Sometimes in consultations I see horses that have bone spurs (mandibular periostitis) on the bars of the lower jaw. These form in the interdental space between the premolars and the incisors where the bit usually sits. Bone spurs form when the bone has suffered some damage and the bone begins to remodel and repair. Sometimes the new formation can have a sharp and uneven surface, which in turn can make the pressure from a bit very uncomfortable and painful.

Bone spurs are usually caused by constant and strong pulling on the reins, a too thick mouthpiece or the wrong shape for the mouth. Bone spurs can be the cause of many mouth evasions, sometimes throughout the body too as the horse tries to relive pressure placed on the lower bars by the bit. The horse may exhibit the following evasions: tongue hanging out, open mouth, coming behind the vertical, holding the bit with the premolars, reluctance to be bridled. You may also find ridden behaviour may change significantly as the horse tries to relieve the pain.

If you find you are experiencing some of the above mentioned evasions, and lumpy formations on the bars of the mouth it’s advisable to request X-rays of the area to assess the damage. Surgery is sometimes possible to repair the reformed bone into a smoother surface, depending on how bad the damage is.

Above all, to prevent this type of damage from occurring be very mindful of using excess force on the reins, and consider an appropriate bit shape for your horses mouth.

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