All horses and ponies need checking by a qualified equine dental technician (EqDT) at regular intervals. Youngsters need looking at to check that all is normal and progressing as it should from an early age. Once the permanent teeth start coming through it is necessary to ensure that they are correct, remembering that this is the time that most horses are being bitted and starting their ridden careers. Thereafter, the EqDT will ensure that the horse/pony stays comfortable throughout its life. Don't forget that the retired horse/pony will still need attention to enable them to utilize their food well into old age!
Cloudy is a 14 year old Welsh Section C mare owned by Judith Hubbard. Cloudy's done a bit of everything, including dressage, show-jumping, Hunter Trials, one day events and even some Western Reining. Through the winter her workload is fairly light, mainly hacking and a bit of schooling. There were no particular problems with bitting, and she's been checked regularly by an equine dentist. A few weeks ago Cloudy started "pouching" on the right hand side (accumulating food between her cheek and molars, a bit like a hamster). Judith suspected straight away that this was related to her teeth and called Bill. After a treatment session lasting about 30 minutes, Bill had diagnosed and dealt with the problem - basically she'd had a very sharp hook on the last molar that had prevented her from chewing properly. Immediately after the treatment, Cloudy was able to eat properly, without pouching. The benefits are obvious - not only is Cloudy now comfortable again, but the risks of colic and bitting problems when working are avoided.
For the longer term, Bill's examination identified the fact that Cloudy has dental conformation known as a "smile". (See the illustration to the left.) This means that the biting surface isn't level and is in effect "dipped". This has implications for the rest of her mouth and if not treated could cause other problems over time. Bill addresses this in his regular visits to maintain her dental health.
Cloudy is a 14 year old Welsh Section C mare owned by Judith Hubbard. Cloudy's done a bit of everything, including dressage, show-jumping, Hunter Trials, one day events and even some Western Reining. Through the winter her workload is fairly light, mainly hacking and a bit of schooling. There were no particular problems with bitting, and she's been checked regularly by an equine dentist. A few weeks ago Cloudy started "pouching" on the right hand side (accumulating food between her cheek and molars, a bit like a hamster). Judith suspected straight away that this was related to her teeth and called Bill. After a treatment session lasting about 30 minutes, Bill had diagnosed and dealt with the problem - basically she'd had a very sharp hook on the last molar that had prevented her from chewing properly. Immediately after the treatment, Cloudy was able to eat properly, without pouching. The benefits are obvious - not only is Cloudy now comfortable again, but the risks of colic and bitting problems when working are avoided. 
For the longer term, Bill's examination identified the fact that Cloudy has dental conformation known as a "smile". (See the illustration to the left.) This means that the biting surface isn't level and is in effect "dipped". This has implications for the rest of her mouth and if not treated could cause other problems over time. Bill addresses this in his regular visits to maintain her dental health. 