Aims

I aim to provided top quality dental care to every horse I treat, to give excellent function and oral comfort so that horse-rider communication via the bridle is enhanced. This means addressing any malocclusions, buccal cusps, rounding all edges and dressing the front cheek teeth for added bit comfort.

Generally, I will try (and more often than not, succeed) in doing this unsedated. If the horse is overly anxious, or has severe dental abnormalities, or needs extractions, it will be sedated. As a vet, I am qualified and insured to do this. Sedated horses remain standing and relax their head and become less reactive to what is happening around them. Usually only one shot is needed and the horse will come round from the sedation at around or shortly after the treatment ends.

After five years at vet school, I worked as an equine vet, and have specialised in horse dentistry for 11 years. I work with an assistant to help handle the horses. We both have over 20 years experience with horses, and I believe that this, along with my riding experience, allows me to understand the needs of each individual horse and his or her human. I also find that having a handler means fewer horses need to be sedated.

By taking a pro active approach, we give the horse the best chance of living a full and productive life. You cannot tell what is going on in the mouth just by looking at the horse’s condition, they are programmed to put up and shut up in order to survive in the wild. Let good dentistry give your horse a head start and optimise your riding relationship.