Had to get vet today to see my horse Lillia.  She has periodontal disease (Teeth & gum problems) and today her chin was swollen so taking her to get head X-ray.   If only the previous owner had taken care of her and got her teeth checked twice a year the disease would have been caught and probably have been treatable.  I found out she had it 1 week after buying her…I was foolish and didn’t get her vetted, cos I just fell in love with her.  I think previous owner must have had her slightly sedated because the 3 times I saw her before purchase she was fine with a normal bridle and bit.
Once I got her home that changed, I could see terror in her eyes every time she saw the bridle coming so I knew something was wrong.  I got the  Dentist asap, and after a lot of  sedation so the dentist could get near here mouth, she said her teeth had obviously never been looked at!  Of course I was devastated, my poor horse must have been in agony before I bought her.
Lillia is 15 now, in all those years never having a dentist to check her teeth, has ended up with me footing a large vets bill just short of £1500.  A  lot of work had to be done and teeth pulled,  nothing I could do would change it, all I can do is try to just  keep her pain free.
Apparntly this disease is the number 1 cause of pain in the mouth area, which obvisouly manifests itself as the horse  being difficult, shaking their head, over reaching, trying to get under the bit, bolting….many vices are related to Periodontal disease, yet nobody I talk to (who all have horses) has ever heard of it.
Lillia is and always will be only ever ridden in a bit-less bridle.  I will never put a bit in her mouth again as it would cause her soooo much pain, I hate to think how much she suffered before I bought her, poor thing!!

Mmwa!

In fact, the bit-less works just as well as a bitted bridle so i think i will start my little man (Bengie) bit-less.  No point in having nasty metal causing pain in their mouths if there is another product that lets you ride as well, and the bit-less does.  I take her out on hacks through busy traffic, on the beach and not once have I not had complete control over her, and yes her brakes work just fine.
I for one, will never put a metal, bronze, copper or any type of bit in any of my horses mouths ever again…they don’t need it, no horse needs a bit in its mouth to control it.
Finger crossed Lillia will be ok and just a course of antibiotics will do the job,  instead of having to have more teeth pulled. In the future she will have to have more teeth pulled out due to the disease.
So if your horse is acting up in any way, get their teeth checked first and foremost!
Well time for bed, my drugs are kicking in and I’m feeling tired now…TTFNl