Every equine, every year.

Every horse, pony, or donkey — regardless of its age, discipline, whether it's retired or even just a companion — needs a dental examination at least once a year. This is paramount for the horse's overall health and welfare.

This is because horses' teeth continually erupt throughout their life, leaving behind sharp points and uneven wear which can cause ulceration, pain manifesting in different forms of discomfort, behavioural issues, weight loss, quidding, performance issues, and further dental problems if left untreated.

Sometimes equines do not show any sign of a dental problem due to their stoic nature, meaning they are very skilled when it comes to hiding pain — especially with their teeth. This all comes down to their evolutionary traits as a survival technique to protect them from predators in the wild. Even though our horses are safe in our hands now, and don't have any real predators, our modern horses, ponies and donkeys still carry this trait.

Regular dental care helps the horse's overall health and welfare by allowing them to chew and digest food efficiently, optimising performance, improving comfort, and avoiding future dental disease.