09/06/2026
Did you know that horses need dentists too? Let’s talk teeth. 🦷🐴
When people think about horse care, they usually think about feed, farriers, saddles and vet. But one of the most important parts of keeping a horse healthy, comfortable and happy? It is something you usually can’t see from the outside - their teeth.
Horses’ teeth are very different from ours. They’re designed for grazing and grinding rough forage many hours a day. Horse teeth grow continually throughout their lives (unlike ours), to allow for constant wear from rough forage. Over time their teeth often wear unevenly. They can develop sharp points, hooks, uneven surfaces or worse - cause ulcers in the cheeks or tongue. This makes it difficult for the horse to chew properly and can be very painful.
And because horses are prey animals, they are very good at hiding discomfort. They might not look sore. Instead they show subtle changes like dropping feed, losing weight, tossing their head (particularly under saddle), or becoming fussy, tense, distracted or cranky. Sometimes what looks like a training issue can actually be a horse trying to tell us “hey! my mouth hurts.”
At Racing Hearts, our horses have their teeth checked annually as part of their ongoing care program. Regular dentistry helps horses chew efficiently, digest feed properly, hold weight, stay comfortable in their work, and feel better in their bodies. For ridden horses, dental comfort is especially important because the mouth, jaw, poll, neck and whole body are connected. If the mouth is uncomfortable, the horse may struggle to relax, accept contact, bend, focus or move freely.
Just one of the many little behind-the-scenes things that helps keep our herd happy, healthy and ready for their important work.
Good horsemanship is not just about what happens in the arena. It is also about noticing the small things, preventing problems before they become a problem, and making sure every horse in our care is supported from the inside out. Healthy mouth. Happy horse! ❤️🐴
