Feets and Teeths and Feed and Such

The ever-important, and super adorable Horse Dentist

Have you ever heard the term “Island Time”? You hear it referenced in the Caribbean a whole lot–especially when you are waiting on something important like a taxi to catch an airplane.  Well, my long-suffering SO calls my relationship with time “Allie Time”, as in “Allie said it takes 30 minutes to get there, so I guess it’s about an hour”.  I probably get it from my mother who is perpetually late to *everything*.  I used to think she just didn’t pay attention to the time, but now i’ve come to realize that she, like me, has her own relationship with the minute-hand.

I’m one of those people who thinks everything in the world will just take 10 minutes.  You know, driving to the doctor? Oh that’s just ten minutes up the road.  Going to the gym? Oh yes, 10 minutes there, 10 back.  Extra horses to set up grain for?  WAY easier and less time than 10 minutes! It goes without saying that getting extra grain for the new horses, setting up farrier appointments, getting dental visits set up is just another ten minutes, right?  Wrong.  I’m always wrong it turns out.

This little foray into Allie’s time management awareness (admitting it is the first step, yes?) was brought to you to explain why I haven’t yet dived into blogging about our awesome retraining projects, Tater and Cecil. I’ve spent a good part of the week getting them set up for ultimate success–getting the right grain (Pennfield 10% no corn, please!), buckets hung in the right place so that they each get their proper rations, set up times for the farrier to come put some shoes on, and set up the dentist to come float some teeth.  For the latter two items, I cannot place more importance.  It is SO important to start off OTTB’s with a visit from a great farrier who understands thoroughbred feet, and an equine dentist who understands racehorse teeth. While all of our horses have been seen frequently by the farrier at the racetracks, I’d say only 20% of them have ever seen an equine dentist.  Those who have seen them fall into two categories, usually described to me by the dentist we use.  The first category is always: “Eee’s been done, but jus the front” in an adorable french accent.  It’s uncanny how many track dentists “float” the teeth, but only do the front teeth.  Well, it’s all fine and dandy that the front looks purty, but if a horse cannot chew, and cannot close it’s jaw properly because hooks and ramps are allowed to get out of control in the back, it will set you up for all kinds of nasty problems, including those explosive behaviors that manifest under saddle.  The second category is always surprising to me, and that is “looks great!”.  Woo! I love owners and trainers who feel that teeth are important to the health of their horses.

For a personal experience thought, 3 and 4 year old horses have teeth that change very drastically, sometimes from month to month.  It’s particularly important to have horses in this age range checked every 6 months.

So, for our two guys we have the dentist visiting on Friday and Saturday to float 8 horses.  I’ll be sure to take pictures of our cute dentist, Hubert Davy the entire process. I’m sure it will only take 10 minutes, or so.

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