Feeding Practices That Affect Dental Health in Horses

Dental health is a critical but often overlooked aspect of equine care. Horses rely on healthy teeth to efficiently chew forage and concentrate feeds, and any disruption in dental function can quickly lead to weight loss, poor performance, or even dangerous conditions such as choke and colic. While routine dental care from a qualified equine dentist or veterinarian is essential, day-to-day feeding practices also play a significant role in maintaining—or undermining—dental health.

In this blog, we’ll explore how different feeding methods, feed types, and management decisions impact equine teeth, and how horse owners can make choices that support both nutrition and long-term oral health.

Natural Chewing Behavior and Why It Matters

In the wild, horses graze for up to 16–18 hours per day. This near-constant consumption of fibrous forage promotes steady tooth wear. Horse teeth are hypsodont—meaning they continually erupt and wear down over the animal’s lifetime. Balanced wear depends on proper chewing mechanics: the lateral (side-to-side) grinding motion against coarse fibres keeps the teeth evenly reduced.

When feeding practices deviate significantly from this natural grazing pattern, wear can become uneven. Uneven wear may cause sharp enamel points, hooks, ramps, and other dental abnormalities that interfere with chewing and cause pain. This is where management choices around feed type and feeding style come into play.

The Role of Forage

Long-Stem Forage

Access to long-stem forage (pasture or hay) is essential for dental health. Chewing hay or grass stimulates full jaw movement, ensuring more even tooth wear. Horses deprived of adequate forage may not grind their teeth evenly, predisposing them to sharp points or malocclusions.

Chopped Forage and Haylage

While chopped forage or haylage can still provide fibre, the reduced particle size requires less chewing effort. Over time, this can contribute to insufficient wear. These products can be useful for horses with existing dental issues, but when fed exclusively to healthy horses, they may accelerate the development of dental abnormalities.

Pelleted and Cubed Forage

Forage cubes and pellets are convenient and dust-free alternatives to hay, but because they soften when soaked and require minimal chewing, they reduce the mechanical grinding action critical for tooth wear. Horses on diets heavy in cubes or pellets should receive regular dental check-ups, as they may develop problems faster than those consuming long-stem forage.

Concentrates and Hard Feeds

Cereal Grains

Oats, corn, and barley provide energy but demand less chewing than forage. Horses often swallow grains with only partial mastication, which not only reduces tooth wear but also impacts digestion. Whole or poorly chewed grains may pass undigested through the gut, contributing to colic or laminitis risk.

Processed Feeds (Pellets, Sweet Feeds)

Commercial concentrates are formulated for consistency and palatability, but again, they require minimal chewing. Horses consuming high levels of concentrates may spend significantly less time engaged in natural grinding, leading to uneven wear patterns.

Horses that are fed sweet feeds, which are often coated with molasses, may also experience caries (dental cavities) as the feed gets stuck in and between teeth. Over time, this can lead to caries in and between the teeth as the sugars dissolve around the tooth.  

Hard Treats

Carrots, apples, and equine treats can provide enrichment, but excessive feeding of hard treats may stress teeth, particularly in older horses or those with pre-existing cracks. Moderation is key.

Feeding Practices That Influence Dental Health

Height of Feeding

Feeding from the ground most closely replicates natural grazing posture, encouraging correct jaw alignment during chewing. Constantly feeding from raised haynets or feeders can alter chewing angles, increasing the risk of uneven wear.

Feeding Frequency

Providing two large concentrate meals per day rather than multiple smaller meals reduces chewing time and alters saliva flow. Horses produce saliva only while chewing, and saliva is essential for neutralising stomach acid. Insufficient chewing not only affects teeth but also increases gastric ulcer risk.

Soaked Feeds

Soaked mashes, beet pulp, and senior feeds are excellent for horses with missing or worn teeth. However, when introduced to horses with healthy dentition as a primary diet, they reduce the need for grinding. These should be considered supplemental rather than a complete replacement for forage.

Selective Grazing

Horses turned out on lush, soft pasture may not need to chew as vigorously as when grazing coarser grasses. Over time, this can reduce wear, especially in younger horses during their critical years of dental development.

Special Considerations

Young Horses

As permanent teeth erupt between ages 2–5, diet plays a role in how those teeth wear in. Diets lacking coarse forage during this stage may predispose horses to long-term dental abnormalities.

Senior Horses

Older horses often have worn or missing teeth, making it difficult to chew long-stem forage effectively. Feeding chopped forage, soaked cubes, or complete senior feeds helps maintain weight but may further reduce natural grinding. For seniors, balancing comfort, digestibility, and dental wear is delicate—regular dental exams are essential.

Horses with Dental Abnormalities

Some horses may already have wave mouth, step mouth, or retained caps. Feeding practices should be adjusted accordingly, often involving softer feeds to ensure adequate nutrition while minimising discomfort.

Risks of Poor Feeding Practices on Dental Health

• Sharp enamel points causing cheek or tongue ulcers

• Hooks, ramps, and steps interfering with normal chewing

• Quidding (dropping partially chewed food) leading to weight loss

• Choke from poorly chewed concentrates or forage

• Colic due to inadequate grinding of fiber

• Malnutrition from reduced nutrient absorption

These issues emphasise the importance of aligning feeding practices with natural chewing behavior whenever possible.

Practical Recommendations for Owners

1. Prioritise long-stem forage as the foundation of every diet.

2. Feed from the ground to encourage natural jaw movement.

3. Limit reliance on pellets or cubes unless medically necessary.

4. Offer concentrates in multiple small meals to increase chewing time.

5. Monitor chewing behavior—quidding, slow eating, or feed refusal may indicate dental pain.

6. Schedule routine dental exams (every 6–12 months, depending on age and condition).

7. Balance enrichment with caution—treats are fine in moderation, but not as a primary chewing source.

Conclusion

Feeding practices have a profound impact on equine dental health. While modern feeds and management systems offer convenience and address specific nutritional needs, they often reduce the natural grinding activity that keeps teeth in balance. By prioritising forage, feeding from the ground, and being mindful of feed textures, horse owners can better support long-term dental and digestive health.

Ultimately, nutrition and dentistry are closely linked in equine care. A thoughtful feeding program, combined with regular professional dental attention, ensures horses can chew comfortably, digest efficiently, and thrive throughout their lives.