Floating a Horse's Teeth

Описание: This video depicts one of Oregon Horse Rescue's Thoroughbreds during his annual teeth float. For those of you who are unfamiliar, or have never seen the process first-hand, this video will give you a good idea of what to expect during your horses' dentistry appointment.

OHR usually has each horse’s teeth check upon intake. If dentistry is needed, the good vets at Del Oeste Equine Hospital (Eugene, OR) will come out to the rescue, sedate the horse (in this case, an OTTB named Beamish), then conduct an exam to feel for sharp/broken points on the enamel of the teeth. The vet will be looking for things like ulcers (commonly caused by foxtails in hay and ill-fitting bits), wolf teeth, and rotten or weak teeth, among other things. Then, the vet will use the float tool to file and grind the sharp points of the teeth down and most will wear in a "bit seat" so the metal bit has a natural place to sit in the horse's' mouth, rather than banging against a tooth which could cause pain.

Though this is quite an extensive process and it can appear quite alarming, floating your horses' teeth is an important part of basic equine care. Because the horse is sedated during the process, most folks have their horses' teeth floated at their home facility, rather than visiting the vet. This can make the average cost vary, but generally first-time owners can expect to pay anywhere from $100 (low) to $250 (high) for a routine float. Talk with your vet about how frequently you should maintain your horse’s' oral care and remember that every horse has differing needs, though one float a year is common.

Find out more about horse care at www.oregonhorserescue.com/educationalresources