Q: My 13-year-old thoroughbred is a cribber and has worn his teeth down a bit from years of this behaviour. I have owned him for three years now and he lives out all year round, this has helped greatly and he rarely cribs at all. Is there anything I should watch out for as he gets older and his teeth become a greater health issue?
A: Prevention is always better than cure, and it is great that since you have owned your horse and put him out year-round, he has reduced his cribbing. Cribbers do tend to wear down their incisors (front teeth) with their behaviour, which can lead to problems if the wear is extensive. Horses that start cribbing at a young age often have more problems, as not only are their teeth slightly softer than those of an older horse, causing them to wear down more quickly, but they are also likely to continue this behaviour throughout their life, leading to a lifetime of excessive wear. In severe cases, the upper incisors are worn down to small stumps that do not touch the lower incisors when the mouth is shut. This can make it very difficult for the horse to graze and nip at grass due to the gap between their front teeth. However, it sounds as if your horse is not at this stage as yet - and, hopefully, will not get there if he has reduced the frequency of his cribbing habit.
A common problem with horses that crib is that the effect of grabbing hold of an object such as a fence with their incisors can change the natural angle of these front teeth. This can have a knock on effect on the cheek teeth, causing restrictions within the mouth and affecting the way horses grind their food. Although there is little that an equine dental technician can do to rectify excessive wear, they should be able to monitor the effects of cribbing and, if necessary, rasp the incisors so that the angle remains correct, to ensure that the horse can still eat properly.