The two basic types of bits are snaffle bits and leverage (curb) bits. These differ in the areas on the horse where each applies pressure. In addition to these two types of bits, there are hackamores, which generally do not have a mouthpiece. What is the most common horse bit? Read more…
The lower part of the horses back, the sacrum, is formed of 5 fused vertebrae. The sacroiliac joint (SI) is the joint where the sacrum passes underneath the top of the pelvis (tubera sacrale). The SI joint is strengthened by the ligaments; dorsal, ventral and interosseous sacroiliac ligaments. Where is Read more…
The loins are the area just behind where the saddle sits, above the flanks. What are loins on horses? The loin is located between the last rib and the croup. It should be well-muscled and strong rather than long, weak, and lightly muscled. Short, muscular loins are needed to carry Read more…
The Equine Digestive System Horses simply aren’t set up to process meat. They have flat teeth for chewing plant material. Carnivores, on the other hand, have pointed teeth for shredding meat. The equine digestive system is long whereas a carnivore’s is short to move food through quickly. Do horses have Read more…
The first deciduous incisors may erupt before the foal is born. The last baby teeth come in when the horse is about 8 months of age. These teeth begin to be replaced by adult teeth around age 2 1/2. Do horses lose their front teeth? Between the age of 2½ Read more…
Do Horse Bits Cause Pain? Bits often cause pain to the horse, especially if used by rough hands. Bits that are incorrectly fitted or the wrong size for the horse can also cause discomfort and pain. Is a shank bit harsh? The straight shanks of the Tom Thumb also make Read more…
Horses have a combination of brachydont and hypsodont teeth. The simple (brachydont) teeth are the first premolars (hypsodont) and canines that have a distinct crown and root, but have no function for the domestic horse. Are all horses teeth hypsodont? Horses are hypsodont animals, which mean that their teeth continually Read more…
Beet pulp comes with or without added molasses, soaks into a nice soft texture that’s easy for toothless horses to consume, and has a high digestibility level. Another alternative to traditional hay is hay pellets, which can be soaked into a gruel or soup for horses with dental issues. What Read more…
Horses are hypsodont animals, which mean that their teeth continually erupt throughout their lives and worn away by grinding feed material at their occlusal surfaces. Therefore, each horse has both an erupted clinical crown and un-erupted reserve crown. What are hypsodont teeth? Mammals that feed on abrasive substances are subject Read more…
Dr. Also called a Doc Bristol, this double-jointed mouthpiece has a flat link in the middle and looks similar to a French link. What is a jointed horse bit? Jointed mouthpieces feature a break or multiple breaks in the bit and engage pressure on the tongue, bars, and lips of Read more…