Lorna,

First off sounds like the trainer took you for a ride. I would not go changing bits just yet. But the main thing is you have a 4 year old horse (breed don't matter) that has been in some type of training and now is throwing his head. Did the vet just check his teeth or did he actually do them? If he has just checked them I would insist on having them done. Horses shed caps/baby teeth until they are five years old. As these caps shed they leave VERY sharp points on the teeth that cut into the cheek, gums, and tounges. During the exam he can also make sure that the wolf teeth have been removed. Also he can make sure that he does not have any retained caps, these are very painful. All of these things can cause the problems you are describing. It is an easy fix. Horses between age 2 and 5 should have their teeth done yearly, after that about every other year works for most horses, if motorized equipment is used. Yearly floats if your vet does it the old fashioned way with hand floats.

None of my horses have ever come back with raw mouths. A twisted wire is a little rough on a young horse. A regular snaffle or a tom thumb should be fine.

I do agree with Joe as that not all people and horses get along and make a good match. My husband's mare and I can't stand each other, and I have had her since she was 5 months (now 11yrs). You may like him but is it really worth all of the grief that it is causing you. I would have gotten rid of our mare but I don't have to ride her.


Hope this helps.


Just a side note about teeth:

I do have a client that has a top barrel horse & the horse tells her when he needs his teeth done. When his teeth start getting the slightest bit sharp he will lose a 1/2 second on his time. Once those few points are gone he is more comfortable and his speed picks back up.