A Visit From The Lay Equine Dentist
Twice a year, my five Friesian horses are paid a visit by Brian Stuart, their familiar lay equine dentist. Unlike human teeth, equine teeth are constantly growing, which is where the expression "long in the tooth" comes from. Consequently, how the molars meet is always changing. A horse’s mouth benefits greatly from a process called floating. Using special files called floats, the lay equine dentist smoothes and contours the molars to enhance the act of chewing, making for better digestion and a happier animal.
1 Brian starts off gently with each horse. Here he is saying hello to Rinze. Being a lay equine dentist requires excellent horse skills. This is no easy task.
2 After slipping on Rinze's halter and after some gentle words, the exam begins.
3 Taking a good look at the front chompers. These large incisors are used for cutting grasses when grazing and rarely need any sort of adjustments.
4 Brian runs his fingers over the gums.
5 He then feels the insides of the cheeks looking for scratches, cuts, sores, or anything unusual.
6 Last spring, with the help of the veterinarian, one of Rinze's lower teeth was extracted, which had become loose. Brian was happy to see that it had healed very nicely.
7 These are some of the tools of the trade, soaking in a dental disinfectant.
8 This file is called a float.
9 Brian begins by filing the uneven and high edges of the front molars. Horses have twenty four molars and premolars that are constantly growing and being worn away.
10 Filing is required because the teeth don't always meet well. Where teeth don't meet well hooks or enamel points develop.
11 To reach the back molars, a full mouth speculum is fitted into the mouth to hold it open. Those sharp hooks eventually begin to cut the cheek or tongue.
12 Checking first by hand to determine which back molars need floating.
13 First the upper molars - Unlike humans, a horse's nerves end close to the gum line, so there are no nerve endings in the teeth to feel any pain from this procedure.
14 And then the lower molars
15 There's a lot of horse drool involved with floating.
16 Feeling again for rough edges
17 A bit more floating
18 One final check
19 Brian is satisfied and removes the speculum.
20 After completing each one of the five Friesians, Brian updates his records. It looks like he went home with a copy of my latest Pies & Tarts book!
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
WOW!!!! Brave Brian...I wouldn't stick my hand and arm in a horse's mouth like that.
Gloria G!!
Posted by: Gloria | November 14th, 2012 at 12:28 am
Never, ever tire of seeing your magnificent horses. So majestic,
even in the hands of the dentist. You always make the most ordinary
things so extraordinary. You never cease to amaze me! So glad you
love animals as much as I do.
Enjoy the beauty of this day,
Kathy
Posted by: kathy peterson | November 14th, 2012 at 1:13 am
Martha, just like us humans the horses have to be examed every 6 months. How interesting this blog. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: KLBrown | November 14th, 2012 at 2:52 am
Thanx for wonderful lesson on this technigue. Larry McMurtry wrote that great story about Texas oil man who sold his truck and bought a bicycle.Taught me that horses are the greatest friends even if there comes a time when it is just easier to give up gracefully. However, I still read your latest writings and think Brian will love your latest Pies and Tarts book.
Posted by: ann | November 14th, 2012 at 3:47 am
How 'bout that! I had no idea horse molars needed such treatment. The speculum is the largest I've ever seen. I will need to show this to my Grandson who has (unfortunately) has spent his share of time in the pedodontist chair with a much smaller speculum is his mouth.
Have a good day,
Sharon
Posted by: Sharon | November 14th, 2012 at 6:26 am
I never knew that!!! Fascinating...as usual. Thanks for sharing. It's such a treat to come to my computer and learn something new from YOU almost every day.
Posted by: Burndett Andres | November 14th, 2012 at 7:55 am
What an informative and interesting blog! I was fascinated from start to finish. Thanks for a rare opportunity to learn about equine dentistry.
Posted by: Sue Fawcett | November 14th, 2012 at 8:02 am
Well, I've learned something new once again Martha! I didn't know horses teeth continue to grow. It makes sense that the molars and premolars would need adjusting. Interesting job you have Brian and it looks like you do it well!
Posted by: Cindy F | November 14th, 2012 at 8:30 am
This is all new to me and very interesting. I'm just surprised to know that you don't brush their teeth every day like you do the cats and the dogs. I had to laugh about the drool. If a dentist stuck that speculum in my mouth, I'd drool too! Rinze actually looked relaxed and maybe because he remembers the dentist pulled that bad tooth that was 'killin' him the last time. In picture #1, I can't help but wonder what Rinze is thinking. Something like, 'Oh here we go, the sweet talk first. Something's up!" Well, there never seems to be a dull moment at your house!
