Help! I just bought a 6 month old filly with an overbite..

[Hayley0413]

Hi,
So I just purchased a 6 month old filly out of Sempatico and a TB mare. I had her vetted, and the vet said she had a very slight overbite, not too much to worry about. I bought her anyways, not thinking an overbite would impact her too much. Then I started reading online and it said you couldn't breed her again and you'll marked off at shows and your resale price would drop?? Can someone just tell me more about an overbite in young hores? Also if you have any foals out of Sempatico if you could share info on that too?
Thanks!

[Kyzteke]

First of all, I'm not part of the "show ring" crowd.

I can tell you that, unless an overbite is extensive, it will not interfer with a horse's ability or health.

Most horses live on hay these days anyway and the only way it would severely impact a horse is if the overbite was SO severe the horse couldn't graze. I've never seen one that bad. Regular dental work (annual) will take care of the rest.

Yes, in a "halter" class you will get dinged. But why do you want to show halter? It's a stupid class. In "sporthorse in hand" they don't look at the mouth.

As far as breeding her, if she turns into a good-minded, sound, athletic "using" horse I would not hesitate to breed her in the future. I might take care to pick a stallion with a perfect bite because there are so many people who actually think the straightness of a horse's teeth or the precise line up of his jaw has ANYTHING to do with how well they will perform as a riding horse (?).

But otherwise, I wouldn't worry about it.

BTW, I bred one Sempatico colt and his bite was fine.

[Tiki]

Trust your vet. This sounds quite insignificant. And besides that, horses mouths can change a lot as they grow. She'll most certainly end up fine.

[fish]

Don't worry about it: I had one vet tell me one of my mares had an overbite only to have a dental specialist tell me she didn't-- and show me how whether or not a horse looks like s/he has an overbite can depend on how high the head is held while the bite is examined.

[aurum]

It does not sound to be a problem.

But PLEASE it is BY a stallion and OUT of a mare.

[Where'sMyWhite]

At a year and a half, my mare had a slight overbite... she grew out of it and her bite now is just fine.

[Altamont Sport Horses]

Don't worry about it. Many young horses like her will have a slight overbite after spending the last 6 months nursing. I expect to see at least a little overbite at this age and have rarely seen one that didn't have any overbite at all.

It would have to be pretty severe to impact her riding and performance career. Let some time pass and then look at it again.

[Foxtrot's]

All the above advice and good dental care (even excessive overbites can be tamed).

[Hayley0413]

Thanks for all your advice, I feel better, I will just keep an eye on it and hope it gets better in time! Cross your finger's for me!

[carosello]

Trust your vet. This sounds quite insignificant. And besides that, horses mouths can change a lot as they grow. She'll most certainly end up fine.


This is SO true.
My old boss had a REALLY nice colt a few years ago. But one time I went to deworm him and he had an aweful underbite (also called a monkey mouth :eek: ) I was so worried I called his vet out to see if this was something we needed to really worry about. The vet agreed it looked pretty bad but said wait and see, not much we can really do yet.
Low and behold by that spring he had grown out of it. Honestly if I had not seen it myself I would have sworn it never existed!!!!!

[Clarion]

I agree with the others that it is not a big deal. And I've had seven offspring(now from five months to 3 years old) by Sempatico and none of them had any over bite issues

[hessy35]

Hi,
So I just purchased a 6 month old filly out of Sempatico and a TB mare. I had her vetted, and the vet said she had a very slight overbite, not too much to worry about. I bought her anyways, not thinking an overbite would impact her too much. Then I started reading online and it said you couldn't breed her again and you'll marked off at shows and your resale price would drop?? Can someone just tell me more about an overbite in young hores? Also if you have any foals out of Sempatico if you could share info on that too?
Thanks!

Feed her from a tub on the ground. She should natually grown out of it. Just so you know, most WB foals have this issue.

[bigbaytb]

don't you just love the internet...something slight can turn into something huge...some vets during vetting will notice anything small just so they said they said it and you cannot turn around at a later date and ask them why it wasn't noted....so not to worry....

my favorite "over bite" story..I was selling a QH gelding that I had a few years ago. competed eventing and 2nd level dressage (schooled 3rd level)..a trainer was out with a client looking at my horse..the horse did everything asked perfectly..mom and pre-teen training level rider loved him, he was safe, great mover and cute to boot. I could tell the trainer was trying to find a reason not to like him..he wanted a warmblood and kept pointing it out my horse was just a QH ... i also presented them with the all score sheets where he was getting 70+ at first and 2nd level at sanctioned shows, and my gelding didn't look like a QH... their trainer's final comment.."well, looks like he has an overbite"...my trainer laughed and said "oh, you plan on breeding him?".....that horse didn't have an overbite either..but thought you'd like the story....

[Dalemma]

I bought a 9 month old dutch/swedish/paint that had a slight over bite that my vet was not worried about.........at the age of 2.5 .......the over bite was gone....don't forget both top and bottom jaws grow at different rates.............apparently all offspring of this stallion had over bites.....but upon maturity they had a normal bite.

Dalemma

[YankeeLawyer]

Not a big deal. I would have her floated (or at least checked) by a dental specialist every 6 months (as opposed to annually) without fail while she is still growing, though. Often slight overbites can be corrected with proper floating at more freqent intervals.

The posts you read that were alarming likely were addressing a more severe overbite, e.g., one where the teeth do not meet. Even such horses can be treated successfully and/or can adapt.

Anyway, congratulations on your new filly. I have seen some lovely youngsters by Sempatico.

[Fairview Horse Center]

My favorite overbite story is one of my babies was being vetted. The vet said he had an overbite and was concerned. After the initial exam, we led him across the field to the arena for the free gaits exam. The vet took another peek in his mouth, and said, "Oh, it's much better now!" :lol: :lol:

[Hayley0413]

Thank you guys! I'm glad to know that it's more common in young horses than I thought, and It's also good to know that a lot of young warmbloods have this problem too. Its REALLY good to know that most grow out of it!! I really hope it does go away with time, she's a sweetie, just trying to settle into her new home. She's a bit nervous about the whole thing to be honest, but who can blame her! I think it's funny how many of you tell me of overbites that get better when a vet has the head at a different angle, I guess it makes sense, but its pretty weird! Anyways thank you again!!!

[YankeeLawyer]

Its REALLY good to know that most grow out of it!! I really hope it does go away with time, she's a sweetie, just trying to settle into her new home.


I *strongly* recommend that you have a dental specialist check and/or float her every 6 months while she is growing. While she *might* simply grow out of it, some need more attention than that to remedy the situation and you have to stay on top of it while they are still growing fast and thus susceptible to successful treatment.