How often should your horse have dental work done?

It’s not just about keeping them comfortable—it’s about performance, behavior, and long-term health.

Horses’ teeth are constantly erupting (about 1/8 inch per year), and as they chew, the grinding motion naturally wears them down. But when their bite isn’t balanced, sharp points, waves, hooks, and even ulcers can develop. That’s where regular dental work comes in.

🦷 How often should a horse get their teeth floated?

Ideally once a year, starting around age 2. Some performance horses, or those with previous dental issues, may benefit from twice-yearly checkups.

🧠 Fun fact: Horses have up to 44 teeth when fully mature—more than humans! And unlike us, their teeth continue to grow and wear down throughout life.

📆 Want to guess your horse’s age?

You can estimate by looking at their:

• Tooth eruption pattern (foals get baby teeth, aka caps, which fall out around 2.5 to 5 years old)

• Angle of teeth (gets steeper as they age)

• Galvayne’s groove (a line that appears at the gumline near age 10)

👶 What are caps?

Caps are the retained baby teeth. Sometimes they don’t shed properly and cause pain or misalignment. If your young horse is head-tossing, dropping feed, or resistant to the bit, a stuck cap might be the culprit.

🐺 And let’s talk wolf teeth.

These tiny, often hidden teeth sit just in front of the first premolars. Not all horses have them, but when they do, they can interfere with a bit and cause discomfort. Many people choose to have them removed around 2-3 years of age before training begins.

✨ A well-floated horse chews better, carries a bit more comfortably, and is generally happier under saddle.

👉 Regular dental work = a more willing, comfortable, and balanced partner.

When’s the last time your horse saw the dentist?

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