Equine dental disease causes chronic pain, poor body condition, and behavioral changes; regular dental examination and floating are essential welfare components for all horses.
Equine dental disease is chronically underdiagnosed because horses rarely show dramatic signs of mouth pain — they continue eating out of necessity even when it causes significant discomfort. The welfare challenge is recognizing subtle indicators: slower eating, dropped food (quidding), unilateral chewing, weight loss, and behavioral resistance under saddle that may have dental origins. Owners and trainers often attribute performance resistance to training problems rather than pain, leading to prolonged unaddressed welfare compromise. A horse whose mouth is painful from sharp points and hooks may endure discomfort during every meal and every ride for months before diagnosis. Regular dental examination as a standard welfare protocol — not only when problems are suspected — prevents this accumulation of preventable suffering.