ITalkHorses.com
At what age should you start to have
dental examinations done on your horse?
It’s recommended that you get an annual dental exam for your horse starting at age two. Horses between the ages of two and four have sharper points than at any other age. This is because their teeth are growing/erupting very fast and thus resulting in sharp points. Checking for retained deciduous (baby) teeth is another reason to have dental exams done at such an early age. Horses lose their deciduous incisors and pre-molars (commonly referred to as caps) between the ages of 2 and 5. A retained cap can result in discomfort, excessive salivation and possibly a tooth abscess. Checking for wolf teeth is another reason to have your young horse examined. Generally, wolf teeth are very small teeth located just in front of the first cheek tooth. They have very short roots and can cause discomfort to the horse when bridled. We often see young horses that are having training issues and it is due to their teeth being so sharp that they are cutting into their cheeks and/or they have wolf teeth present. It’s recommended floating and extracting wolf teeth prior to putting your horse in training to prevent any behavioral or training issues (such as not wanting to give to the bit, resisting turns, holding their head in the air, etc).
-Jake Simmons, CEqD
Block and Bridle Veterinary Service
32649 WCR 53