Most adult horses should have a dental exam once a year, and many need their teeth floated about once a year as well. Young horses (under 5), seniors and horses with a bad bite often need a check every 6 months. Floating means filing down the sharp enamel points and uneven spots that form on the cheek teeth. A veterinarian usually does it with the horse sedated and a speculum holding the mouth open. Watch for dropped feed, head tossing, bit resistance and weight loss. Any of these is a reason to book an exam before the next scheduled one.
What is floating, and why do horses need it?
A horse's teeth keep erupting for most of its life and are worn down by chewing. The upper jaw is wider than the lower jaw, so the cheek teeth don't meet squarely. Over time, the outside edges of the upper teeth and the inside edges of the lower teeth wear unevenly and form sharp enamel points. Other problems develop too, such as hooks, ramps, waves and steps. Diets heavy in grain and soft hay can make uneven wear worse, because horses chew them differently from long-stem forage.
Sharp points can cut the cheeks and tongue and cause ulcers. They make chewing painful and less efficient. Floating uses a rasp, called a float, to smooth those points and level the chewing surface so the horse can grind feed comfortably. Because the teeth keep erupting, a correct float doesn't "use up" healthy teeth.
How often should you float a horse's teeth?
The general guidance from the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), repeated by university extension services, is an oral exam at least once a year for every horse. The exam decides whether a float is needed. Not every horse needs a float every single year, but every horse should be checked. A typical schedule looks like this:
- Foals and young horses (birth to about 5 years): The University of Florida recommends an exam in the first month of life, again at about 3 months, and then every 6 months until age 5. These years bring a lot of change: baby teeth (caps) shed, permanent teeth come in, and wolf teeth may appear.
- Adult horses (about 5 to 15+): Once a year for most horses. Some horses with good wear patterns may only need a light touch-up.
- Senior horses: At least yearly, and often more often. Older horses are more likely to have worn, loose or missing teeth and gum disease.
- Horses with malocclusion (overbite, underbite, waves or steps) and performance horses working in a bit may need checks every 6 months.
Some vets simply look in the mouth at every spring and fall vaccination visit. That's an easy way to catch problems early.
Signs your horse needs a dental exam
Some horses hide dental pain until the problem is advanced, which is why routine exams matter. Common signs include:
- Dropping feed while eating, or quidding (dropping wads of half-chewed hay)
- Eating slowly, tilting the head while chewing, or leaving grain behind
- Long fiber stems or whole grain in the manure
- Weight loss even though the horse is getting enough feed
- Excess drooling, or bad breath
- Head tossing, fussing with the bit, leaning on one rein or resisting the bridle
- Swelling of the face or jaw, nasal discharge, or blood in the mouth
- Choke or colic, which can be linked to poorly chewed feed
What happens during a float: step by step
Every practitioner's routine is a little different, but a standard floating appointment usually goes like this:
- History and physical check. The vet asks about eating, weight and riding problems and does a quick general exam to make sure the horse is fit for sedation.
- Sedation. Most horses are sedated while standing. This keeps the horse and the practitioner safe and allows a much more thorough exam. Your vet chooses the drug and dose.
- Rinsing the mouth. The mouth is flushed with water or an oral rinse to clear out feed so every tooth can be seen.
- Placing the speculum. A full-mouth speculum holds the jaws open, and the head is usually supported on a head stand or halter. A bright light is used for the full exam.
- Full oral exam. The vet looks at and feels every tooth, often with a dental mirror and probe, and checks for points, hooks, fractures, loose teeth, gaps where feed packs (diastemata) and gum disease. X-rays may be recommended if a problem below the gumline is suspected.
- Floating. The sharp points and high spots are reduced with hand floats, a motorized (power) float or both. Hand floats are long-handled rasps with carbide or diamond blades, in straight, angled and offset shapes for different parts of the mouth. Power floats are faster for some corrections. The right choice depends on the horse and on how much correction is needed.
- Final check and records. The vet runs a hand along the cheek teeth to confirm they're smooth, checks the incisors, and often records findings on a dental chart for next time.
