Dental pain is extremely common in horses and frequently unrecognized because horses continue to work and eat through significant oral discomfort, making regular dental care essential.
Equine dental pain is among the most underrecognized welfare problems in horse keeping. Horses are stoic animals that continue to work through substantial oral discomfort, and the behavioral changes indicating dental pain — increased bit resistance, head shaking, difficulty chewing — are often attributed to training issues rather than investigated as potential pain responses. The Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram identifies multiple behaviors associated with dental pain that are frequently misread. Regular dental care by a qualified practitioner prevents the accumulation of dental pathology that causes chronic pain. Horses whose dental issues are treated typically show marked improvement in behavior, willingness to work, and body condition as pain is resolved.