A comparison of the occurrence of common dental abnormalities in stabled and free-grazing horses.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to gain evidence on the prevalence of dental abnormalities in stable-kept horses in comparison with free-living horses. It is expected that free-living horses that graze for as much as 16 h/day will have fewer dental abnormalities than stable-kept horses. In this study, the latter group was fed a diet that was based on a relatively high-energy, cereal-based feed. This was thought to be a representative of common practice in domesticated, stable-kept horses. Compound diets such as this have previously been shown to increase the frequency of chewing cycles and decrease mediolateral excursion. The occurrence of 10 named dental abnormalities present in the dentition of 60 Thoroughbred-type horses was recorded. Half of the population was at grass all year round in New South Wales, Australia. The remainder were stabled for 24 h/day in Gloucestershire, UK. All horses were between 5 and 15 years of age. The same, experienced, equine dental technician examined all horses using a full-mouth speculum and produced a routine dental chart. Stable-kept horses had a significantly higher total occurrence of abnormalities (P < 0.001) than free-living horses. The stable-kept group had a significantly higher prevalence of exaggerated transverse ridging across the occlusal surface of the cheek teeth, focal or ramped overgrowths of the cheek teeth and periodontal disease (P < 0.01 in all cases). All horses in both groups had some occurrence of sharp edges of the buccal and lingual edges of the cheek teeth. The results are in agreement with anecdotal evidence that a fibre-based, grazed diet results in fewer dental abnormalities. However, sharp edges may occur even with what is perceived as a 'natural' diet.
Publication Date: 2010-10-01 PubMed ID: 22445123DOI: 10.1017/S1751731110000893Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research study compared the prevalence of dental abnormalities in horses that are kept in stables and fed a high-energy, cereal-based diet with those that live free and consume a mainly grazed diet. The study revealed that the stable-kept horses had significantly more dental abnormalities, aligning with previous anecdotes that a grass-based diet results in fewer dental abnormalities. However, sharp teeth edges were observed in horses from both groups, even those on the ‘natural’ diet.
Study Design and Participants
- The study investigated dental abnormalities in 60 Thoroughbred-type horses, aged between 5 and 15 years.
- Of these, half were free-living, grazing all year round in New South Wales, Australia, while the other half were stable-kept 24 hours a day in Gloucestershire, UK.
- All horses were examined by the same experienced equine dental technician using a full-mouth speculum, and a routine dental chart was produced.
Feeding Practices
- The stable-kept horses were fed a high-energy, cereal-based diet. Compound diets like this have been shown to increase the frequency of chewing cycles and decrease mediolateral excursion in previous studies.
- On the other hand, the free-living horses grazed up to 16 hours a day.
Findings and Observations
- The study found that stable-kept horses had a significantly higher total occurrence of dental abnormalities than free-living horses.
- To be specific, the stable-kept group had a higher prevalence of exaggerated transverse ridging across the occlusal surface of the cheek teeth, focal or ramped overgrowths of the cheek teeth, and periodontal disease.
- However, sharp edges on the buccal and lingual edges of the cheek teeth were found in all horses, irrespective of their diet or lifestyle.
Conclusion
- The results support the anecdotal evidence that a fibre-based, grazed diet results in fewer dental abnormalities in horses.
- However, it also highlights the need for regular dental care for all horses, even those on a ‘natural’ diet, as sharp teeth edges can occur regardless of the feeding style.
Cite This Article
APA
Masey O'Neill HV, Keen J, Dumbell L.
(2010).
A comparison of the occurrence of common dental abnormalities in stabled and free-grazing horses.
Animal, 4(10), 1697-1701.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731110000893 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal and Land Sciences, Hartpury College, University of The West of England, Gloucester, GL19 3BE, UK.
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Proost K, Boone MN, Josipovic I, Pardon B, Chiers K, Vlaminck L. Clinical insights into the three-dimensional anatomy of cheek teeth in alpacas based on micro-computed tomography. Part 1: mandibular cheek teeth. BMC Vet Res 2021 Oct 22;17(1):334.
- Samad L, Tavanaeimanesh H, Mehr Azin H, Moadab SH, Vajhi AR. Clinical dental finding in Iranian horses. Vet Med Sci 2020 Nov;6(4):679-685.
- Nugent Z, Jensen A, Owen N, Peffers AJ, Moothanchery M, Peffers MJ. Characterisation of equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis: A comparative study using microCT and radiography in age-matched controls. Equine Vet J 2025 Jul;57(4):1099-1109.
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