Teeth and chewing
Chewing is the first step of digestion. Horses' teeth are special: they keep pushing through throughout life to keep up with the wear.
General information, not individual feeding or ration advice. For your own horse, consult your vet or a nutritionist.
How does it work?
Horses have so-called hypsodont teeth with a long reserve crown that keeps pushing through for life to make up for the wear of grinding. Saliva is only produced while the horse chews, not continuously. Fibre-rich, long-fibre roughage requires far more chewing movements than concentrates and therefore produces more saliva: up to about 30 litres or more per day. That saliva buffers the stomach acid and makes the feed slippery.
Why it matters
Because saliva helps neutralise the stomach acid, plenty of chewing on roughage is important for a healthy stomach. A well-functioning set of teeth is the condition for that: sharp edges or uneven wear make chewing painful and less effective.
Common misconceptions
- Horses' teeth do not really grow the way it is sometimes said; they push through and wear down.
- Concentrates make a horse chew less than hay, and therefore also produce less buffering saliva.
What to watch for
Have the teeth checked regularly; sharp points and dental problems disrupt chewing and with it the whole of digestion. Dental care belongs with a vet or dental technician.
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Sources: American Association of Equine Practitioners · Ohio State University Extension.