Equine dentist pays a visit

The equine dentist came today to check the teeth of two new ponies and of two older horses who had their teeth floated (or rasped) six months ago. One of the new ponies had been giving a bit of trouble by leaning down on the reins, pulling them out of the rider’s hands, and making it difficult to control him even in the arena. I noticed when putting the bit in his mouth that his teeth at the side seemed very sharp.

When she came six months ago, the dentist had floated the teeth of all the horses and ponies. One, in particular, has problem teeth which will need to be floated every six months to try to get them in order. Teeth that are left untreated can actually rotate or grow sideways and cause all sorts of problems.

Horses and ponies wear a special head collar with a metal attachment which keeps their mouths open. It looks uncomfortable but doesn’t hurt them. Most of them tolerate the dental work well but some, who haven’t been treated before, can make a fuss. What I found was that the ones I thought would be good and quiet kicked up when they got fed up and the more difficult, bossier horses behaved remarkably well! Not what I expected at all. However, there was a huge improvement in the behaviour of all of the horses and ponies who had had teeth attended to in the past because, as the dentist said, they knew what to expect and were clever enough to remember that it made a difference to them the last time around.

If you’re having problems getting a horse down on the bit, or if he’s throwing his head about or leaning on the bit, it’s well worth calling the equine dentist. I like to get the older horses and ponies’ teeth seen to before the winter starts because they can lose a lot of weight if they can’t chew properly or if sharp teeth are hurting the inside of their mouths when they eat. A horse should have his teeth checked once a year or every six months if he has problems. In Ireland the equine dentist will charge about €60 per horse or pony. If you would like more info on problems caused by sharp or bad teeth, click here.