Well-known in Europe in the fourteenth century, the observation of horse's teeth goes back at least two thousand years. Hay-fed horses do not need to use their incisors in the same way, with the result that these do not get worn down and eventually get so long that the horse cannot close its mouth sufficiently to use the molars to grind its food. All horses could benefit from the services of an equine dentist, although only a small proportion receives them.



Understanding horse owners would call in an equine dentist as part of the standard procedure knowing that it will surely improve the horse's performance and prolong its life even up to a decade. Have you ever seen a horse smile? Typically, a vet is called in to file down teeth when they become long, but tends to do so in a very uniform manner, which does not take into account the natural variations in the horse's own way of grinding, or the angles of the teeth necessary for comfortable eating.

Because of the problems they are up against in terms of training programs and chances to practice freely, they tend to be fierce animal lovers with a high commitment to their chosen profession and an almost evangelical passion to spread the word. Dressage, which comes from the French word meaning training, and is pronounced to rhyme with visage, trains horses to be active, obliging, flexible and receptive. Both the horse and rider must be fully in touch with each other and as such it can be seen as the pinnacle of team sport.

The impact made by Xenophon on the equine skills of Ancient Greece show through in the present dressage. A dressage saddle is used within dressage only; this is an English-style saddle. AWith all this it is perhaps a surprise to discover that all over the globe there are hundreds of minor dressage events. At the peak of a dressage horse's gymnastic development, it can smoothly respond to a skilled rider's minimal aids by performing the requested movement while remaining relaxed and appearing effortless.

The rider is required to design and set to music a performance of necessary movements and figures for the Musical Freestyle, for many the highlight of the dressage competition. Grooming not only allows us to give our horses a shiny, short, healthy coat, it also gives us the opportunity to go over our beautiful animals from head to toe, to notice any abnormalities such as cuts, wounds, irritations, fevers that your horse may have developed.