Equine Dentistry and Horse Welfare

Dental health is a critical but frequently underestimated aspect of horse welfare, with poor dental care causing pain during eating, riding and dental procedures themselves.

Key Facts

Horses have hypsodont teeth that continue erupting throughout their lives and require regular floating (rasping)
Dental problems including sharp enamel points cause mouth ulcers that make eating and bit contact painful
An estimated 60% of performance horses have dental problems affecting comfort with the bit
Sedated dental treatment is more welfare-friendly but requires veterinary involvement and is more costly
Young horses with milk teeth are particularly vulnerable to dental problems that affect lifelong dental health

Welfare Considerations

Equine dental care is an excellent example of a preventable welfare problem that persists because of gaps in owner knowledge and veterinary access. A horse with dental pain may appear to perform adequately while experiencing chronic discomfort during every meal and every ridden session. Pain from bit contact due to sharp dental points or erupting teeth manifests as behavioral problems — headshaking, resistance, poor performance — that are often addressed with training interventions rather than dental examination. Regular dental care by a qualified equine dentist or veterinarian prevents suffering that would otherwise continue undetected.

What You Can Do

Schedule annual dental examinations for all owned horses
Recognize that headshaking, bit resistance and poor performance may indicate dental pain
Ensure dental work is performed by qualified equine dental technicians or veterinarians with appropriate sedation
Advocate for dental care awareness to be included in all horse-keeping education programs