REGULAR FEATURE


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medical problems that could have been easily prevented? By neglecting regular dental care.


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Jennifer Warmke is a Certifi ed Hoof Care Specialist and has worked in disaster and emergency management for over a decade in two states. She is an avid trail rider with a focus on dressage and horsemanship and currently resides in the Pacifi c Northwest. For more information visit her website: www.HolisticHoof.com


“Whether dealing with


a young horse in training or a seasoned performance horse, it pays to look at the horse’s mouth,” says Dr. Hannah Mueller of Ever- green Holistic Veterinary Care – Equine. “A horse’s teeth will grow continually until sometime in their 20’s; therefore, it stands to reason that many equine performance problems and dental issues are intimately related.”


While some people consider the horse’s mouth


merely another part of the digestive process, many major medical issues like chronic weight loss, choke, colic, and behavioral problems are actually due to oral pain. For this reason, a preven- tative dental care program for your horse is an extremely important part of their health care. Equine dental problems manifest themselves


Dr. Hannah Mueller (formerly Evergreen) is a 2004 graduate of OSU College of Veterinary Medicine with a focus in equine dentistry and sports medicine/lameness. She is also certifi ed in veterinary acupuncture and chiropractic. She runs both her holistic equine veterinary practice, Evergreen Holistic Veterinary Care - Equine (www.ehvcequine.com) and her nonprofi t, Northwest Equine Stew- ardship Center (www.nwesc.org), out of her state-of-the-art equine facility in Snohomish, WA.


18 July 2012 The Northwest Horse Source


in a variety of ways. Because horses adapt to pain and discomfort, they may not show noticeable signs of dental problems. As a result the issues often go undetected, resulting in a progression of the problem until the health and performance of the animal has been adversely affected. The horse’s performance often becomes limited as it modifi es behavior to avoid the pain. Trainers and owners are well aware that one of the most important avenues of commu- nication with the horse is through contact by means of a bit in the mouth. Performance horses are expected to maintain a steady head carriage while showing no resistance, all while accepting the bit(s) and performing complicated maneuvers. The bridle and bit place pressure on


Equine Wellness


Performance and a Balanced Mouth How Dental Health Affects Athletic Ability


ow could a young, well-cared for performance horse end up with behavioral issues and a handful of


by Jennifer Warmke with Dr. Hannah Mueller PHOTOS COURTESY OF JENNIFER WARMKE


Dental issues that are


overlooked can further undermine the health and well-being of the horse by causing uneven stress on ligaments and joints due to tension patterns established by its efforts to avoid pain.


the cheeks, gums, tongue, and teeth. Nosebands, cavesons, hackamores and bosals also pull the cheeks onto the sharp enamel points of tooth edges. This pressure can result in behavioral and performance prob- lems if the teeth are not level,


sharp, or creating


infl ammation in the mouth resulting in pain. Correction of these


abnormalities can greatly enhance performance and the longevity of the teeth and health in horses. Dental issues that are overlooked can further undermine the health and well-being of the horse by causing uneven


stress on ligaments and joints due to tension patterns established by its efforts to avoid pain. These tension patterns infl uence not only how the horse feels and performs, but how he may


learn, think and even react. Most major dental problems do not manifest themselves overnight, but rather stem from misalignments of the teeth


www.nwhorsesource.com


PHOTO COURTESY OF HANNAH MUELLER


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