- Recovery. The horse stays tied without feed until the sedation wears off.
A routine float often takes about 30 minutes to an hour, according to PetMD. Complicated mouths take longer.
After the float
Ask your vet when your horse can eat again. PetMD notes that horses can usually eat and drink a few hours after sedation and are commonly rested from riding for about 24 hours. Some horses take a few days to adjust to a newly smooth mouth, so give a horse with a big correction a little time before judging how it goes in the bit.
How much does floating cost?
Prices vary a lot by region, practitioner and how much work the mouth needs. PetMD reports that a routine float typically starts at around $200 to $250. The total can be higher once you add a farm call fee, sedation, extra work such as wolf tooth or cap removal, X-rays, or a long appointment for a neglected mouth. Ask for an estimate when you book. If your vet offers group farm-call days, scheduling several horses at once can lower the travel fee.
Who should float your horse?
Rules on who may float teeth differ from state to state. In some states only licensed veterinarians may perform equine dentistry. In others, non-veterinarians may work under a veterinarian's supervision. Sedatives are prescription drugs, and diagnosing problems such as fractured teeth or infections is veterinary work. Check your state's rules and choose someone trained and experienced.
Tools you'll need (for practitioners)
Horse owners don't need any tools. Book the appointment, have the horse caught and clean, and provide a safe, well-lit spot to work. For veterinarians and dental technicians setting up or replacing a kit, the basics are:
- A full-mouth speculum with bite plates sized for horses or ponies. See our equine dental speculums.
- Hand floats in several shaft shapes: straight floats for the upper arcade, offset floats for the lower arcade, and angled floats for premolars and the back molars. Browse our equine dental floats, including the Straight Shaft Lingual and Buccal Float (44 cm).
- A dental mirror and a bright headlamp or speculum light for the exam. The Equine Dental Mirror (50 mm) helps you see the back of the mouth.
- A dosing syringe or rinse system, a bucket and a brush for flushing the mouth and cleaning blades between horses.
- A head stand or dental halter to support the sedated horse's head.
- Elevators and forceps for wolf teeth and caps when they need to come out.
The full range is in our Equine Dental Instruments collection.
When to call your vet
- Your horse is suddenly dropping feed, quidding or eating much more slowly.
- Your horse is losing weight for no clear reason.
- You notice swelling of the face or jaw, a foul smell from the mouth or one nostril, or nasal discharge.
- There's blood in the mouth or a tooth looks broken or loose.
- Your horse has had choke, or colic that may be linked to poor chewing.
- Bit or bridle problems start suddenly in a horse that used to go well.
- It has been more than a year since your horse's last dental exam.
FAQ
Does floating hurt the horse?
A routine float smooths sharp enamel points, and with sedation most horses tolerate it well. The pain is usually caused by the points and the ulcers they leave, and floating relieves it.
Does my horse have to be sedated for floating?
Most vets sedate for a float. It makes the procedure safer and lets them do a complete exam with a speculum. Talk to your vet if your horse has had a reaction to sedation before.
How long after floating can I ride my horse?
Wait until the sedation has fully worn off, and follow your vet's advice. Many vets suggest about a day off. Horses with major corrections may need a few days to get used to the bit.
Can a horse's teeth be floated too often?
Over-aggressive floating that removes too much tooth can do harm. That's why the exam, not the calendar, should decide when a horse needs a float and how much correction to make.
Do older horses still need their teeth floated?
Yes, but usually with a lighter touch. Senior horses have less tooth left to erupt, so practitioners focus on comfort, removing sharp points and dealing with loose or diseased teeth.
What's the difference between a hand float and a power float?
A hand float is a manual rasp. A power float is a motorized tool. Both can do a good job in skilled hands. Power tools are faster for larger corrections, while hand floats give fine control and need no power at the barn.
Stocking your equine dental kit? Shop floats, speculums and mirrors in the Dr. Tail Equine Dental Instruments collection, with free US shipping. Questions? Call or text (443) 662-5146.
