At feed time your horse starts dropping grain, twisting his jaw, and taking twice as long to finish hay. That’s not “being picky.” It’s often a mouth pain signal, and this is the point where a dental schedule matters more than another feed tweak.
Most horses need at least one full oral exam yearly, but interval depends on age and findings. Young horses (roughly 2–5) often need rechecks every 6–12 months because caps shed, permanent teeth erupt, and sharp points can develop quickly. Adults in steady work may do well annually, while some need shorter intervals when recurring hooks, ramps, or bit-related discomfort return.
Seniors usually need closer monitoring again. Missing teeth, uneven wear, periodontal pockets, and reduced chewing efficiency can shift goals from “perfect mouth” to “comfortable function.” In older horses, feed texture changes and conservative corrections often protect body condition better than aggressive floating.
Watch for concrete signs at home: quidding (wads of dropped hay), grain dribbling, foul breath, longer chew time, one-sided resistance in contact, head tossing with bit acceptance, or unilateral nasal discharge. These can look like training issues until the mouth is assessed. Rule out pain before adding pressure.
Book care with a provider who performs a full oral exam with speculum and light, with sedation when appropriate for safety and accuracy. Quick surface rasping without proper visualization can miss fractured teeth, painful ulcers, and periodontal disease. Ask for specific findings and next-interval recommendations, not just “teeth done.”
Bring useful history to the appointment: when feed dropping started, hay vs grain differences, one-rein behavior changes, and any weight trend. These details shorten diagnosis time and improve treatment precision.
After floating, mild short-term changes can occur, but persistent feed dropping, swelling, refusal to eat, or worsening one-sided discharge should trigger prompt recheck. Don’t wait weeks assuming it’s adjustment.
If budget is tight, skipping dental care often costs more later through feed waste, condition loss, and behavior fallout that gets mislabeled as attitude. Scheduled oral care is preventive performance and welfare care, not cosmetic maintenance.
At the feed tub, remember this line: dropped feed plus behavior change means check the mouth before you train through it.