Improvements after teeth are floated?

Question

Okay, so I bought my horse back in July, and since then he's been a really good boy, and collects very well, generally doesn't have a problem with contact on his face/mouth. We bought him from a barn that used the cheap way to go out of things, and they used a vet to float the horse's teeth, not a professional equine dentist. However, the vet check went fine, so we brought him home.

Today, Gus had his first dental exam since I've had him, and I seriously LOVE my equine dentist. He's very thorough and answers all my questions, and mentioned today that after his teeth were done, I would notice a huge different in his collection.

Gus had a pretty big hook on the left side of his mouth, which the dentist used power tools on to make sure he got it the best he could, and he's also developing a periodontal pocket, which which he wasn't too worried about just yet, he's gonna come back and take a look at that in six months. I couldn't ride today because my horse was still groggy from sedation when I left, but I'm going to ride tomorrow!

Just out of curiosity, have any of you had a horse with a hook, and noticed a big difference when it was filed down? I'm just excited, and happy that it's better now!


http://www.kbrhorse.net/hpic/teeth2.jpg

that is what I'm referring to as a hook, it develops because horses who don't have the best dental care tend to have uneven teeth because of their eating habits, and this tooth tends to wear into a point. it takes a while of good dental care to have a "balanced mouth"

Answer 1

Funny. In my area, "professional equine dentists" can only do horse teeth under the care and supervision of a licensed vet. It's actually illegal. So I can't fathom why a "professional equine dentist" would be better than a vet. Who will also use sedation and power equipment to do the teeth properly.



You are unlikely to notice any immediate change. The horse has to have time to realize a problem has been fixed, and that your cue doesn't hurt, and what your cue means. There are no instant fixes.



I also don't think a hook like that will affect collection. It wouldn't interfere with the bit, so...

Answer 2

I just wanted to point out that using a vet to float a horse's teeth is not always "cheap." There are no "professional equine dentists" in my area, and even if there were there is no way in hell I would trust anyone but a licensed vet to sedate my horse. Those drugs can kill my horse, and I want someone with a degree in equine veterinary sciences giving them out.



But anyway back to your actual question. After a few rides he'll get used to the bit not causing any kind of discomfort and he should be more willing to give to the bit. Which will improve his collection a little bit but by no means will it do anything spectacular. Why? Because collection does not come from the bit.



Collection can be done without a bit. Heck, when the horse is moving correctly collection can come without any tack or even a rider. Collection comes from behind, specifically the act of literally setting back on the hind legs and powering through with the back end. In the highest level of dressage horses you can literally see the front end lift upwards when they do this, it also causes rounding of the entire spine, which results in that lovely headset you see in dressage horses.



So yes and no, you'll see some improvement but it won't be anything spectacular because that's just not how collection works.

Answer 3

First of all, vets are qualified to float teeth, though of course dentists deal with the more difficult cases, but I am pleased you are pleased and hope it all works out for you.



It may take a horse a couple of weeks to trust that the bit or whatever it was that was interfering with his mouth will not hurt. It is like when you have broken a bone or something and it has healed. You are still careful with it until you learn that it is not going to hurt. Each horse is individual, so is each horse's mouth.



However, collection is not JUST about teeth, but building muscle from behind the saddle in order to get the horse to step up into his front tracks and propel himself forward from behind.