Periodontal problems in horses are rapidly increasing - with many cases being beyond restoration. You can help prevent and modify these pathologies.
Gingivitis
gingiva (Latin) = gums; Itis (Latin) or Osis (Greek) = inflammation
Just as your own, horses' teeth need routine hygienic management. Toothpaste for sensitive gums can be used to control bacteria and promote healthy gums.
A brush made for false teeth is a good size and suitable for horses. If your horse allows, you can brush his gums with the toothpaste, the brushing will stimulate the bloodflow restoring the affected gums.
Periodontal Disease
Perio (Latin) is the perimeter of the tooth (dont) imbedded in the gum. The hole in which the tooth sits is called the Alviola socket. The embedded tooth is surrounded by a protected fiber to prevent the tooth having direct contact with the bone (alveolar ligament).
When the bacteria from the gingivitis enters between the gum and the Alviola, it eats away at the fiber which protects the tooth. This is called periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is very toxic and in humans it kills more people in the world than Diabetes, Aids, Corona altogether. The first thing it will attack is the heart then the lungs and other organs – also in your horse.
Have your horse dentist check for gum resolution and tartar removal procedures. Avoid acid and sugar building foods such as silage, overuse of sweets, dusty, moldy foods, food impaction.
Remember: prevention is better than cure.
]]>These sharp points should be routinely adjusted as part of regular equine dental maintenance, as well as the carefully setting up of the absolute correct geometry for each individual horse by a certified professional equine dentist.
Video (courtesy of doctorhorse.it): Treatment of sharp points on the molars.
]]>Problems with riding:
Further problems:
If you see any of these symptoms in your horse, please give immediatite attention to them and also talk to your horse dentist. You can avoid worse effects and prevent creating bad habits for both horse and rider.
Video (courtesy of doctorhorse.it): The movements of the lower jaw when chewing.
So the horse's teeth are extremely important to the horse's health. Balance is critical to the performing horse, correct equilibration of the mouth can assist the overall balance of the horse. Bits and all mechanical devices should be fitted to the head with considered thought for basic anatomy and comfort to the horse.
Video: Equine Dentist Leith Ryan at work.
]]>For six thousand years, we have used bits in horses mouths based on the premise of constant pressure and pain for the horse. I often wondered what would happen if you took all the pain and the constant pressure away? Would the horse run off over the hill and never come back or would it turn to you as much as to say “thank you, where have you been for the last 6000 years?”
From this the idea of the Hippus Bit was created.
A bit is not just some device made to stop or slow the horse, not to frame, collect, set his neck, nor make his head vertical or sit him on his hindquarters; a bit is the front door key, it is the way into a mysterious house, the way you use it it will determine whether you make the house a 'home' or a haunted nightmare.
Around 400 BC, the greek cavalry general Xenophon wrote:
"If one induces the horse to assume that carriage which it would adopt of his own accord when displaying its beauty, then, one directs the horse to appear joyous and magnificent, proud and remarkable for having been ridden".
Photo by Lucas Garcia on Unsplash