Texas - Oklahoma - Louisiana
Equine Dentistry

Dr. J.D. Norris of Equine Dentistry writes a monthly column in Cowboy Times magazine. Here is the August 2008  column:

Last month we discussed preparing your horse for taking him to a chiropractor. The same thought came to me this past week during a conversation with a lady taking her horse to a trainer. We need to put thought into selecting a trainer and getting your horse ready to be taken to the trainer. Often, your expense with a trainer may be more than the breeding fee or purchase price you have in your horse.

To get the most out of your money, there are some basic things you can do for your horse before sending him to the trainer. First of all, having the horse halter broke and gentle to handle on the ground, as well as being able to pick up his feet and load him in a trailer can really help. Your horse should be current on his vaccinations and deworming, and have his feet in good shape if possible. Have your horse on a good nutrition plan. Besides the importance of building strong joints and helping develop a good immune system, you want your horse to have a calm mind, which can be accomplished through proper nutrition.

The one thing that can help your trainer get the most out of his efforts is having a good dental exam and equilibration done on your horse before delivering him. If you don’t do this, then give your trainer the okay to have it done before he starts training your horse. Knocking off sharp points with a float does not constitute proper dental care. Dental development in a young horse can affect his ability to flex, his back, his stifle and hocks, etc. Often you can find ulcers in these young horses that can clear with proper dental care.

We work with a number of trainers. Most of these trainers won’t put a ride on a horse until he has had a good dental. As one trainer has been quoted, “I can do twice as much in half the time, which makes me look better and gets me better horses”.

Help your trainer…make sure your horse gets good dental care!

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