Monday on the farm. Cold, windy, and we have a dental appointment scheduled at the pole barn. Dr. Diane Febles of Georgia Equine Dentistry sees our Tennessee Walker, Buck, once every 8 months. Today she is floating or filing his teeth. Why would a horse need a dentist? oh, so many reasons.
A horse is a hypsodont, meaning their teeth continue to erupt throughout their life. These oral changes affect the bit placement. Wolf teeth and retained baby teeth may impact training of a young horse. Ulcers caused by the sharp edges of the adult teeth may turn a respectful horse into a hard-to-handle-horse. Head tossing and many other behavioral and training issues are caused by dental problems. Once corrected, the horse and rider relationship improves dramatically.