ALL ABOUT TEETH
A young horse has 24 milk teeth, a mature male horse has 40-42 permanent teeth as sometimes wolf teeth are present (covered below), and a female 36-40 as some do not have canines or wolf teeth.
The molars grow straight down with the table surfaces being slanted to provide a good grinding action. As a result of this, the teeth edges can become very sharp and lacerate the tongue and cheeks. To check, slide your finger between the cheek and outside of the teeth where it should feel smooth with no sharp edges.
It is important to get your horse’s teeth checked by a dentist at least once a year. A good dentist will let you feel the teeth to show you there are no sharp edges, but be mindful that the teeth tables should still feel rough so that the horse can chew sufficiently.
WOLF TEETH
A– These are small teeth with little roots that can grow just in front of the molars, usually on the upper jaw where you can feel them.
B– These teeth usually grow at 6 -18 months and are shed when the other milk teeth fall out.
C– If they do not fall out by themselves, they are generally removed as the bit can catch on them and pinch the gum between the wolf tooth and the molar, causing pain.
HOW TO AGE YOUR HORSE BY THEIR TEETH
AT BIRTH – the 2 central teeth may be present or erupt up to 10 days after birth.
Three baby molars are present on both sides of both jaws.
TWO MONTHS lateral incisors are present.
SIX MONTHS the 2 corner incisors appear. Baby teeth are small and the gum line is very round.
ONE year the first permanent molar appears making 4 molars in total; three baby and one permanent.
The wolf teeth emerge in the upper jaw for some horses.
TWO year the second permanent molar appear making 5 molars in total; 2 permanent 3 baby.
TWO AND A HALF years the permanent central incisor emerges.
TWO AND A HALF -THREE years the first and second permanent molars replace the baby ones.
THREE AND A HALF years the permanent lateral incisors appear and the last baby molar is replaced.
FOUR AND A HALF years the permanent corner incisors appear.
FIVE years the tushes may appear in male horses.
SIX years the corner incisors are in wear. The mark may have disappeared and the star may be appearing in the central incisor.
SEVEN years the star is all that remains on the central incisor and a hook appears at seven or eight on the upper corner incisor.
EIGHT years the mark has disappeared from all the incisors. The hook can disappear this year or next.
TEN years the Galvayne’s groove appears on the upper corner incisor. It works its way down the tooth reaching the full length by about 20.
TWELVE years a hook may reappear but the tables of the incisors have only stars, no marks and a Galvins groove is present.
THIRTEEN years the hook disappears.
As the horse ages, the tables of the incisors go from oval to round to triangle and the angle goes from a straight tooth to a slanted forward appearance.
At 6 years the mark is going and star appearing on the central tooth.
At 7 years the table surface is still very oval.
At 8 years marks only left on corners.
At 10 years only stars left.
At 13 years all the teeth are more triangular in shape.
At 20 years teeth worn and very triangular in shape.
Final Thoughts
This is just a guide, every horse is different, as you can see by the photos above, and the way the horse is kept and fed can make a big difference to his teeth.
Correct care for your horse’s teeth is essential.
If he has an issue in his mouth this will effect every aspect of his life.
It is therefore important that you have a good dentist that you trust to help you provide the best care for your lovely horse.