Working Animals

Horse Dentistry and Welfare

Dental disease in horses causes chronic pain affecting feeding, behavior, and ridden performance, yet routine dental care remains inconsistently practiced.

Key Facts

Horses teeth erupt continuously throughout life and require regular rasping or floating
Sharp enamel points develop on molars and cause tongue and cheek lacerations
Horses with dental pain often show performance problems rather than obvious oral discomfort
BEVA recommends annual dental examinations for all horses from age 2 onwards

Welfare Considerations

Dental pain in horses manifests as quidding (dropping half-chewed food), weight loss, head tilting while eating, and behavioral problems under saddle. Many owners and trainers attribute ridden resistance to training problems rather than investigating dental causes. Routine annual dental care prevents the progression to severe disease causing chronic pain.

What You Can Do

Schedule annual dental examinations by a qualified equine dentist or veterinarian
Monitor for quidding, weight loss, and ridden resistance as dental pain indicators
Ensure young horses have their first dental check before bitting or beginning work
Choose qualified equine dental technicians registered with professional bodies