Wolf teeth: in or out?
Q
I’ve heard that a horse’s wolf teeth should always be removed — is that true? Lottie Roberts, Gloucestershire
A
Many young horses are found to have wolf teeth when they are first bitted, but actually most will have erupted by six to 12 months of age and they may even shed along with the first cheek tooth cap at around two-and-a-half years of age. Wolf teeth can cause bitting and bridling difficulties in some instances. Some horses demonstrate a clear, repeatable pain response during bitted work, while others are not affected. So whether or not wolf teeth cause a problem is down to individual experience. One theory is that sometimes the mouthpiece directly connects with the tooth during rein contact, which causes the horse pain. While this is proven to be likely in some disciplines, such as racing, it isn’t typical for most, where a fully elongated head and neck position isn’t achieved.
Extraction
Wolf teeth are often routinely extracted, with some service providers believing that no wolf tooth ever did any good and may cause trouble in the future. Others elect to take action if a problem with these teeth develops. Opinions are likely to remain divided as to whether or not to remove wolf teeth as a matter of course, so you would be best advised to take the recommendations you are given for your own horse from your qualified dental technician or vet. Most wolf tooth extraction sites heal without complication or further visitation required. After tooth removal, your horse will need time off from bitted work until the sockets fully heal and he’s comfortable in his mouth again. This can take two weeks or more.