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EQUINE DENTAL ASSOCIATION
INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY
HORSE DENTISTRY JOURNAL
WORLD WIDE EQUINE, INC.
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The Evolution of Equine Dentistry, For Function and Performance
(The Equilibration "Balancing" of Horse's Teeth)
Observation of equine teeth is thousands of years old. The written record
concerning the aging of horses dates back 2,000 years. The earliest document we know of at the
Academy of Equine Dentistry depicting the floating of horse's teeth is a wood block painting (a painting
on wood) dating to the 1600's from England. We know that the Europeans have been extremely interested in
horses' teeth for over 200 years. The Academy owns a German dental chart of horse, cattle, hog,
sheep and dog teeth dated 1820. Arnolds and Sons of England have been making equine dental floats and
other instruments since 1817. By 1890 there were over seven different types of incisor cutters and by
1895 you could buy a full set of power burrs for grinding and adjusting horses' teeth. There are many
instruments over one hundred years old that would be very hard to duplicate in quality and function
today. By 1939 the Germans had elevated equine dentistry to a high science with the invention of a
right angle drive hand-piece for use on horse’s teeth. Today we enjoy many choices of instruments
when we attempt to equilibrate and balance horse’s teeth for comfort, performance, and efficiency.
Companies producing equine dental instruments have grown from a very few in 1980 to over twenty five
in North America today.
Often equine dentistry is confusing when compared to other types of dentistry. Practitioners’
whose main work is to equilibrate and balance the teeth of the horse by cutting, burring and filing
the protuberant and sharp portions of the clinical crowns are often called equine dentists. Their
day to day practice is often less glamorous than most imagine. Most are very hard working dedicated
individuals who have chosen this career because of their love of horses and respect for the people
who care for them.
-Dale Jeffrey, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Academy of Equine
Dentistry
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