The Secret to Winning: How Dental Health Affects Racehorse Performance
Winning in horse racing is not easy. The competition is tough, and the performance of horses is impacted by many factors such as their mood, previous races, form, overall well-being, and even dental health!
Yes, you’ve read that right. A horse with poor dental health will not be able to squeeze out every bit of performance in a race.
But what does dental health have to do with the horse’s speed?
Well, it actually makes a lot of sense. To get the best performance from a horse, the horse must be healthy and happy. That’s it! The recipe is quite simple. A horse with a dental problem wouldn’t be able to win a competitive race, no matter how fast the horse really is.
After all, will you be able to run at your top speed if you have a toothache? Of course not. You are more focused on the pain, your entire head hurts, and you don’t feel like running. Well, it is the same case with horses.
Let’s take a look at the importance of a horse’s dental health and see how it impacts its performance on the racecourse.
Contents
Why Dental Health in Horses is Really Important
Dental issues in horses can lead to a range of problems. First of all, they can cause discomfort and pain, which is quite standard, to more severe health and behavioral issues.
Did you know that the horse’s teeth continually erupt throughout its life, which requires regular maintenance, vet check-ups, wear, and malocclusion just to prevent pain?
On top of that, misalignments, sharp points, and other dental diseases like periodontal conditions, can affect how a horse chews and processes food. This impacts their nutritional balance, leading to unhealthy horses with a loss of performance.
Imagine a racehorse trying to sprint with a throbbing toothache or sore mouth. Not ideal, right? Dental discomfort can lead to weight loss, chronic colic, and behavioral changes like resisting the bit, rearing, or head tossing.
If we go through the past Kentucky Derby results, we can safely say that all the horses with the best performance had really good dental health. You can check out the previous Kentucky Derby results on the link below: https://www.twinspires.com/kentuckyderby/results/
That’s why dental health in horses should always be taken seriously, especially with racehorses that need to be at their peak performance at all times. Studies suggest that more than 60% of horses that went through an oral exam are found to have more than sharp enamel points and an imbalance in tooth wear.
How to Identify Dental Problems in Horses?
Having a regular dental check-up is the best way to prevent any dental health issues in racehorses. Horses are tough and very stoic animals. They won’t show any (or just minimal) signs of discomfort in their mouth.
A thorough oral examination may involve an oral endoscopy and stall-side radiographs to produce comprehensive pictures of a horse’s teeth or sinuses.
Most racehorse trainers schedule 2 dental check-ups per year, which is good enough to make sure that the horse’s dental health is optimal.
But how can you spot any dental problems on your own and act quickly if horses don’t show signs of discomfort?
Horses who fail to acquire weight or exhibit severe weight loss may have oral issues at the root of the problem. A horse with damaged incisors is frequently less effective at collecting nutrients from grass. Sharp points and edges on molar teeth can cause painful ulcers in a horse’s mouth, discouraging feeding even in the face of plenty.
Loss of one or more grinding molar teeth impairs efficient chewing, eventually leading to the formation of a wave mouth. This occurs from the overgrowth of one or more teeth on the bearing surface opposite to a missing tooth.
Possible Dental Problems in Racehorses
Just like we mentioned before, horse’s cheek teeth will never stop erupting throughout their life. Their teeth erupt between 3-5 millimeters every year, which can be an issue. Why? Well, not all the teeth grow the same. Some teeth are becoming more dominant than others, causing greater wear on opposing teeth.
There are several different imbalanced teeth misalignments that can have low to a significant health impact. A severe teeth misalignment can cause many dental health issues for horses, to the point where they have trouble chewing.
Final Words
Horses are just like humans and it shouldn’t surprise us that their performance tanks if they battle with a dental problem. Nobody likes to run with a problem in their mouth, especially if the problem is big enough that it affects their eating habits and happiness.
So, for all the handicappers out there, make sure to find out which of the horses racing have impeccable dental health, if you can find such information. Just because those who have dental issues won’t win the race, and that’s for sure.
Maintaining good dental health is crucial for racehorses, which is why most trainers schedule a minimum of 2 dental check-ups. So, if this article reminded you to schedule your next dental appointment, make sure to do that as quickly as possible. Remember, our dental health can also impact our performance.
