It took me a long time of driving very consciously to release this habit and I still catch myself doing it every now and then but now I have good habits to replace it with and my horses and I are both much happier.

The first check for "Is this a driver problem" is to essentially throw away both reins so there's no contact and see if the horse straightens out. If he does, it's you or his mouth. If he still travels crooked, he should probably see a chiropractor and/or get a massage.

Leia

 

[Marsha Cassada]

No. This wasnt' the first time I had him out since the injury. This was the 3rd. He went perfectly straight the first two times. I did wonder if he went back to work too soon. I'll know more when he is back in harness again. I'm going to give his mouth at least a week to heal.

Also waiting for a callback from the vet about the arcade issue.

It is so interesting learning so many new things. When I am with the PlayDay, cowboy folks now I feel as though I am on a different planet from them. I like this planet better.

 

[hobbyhorse23]

No. This wasnt' the first time I had him out since the injury. This was the 3rd.

I said it was one of the first few times, not the first.

Kody will often act fine for the first half of a drive but when he wears out, he wears out fast and pain is not far behind at that point because he isn't truly healed and probably never will be. I'm terrified every drive that I'm going to see that little bobble and he'll go lame again.

My thought was that Dusty may have essentially overdone it and gone back to being a little sore for awhile. More likely it was the tooth, but I wanted to throw the idea out there as another possibility.

I'm glad you're giving him time off to get his mouth healed up.

Leia

 

[Reignmaker Miniatures]

Oh, this sounds far too familiar!!

That's what I did with Kody for years and every clinician I had take a look at me (somewhat desperately searching for a solution) said we were fine and there was nothing to worry about.

Needless to say, this was rather frustrating as I knew darn well that constant counterbending was not correct.

When I finally found the trainer I use now, she took one look at us and correctly identified the problem as you describe above and showed me how to shove his wither over with a half-halt on the inside rein which then straightened him out and allowed me to soften on the outside rein. It took me a long time of driving very consciously to release this habit and I still catch myself doing it every now and then but now I have good habits to replace it with and my horses and I are both much happier.

The first check for "Is this a driver problem" is to essentially throw away both reins so there's no contact and see if the horse straightens out. If he does, it's you or his mouth. If he still travels crooked, he should probably see a chiropractor and/or get a massage.

Leia

I will file this little tidbit away in my brain for future reference. I am often convinced it is my reinsmanship creating an issue with a horse but don't always know how to confirm that. Now I do, thanks Leia, don't know why that has never occurred to me

. Good description too of how to help correct that counterflex.

Sorry Marsha Cassada, didn't mean to hijack, just got a little excited when I had the light bulb moment reading Leia's post.