Gumbits? Do they work? And if so, how much and when?

[KellyS]

I rode in a clinic with an upper level trainer in November and this person recommended that I use Gumbits for my pony who “clicks” his teeth at times.

The clicking has never really bothered me…he does do it some when he’s doing something new and gets a little tense.

Anyway, I figured I try them just to see how he responded but am curious as to how many you give (bag says 2 tablespoons) and when you give them? Before you put the bridle on? After? If after, before or after you fasten the noseband (I use a drop noseband that I do NOT make tight)?

I’m not noticing much difference in saliva production, and the clicking doesn’t really happen that often, especially at home, so thought I should ask if timing of “administration” makes any difference.

And he almost knocked the whole bag off the vacuum today…that would have been an expensive spill! :eek:

[WasthatC]

You can give them at any point just before or during your ride. Pour a bunch in your palm and feed them like a cookie or treat. The horse I bought them for didn’t wear a flash so we never had an issue with the bridle. Obviously for them to work you’ll need them to be chewed between whichever teeth are making contact for the clicking noise.
Keep in mind they don’t stop a behavior, they just mute it.

[candico]

Meh, I thought they were a huge waste of money. Most of my horses won’t even take them - too expensive for them to just be spit out so I’d try to chase them down and re shove them in their mouths. I would have the nosebands already done, one has a drop, the other a Micklem, and finally one in a crank noseband double, in hopes they wouldn’t be able to open their mouths enough to loose them, but apparently they are small enough to still get launched out. One horse did like them, my pickiest eater -go figure and he is the one I bought them for because he has never ever been a mouth foamer and it made no difference as far as bit acceptance, foaming, etc. I tried them myself - nothing special about them. They just don’t seem “gummy” enough - they disappear completely fairly quickly so I don’t see how they would be effective beyond a minute or two. FWIW…

[csaper58]

The white mint/wax treats? My horse did not care for them.

But, when I broke a tooth on a friday night, they worked great to cover the sharp edge until I could get to the dentist. It was a molar, no root exposed. I guess if a horse has some sharp points they might help until a float can be scheduled.

[CatchMeIfUCan]

I haven’t tried these, but I use sugar cubes. They definitely make a difference in saliva production (give before and after I bridle), and are white so they don’t color the foam.

[ToN_Farm]

Sugar may help with chewing and <false> foam, but will not help to disguise grinding. Gumbits are glycerine or something similar. They coat the teeth. Years ago (maybe still now) people rubbed glycerine soap on the front teeth to temporarily not hear the grinding noise.

IMO, nothing stops the grinding except eliminating the cause. The only thing that will generate true good foam is suppleness and acceptance of the bit.

[joiedevie99]

I know one horse that they helped, and two that they did not. Friend whose horse went better feeds them after warm-up, while they are taking the wraps off to head over to the ring.

[KellyS]

Thanks everyone!

He doesn’t grind his teeth…it’s like he relaxes his jaw and lets his teeth click together. It’s the strangest thing! He only does it at the trot, and literally clicks to the trot rhythm (like his jaw is loose and his teeth “hit” together as his footfalls land). He seems to do it when he’s thinking hard (he’s an “over” thinker), so I think he forgets what his mouth is doing and let’s his teeth bounce.

The only issue is, is that it has quite an echo in an indoor, or if it’s really quiet during a dressage test; hence the clinician’s comment (clinic was indoors). I’ve never had a judge remark on it, even when I’ve heard it on video. And he doesn’t always do it.

Yes, he’s “special”!

Used the Gumbits again today, and I slipped in a regular horse treat because he doesn’t think they are that tasty. He was very foamy at the mouth, but would have been anyway as he was relaxed and happy. Some teeth clicking at the beginning when he was warming up because he wanted to do more than just trot, but it went away as soon as I started adding in lateral work.

First horse I’ve had that is happier as the work gets harder.

[csaper58]

If judges don’t mark him down for it, and he is happy and relaxed, I would leave well enough alone. P. S. He sound cute!

[Covergirl15]

My guy does the teeth click thing too–for him it’s a sign that he’s super happy and relaxed and connected. It’s super quiet, and I doubt anyone else could hear it, but when he’s really through and on the bit, he relaxes his jaw enough that his teeth click too. Silly boys! (;

[lorilu]

My horse wont eat them. Spits them out. Wish they were gummier.

[KellyS]

[QUOTE=csaper58;8467134]
If judges don’t mark him down for it, and he is happy and relaxed, I would leave well enough alone. P. S. He sound cute![/QUOTE]

Thanks! And yes, he is a cutie! Here he is on Saturday…I’ve been out of the saddle for a month due to pneumonia and just started hacking at the walk last week. Saturday was our first day of trot and, boy, was he happy to have something to do!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10207682933045573&l=5c2b99ecbe

[Char0308]

Gumbits are mainly beeswax and powdered sugar. My horse won’t eat the gumbits or beeswax, but I buy beeswax pellets off Amazon, add a lil powdered sugar with them in a bag, and syringe couple teaspoons worth of them into her mouth with bridle on but before I buckle her nose band. Much cheaper and works the same