Texas - Oklahoma - Louisiana
Equine Dentistry

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

     I was visiting with a horse owner in Abilene a few weeks ago, and he was explaining all the “parts to the puzzle” of developing a champion performance horse.  This gentleman has been in the horse business for years, and was raised on a ranch in West Texas.  He described to me what he considered to be “all the parts to the puzzle”.  He said that you need to first start with good genetics.  Then you need a good health program that is based on sound nutrition.  Next, you need good equipment, such as a saddle that fits properly and is designed for the work you are doing, a proper bit that fits the horse’s mouth, and a good farrier to keep the horse’s feet balanced.  Finally, he said that you need a well broke horse with proper training, and a well-trained, balanced rider.

     With all his efforts to get everything just right, he still often had problems with bitting, headshaking, keeping proper leads, sore backs, weak hindquarters, etc.  A couple of years ago, we started doing dental work on his horses. As we began to balance their mouths, most of the old problems he was having began to clear up.  He finished by saying he had been leaving out the last piece of the puzzle …having regular dental work done on his horses.