06/07/2026
This is your friendly reminder, to check when your horse last had a ๐ฟ๐๐๐๐ผ๐โฆ
As we all know time really gets away from us, while we as horse owners are so focused on other aspects of their health and maintenance. Sometimes owners lose track of time before realizing their horse is overdue for a dental.
For most performance horses, a dental exam should be performed every 6โ12 months, even if they donโt appear to have any obvious issues.
๐ ๐๐๐ฐ ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐๐ฅ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ:
๐๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค๐ง๐จ๐๐จ (2โ5 ๐ฎ๐๐๐ง๐จ ๐ค๐ก๐): Every 6 months.
They are shedding caps, erupting permanent teeth, and often develop sharp points and bite abnormalities quickly.
๐ผ๐๐ช๐ก๐ฉ ๐๐ค๐ง๐จ๐๐จ (5โ15 ๐ฎ๐๐๐ง๐จ ๐ค๐ก๐): Typically every 12 months, though some benefit from every 6 months depending on their mouth and workload.
๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ค๐ง ๐๐ค๐ง๐จ๐๐จ (15+ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ง๐จ ๐ค๐ก๐): Every 6 months. Aging teeth can develop waves, hooks, loose teeth, periodontal disease, and other issues that require closer monitoring.
๐๐ข๐ ๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ก๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฒ ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐จ๐จ๐ง๐๐ซ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐:
* Dropping feed (quidding)
* Slow eating
* Weight loss
* Bad breath
* Head tossing or resistance in the bridle
* Difficulty turning or bending
* Excessive salivation
* Undigested feed in manure
* Declining performance
One thing we see in performance horses is that subtle dental discomfort often shows up as a performance issue before it becomes an eating issue. A horse canโt comfortably flex at the poll, carry a bit correctly, or use its body efficiently if its mouth hurts.
