A Day at the Dentist

An apple a day keeps the dentist away?

I was speaking with one of my friends and told them I had to wake up early on Monday to meet the dentist. They were confused as to how I had a dentist appointment at 7am, but then I explained that it wasn’t for me, but for the horses!

I first met the Equine dental technician, Jean-Luc, in August. It was just my 6th day on the job. After a week of full French immersion and the quick trip to Goodwood, I was thrown right into holding horses as they underwent their checkups (which consisted of me putting the bridle on and gaining some muscle while constantly patting the horse and keeping it calm).

While some at the stables were poking fun at me saying how “beautiful” the inside of a horse’s mouth is and how “exciting” it would be, the lifelong learner in me actually was excited. And to make it even better, Jean-Luc’s assistant (and wife), Robin, is from the States! So not only was I learning something new and spending some quality time with the horses, but I felt right at home with a fellow American.

The first thing I learned is that horses’ teeth are the opposite of humans'. The enamel is on the inside, so as their teeth wear down, they become sharp. This can cause cuts and issues, so they have to be filed down. For the younger horses, their baby teeth are also taken out, as new teeth rise through their baby teeth.

It’s important to take care of horses regularly in all aspects of their physique. The dentist visits the stable around every 4 months (typically April, August, and December). Why? Because it’s the prime time as they develop. After they are 5 years old, it’s acceptable to do yearly check-ups.

Some other things I learned about a horse’s mouth:

• Wolf teeth: they’re not the same as a wisdom tooth, but similar in that they are not necessary for your further development. The reason why are taken out is because they interfere with the bit.

  • Note - the horses are put under sedation for this, just like when we humans get anesthesia.

• Commissure cuts: usually come when the bit is worn out, the bridle is pulled, the mouth is cut by something, etc. These occur just on the corner of the mouth - the same as humans biting the inside of our cheek or lips.

• Molars: horses will have 3 pre-molars and 3 molars on each side (instead of 2).

• Sharp points: the sharp points on the very, very back teeth are not touched, as these ridges help to carry food back.

Fun fact: you can identify a horse’s age by looking at their teeth.

2-year-olds have short and fat front teeth.

The front teeth of 3-year-olds are fatter and taller.

The older a horse gets, the more the rest of their teeth grow and even out.

If you think these photos are beautiful, imagine what it’s like to put your hand in a horse's mouth. I got to do this before and after chiseling to feel the difference - with a glove of course.

In August, Jean-Luc and I mostly spoke English with each other; however, during their visit this past week, we spoke quite a bit of French with each other. I was pleasantly surprised with my progress, and so was Jean-Luc, remarking, “You really have improved a lot. And I wouldn’t just say that, because I’m French!”

Now that there are 100 horses in the yard, the December dental visit was a 4-day adventure. With some horses coming from auctions and pre-training, quite a few already had their check-ups before arriving at the stables, making our job easier. This was nice on our final day, as we enjoyed a proper French breakfast.

After eating a few baguettes, I’m ready to go floss my teeth to avoid a trip to the human dentist. But I hope this is not my last venture with my new friends Jean-Luc and Robin!