Most horses develop sharp points on their teeth, this is usually caused by uneven growth and wear and tear on the teeth themselves. The horse's jaw bones, upper and lower, may also not align properly, same as humans, but this can leave an overhang on the sides of the teeth causing them to grow out into sharp edges. The back molars can also cut the horses cheek or tongue, causing great discomfort to your horse and if left untreated can cause tremendous pain for the animal for chewing and even riding. This is the reason that your horse will need to have their teeth floated periodically.

Floating is a process of filing the sharp edges of the teeth down. It can be done with a long handled equine dental rasp and is usually very quick and painless. Minimal restraint is usual, but with your horse, depending on the animal itself, may need to be sedated. If your horse is head shy or has never been floated before I would recommend sedation, but by all means, ask your veterinarian for his or her recommendation. Many vets prefer to insert a full mouth speculum to hold the mouth open so they can examine and better reach all areas of the horses mouth.

Your horses teeth should be checked annually and in most cases will require a float annually. Some horses may even require more than once a year. Some signs you may want to look out for are: grain dribbling from their mouth, passing whole grain in their manure, chewing their food slowly, and fighting the bit. These may all be signs that your horse is ready for their teeth to be floated.

You can check your horses teeth by reaching in where the bars are and pulling the tongue aside and examining the teeth. Be extremely careful when doing this because if the edges of the teeth are sharp they will easily tear your skin. And of course you could also get a bite from your horse if you aren't handling their mouth properly.

The best advice is to always check with your equine dentist or veterinarian.