Page 126 - The Mini Horse Magazine 2023 No 1

LEGENDS THROUGHOUT HISTORY
Horses with major dental problems and
extracted teeth (premolars and molars)
need to be checked again once every 6
months. For older horses with problem-free
teeth aged 18 years and older, a check-up
even once every 2 years is sufficient.

However, I know from practice here in the
Czech Republic that the once-a-year rule
has caught on. This is also great, because
dental treatment among breeders has only
recently become part of the regular care of
horses. Still, many people only deal with
the teeth when the horse has problems.

When is the earliest time to treat horses'
teeth? At what age?
Ideally at 3 – 3.5 years, just before the
horses start to become possessed. The
dentition is almost replaced. Of course,
only if no problem was found during the
previous checks. Same is of course for
miniature horses.

How do I know if my horse needs dental
treatment?
Flocking is the clearest sign of dental
problems in a horse. This means you will
find chewed hay rolls in the haystack.

Next, weight loss, poor nutritional status
of the horse, even if it is well fed, impaired
feed intake (feeding falling out of the mouth,
reluctance to accept hard fodder...), changes
in riding (reluctance to accept the bit while As soon as the crown wears down
bridling, throwing the head, twisting the on molars, molars and incisors,
a new one gradually emerges
neck to the side, bad teeth can lead to from the bed. Put simply, horses
stiffening of the masticatory muscles and grow their teeth throughout their
neck muscles to lameness).
lives. On average, it is 2 – 4 mm
per year. For horses, the natural
Why and how often does a horse need its environment is free nature, thanks
teeth adjusted? to domestication, breeding and
First of all, it must be said that the horse use of horses, many changes have
has a hypsodont type of teeth, which means occurred.
that the teeth have a limited growth period,
but prolonged cutting. A horse's tooth is
protected against constant wear and tear of
the surface by a long crown, which is stored
in the tooth bed - this is a reserve crown.

126 | Miniature Horse Magazine • Issue 1/2023