As we all know every horse should have their teeth regularly checked and maintained to prevent any problems from arising,
but the question a lot of people ask me, is at what age should this begin? The answer is nearly always - earlier than you think!
The young horse will have all their baby or deciduous teeth by the age of 6-8 months, all 24 of which will fall out to give way
to their permanent teeth between the ages of 2 ˝ and 4 ˝ years. A further 12 permanent cheek teeth will also start erupting through
the gums from the age of 1 year onwards, and stallions and geldings will get their canines at about 4 years old. Furthermore, if the
horse has wolf teeth, these will erupt through between the ages of 6 to 18 months, and are easier to remove, if necessary, at a young
age.
As you can see, an awful lot of activity is present in the young horse’s mouth, leading to an awful lot of potential problems.
Apart from the regular sharp points that can occur, young horses can also have ‘retained caps’. These are baby teeth which have not
fallen out at the correct time, blocking the permanent teeth below the gum and causing them to push in the opposite direction. In the
upper jaw, they can push into and block the nasal cavity, restricting the airflow, and in the lower jaw the pressure can lead to lumps
forming on the under side. Retained caps can also create imbalances within the mouth, which set up steppy and wavey conditions which
may persist throughout the horse’s life. It is important that any retained caps are removed at the correct intervals to allow for
the proper development of the horse’s mouth.
Generally if minor dental conditions and problems are not dealt with, they become accentuated over a period of time, leading to
further more complex problems. Creating a balanced mouth helps to create a comfortable mouth that will function efficiently, only
requiring regular maintenance rather than substantial amounts of work. I would therefore recommend starting your horse’s dental checks and care as early as possible
to help ensure they have a balanced and healthy mouth.