Equine Welfare

Equine Dental Welfare: The Importance of Regular Dental Care

Dental disease in horses causes chronic pain that impairs feeding, performance, and behaviour — yet dental care remains inconsistent across horse ownership and management systems.

Key Facts

Horses teeth erupt continuously and require regular floating (rasping of sharp points)
Sharp enamel points cause ulcers on cheeks and tongue affecting feeding and bit acceptance
Periodontal disease, fractured teeth, and impaction are common in middle-aged and older horses
Annual dental examination by a qualified equine dentist is recommended by major veterinary bodies
Behavioural changes including head-tossing and bit resistance often signal dental pain

Welfare Considerations

A horse with untreated sharp points or dental disease experiences pain with every bite of food and every rein aid. Performance problems attributed to behaviour or training are frequently resolved by dental treatment. The welfare cost of inconsistent dental care falls on horses whose discomfort is misinterpreted as stubbornness or training failure.

What You Can Do

Ensure your horse receives annual dental examination by a qualified equine vet or dentist
Seek dental assessment before attributing rein resistance or performance issues to training
Advocate for equine dental care requirements in welfare standards and horse passports
Support British Equine Veterinary Association resources on dental welfare