~
Great appearance on HSN yesterday. I watched most of it and I 'drooled' over everything. Unfortunately, I don't have time to craft so I had to say no to everything but that doesn't mean I wasn't wanting it, especially that Circle Edge puncher. I really liked that! I think Alex was getting 'punch' crazy after the 12th hour. Both of you sure have stamina though and did a great job! Trish
Posted by: Trish | November 14th, 2012 at 8:38 am
Hi Martha, Yesterday was a special day to be able to see you on HSN with Alex showing us your newest craft products! It was like watching your TV Shows for a whole week and it made me very happy! I get to see your PBS Cooking Show about Rice again today, also! Sure wish you had your fabulous TV Shows daily again! Today's blog about Brian Stuart, your Friesians fantastic Lay Equine Dentist, was fantastic! Rinze certainly was relaxed looking while Brian fixed his teeth! I don't recall if I had ever seen him work with your Friesians before, but all that he did and we learned about was remarkable! These photos and his process explanations were outstanding! All of these photos are great and how fun it was that he got your latest Pies and Tarts Book! Does he do the same thing with your donkeys, too? You have the healthiest animals that receive such great care! Hope you have another great day! Off to see The Daily Wag about "Riding on Jane's Carousel!" Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | November 14th, 2012 at 9:56 am
Very interesting. I have never seen photos of this done before.
Posted by: lisa | November 14th, 2012 at 10:10 am
Okay, here I am again - weak at the knees Trish. I just had to get that Circle Edge Punch even if I don't have a lot of time. I'll make time! Here's the link for anyone who missed it yesterday on HSN. http://bit.ly/W7vXS6 Anyway, I want to make some of those angel cards for Christmas and a stencil to use as trim and like you guys indicated, the possibilities are endless. It might even arrive before Thanksgiving so I can make a little turkey centerpiece. For sure, this is one fabulous punch! I get giddy just thinking about how it works! Trish
Posted by: Trish | November 14th, 2012 at 10:44 am
I always learn something new reading your blog Martha. Rinze seemed so calm getting his check up, he handled it like a pro.
Posted by: dianna | November 14th, 2012 at 11:14 am
Rinze seemed so calm getting his check up. He handled it like a pro.
Posted by: dianna | November 14th, 2012 at 11:17 am
I LOVE and read your Blog everyday and being a lifelong horse owner I just had to point out an error on picture #2....Brian put Rinze's HALTER on him not bridal which is really bridle before he started his exam. Good blog other than that, thanks for sharing !
Posted by: Julie | November 14th, 2012 at 11:24 am
Fascinating. Would be a great person for "What's my Line?" Television show.
Posted by: julian Hazlett | November 14th, 2012 at 11:55 am
Amazing! Always love seeing the caring for your beautiful animals.
Posted by: Sonya | November 14th, 2012 at 12:13 pm
I really enjoyed the pictures along with the excerpts, which I thought was very informative. I can't wait to show this to my children. Thank you for sharing Martha!
Posted by: M. White | November 14th, 2012 at 1:17 pm
Hi Martha, This is very intersting to me because I have had my horses teeth floated in the past but the dentist didn't use a speculum, I guess he was old fashioned. I was amused that he got one of your cook books, you are a good sales person. Renze looks to be an older horse by his front teeth & very well behaved.
Posted by: JoAnn Pochciol | November 14th, 2012 at 3:11 pm
Thanks Martha for posting this. Brian is one of the few remaining horsemen floating teeth and I am grateful for his staying with horsemanship as his preferred method for doing the job.
FYI, the teeth in the horse are fully formed by 5 years of age and stop "growing." Like the lead inside a mechanical pencil, the teeth as they wear are replaced by tooth already formed and held in reserve. And like the lead, the horse does in time run out of tooth, although horses who are routinely floated usually keep a full set of teeth until they die.
Another analogy with the pencil is the sharp edge that forms on one side of the lead if we don't turn the pencil as we write. Because the tooth doesn't turn as it wears, it develops a razor sharp edge. It is these sharp edges that are removed in the process of floating the teeth.
Thank you again for sharing this aspect of horse care with your friends. I have been floating horses since 1983 and am about to float my 50,000th horse - still very passionate about horse teeth and ALL horse care. My new web site about to be released is all about becoming Your Horse's Advocate. And thank you too for using an equine dentist who is also passionate about horsemanship based equine dentistry. Doc T
Posted by: Geoff Tucker, DVM | November 14th, 2012 at 3:41 pm
Awwww.. Rinze took it like a champ. What a sweetheart he is. He looked very cooperative and laid back. That is quite a process. I've heard of floating, but never saw it in action. I was amazed how Brian put his hand in the horse's mouth, checking for anything unusual. I didn't realize that floating was filing down the teeth. This is a very interesting post. I can see how Brian needed to soothe Rinze... it could be dangerous, if you didn't approach it right. He must have had plenty of experience to do this so well. Your horses are beautiful because you take very good care of them. Thank you, Martha, for learning something new.
Posted by: Judy | November 14th, 2012 at 7:43 pm
Thank you Martha for taking such wonderful care of your animals.
Posted by: Carolee Spero | November 14th, 2012 at 8:14 pm
Thanks for posting, Martha! As an equine veterinary technician, I am always informing horse owners of proper dental care, among other things. I do have one question, why not have your veterinarian float your horses teeth? In many states, lay equine dentistry is not only frowned upon, but illegal.
Posted by: Brandy | November 14th, 2012 at 8:39 pm
I love seeing your horse's daily life! I got to go to a friesian's woman's camp in Vermont at Friesians of Majesty and their dentist was there to show us how he cared for the horses there. I got to feel the sharp tooth edges on a friesian stallion! It was a very educational visit.
Cheers,
Terry
Posted by: Terry Boczar | November 14th, 2012 at 8:42 pm
What a beautiful job! helping living beings is always rewarding.
Posted by: austinceres | November 14th, 2012 at 8:49 pm
Martha
Just a point to be made in Brians comments, the horses teeth do not continually grow, they infact have about a 4 inch tooth that continually erupts throught the gumline until it finally reaches the point of expiration. Ideally a horse should not be losing its teeth until it reaches into its 20s. A horse should never get "long in the tooth", as the incisors should be maintained at the proper length and angle. if not it can be detrimental to the proper alignment of the TMJ (temporal madibular joint) Contrary to Brians statement of not doing anyting to the incisors very often, They are the balancing point & crucial to the horses overall balance, If the incisors are maintained properly the horse is better equipped to maintain the molar tables better themselves. Horse Dentistry is about function, and performance, not just eating, if the horse can't function due to restrictions begining in the mouth, then they are not able to perform at their best.
Posted by: Liz | November 14th, 2012 at 9:34 pm
I love everything you post and the PBS shows are wonderful remember what big Martha said "you learn something new everyday" in my case I've forgotten so much I need these refreshers, thank you, God bless you and your family.
Posted by: Mari Lisicki | November 15th, 2012 at 12:01 am
Martha, I wasn't familiar with equine dentistry at all and enjoyed this blog very much. I have to say the speculum looks overwhelmingly scary-and I wondered how Rinze reacted to it as it was being put on him. Martha, you have to go to Wikipedia and look up 'equine dentisty'. The photo of the vet drilling teeth with that enormous drill made me queasy!
Posted by: Sarah Jane | November 15th, 2012 at 4:52 am
Dental health is important for animals and humans. Thanks for the lesson. I love your horses..and Brian is par excellence! Pies and tarts book seems like a great gift for him!!!
Posted by: Teresa Touey | November 17th, 2012 at 1:45 pm
GREAT to see you made the correction to pic #2. As you know, it's important to post correct information since you have so many readers turning to you for advice on just about everything. This blog could potentially be very important to new horse owners seeking advice from you !! Thank you and have a wonderful Thanksgiving
Posted by: Julie | November 22nd, 2012 at 11:44 am
I used to use a guy who floated teeth with files until I had a vet look into my horse's mouth right after the floating and saw huge hooks still there, plus a bad wave. Now I only use a certified equine dental vet.
Posted by: Jane McPeters | December 2nd, 2012 at 12:36 pm
Those are beautiful horses! Love to hear about all your cute pets! My granddaughter has a degree in Animal Science and works for a horse farm, so I will tell her about your website. She would love to have an exciting job with horses.
Posted by: Nina | December 11th, 2012 at 7:03 pm