Wolf Teeth - Do I Need To Have Them Removed Before He Learns To Wear A Bridle?

[katie16]

Do I need to have the dentist pull the wolf teeth of a two year old (born early May) before he learns to wear a bridle? We are not planning on riding him, just letting him hang out with the bridle on, and then progress to some long lining treks around the farm.

It dawned on me that it's been a long time since I have had one young and still with wolf teeth and I couldn't remember if they need to be removed before we put the bit in his mouth. I don't want it to be a painful experience! The floater is due here in the fall (early October). We have only had this guy since the winter so he missed our floater last year, and I know where he came from he definitely has NEVER seen one!

[Dressage_Diva333]

Yep, the wolf teeth need to be pulled before a bit goes in his mouth :yes:

[misita]

I always do the first float and pull wolf teeth at 2.

[Fantastic]

But are you sure he has them? Not all horses get them or they might just have one. Sometimes they are really tiny and they are easily fractured if a bit hit thems. They will come in right where the bit would sit - in front of the premolars. Best to look inside the mouth with a headlight on. Trying to just feel for them, the premolar can feel like there might be a wolf tooth in front of it when there isn't. You might think there isn't a wolf tooth by feel when there really is because it is so small.

Even just wearing a bridle as a 2 year old to show in hand (wore bridle 3 times total), and then just two more times in hand before getting full dentistry done pre-starting revealed small fractured wolf teeth on one of my horses. No lunging or longlining (simulated riding) like you are talking about; no nothin.

So yes, I would definately recommend confirming there are in fact wolf teeth, and then getting them removed before wearing a bit.

[SOTB]

I had my filly's wolf teeth pulled before we started putting the bit in her mouth.

[katie16]

Thanks everyone! Unfortunately, that's what I figured - makes sense! I guess he's going to have the summer off! I was looking forward to long line treking all over the place during the nice weather, but his best interest comes first. Unfortunately, our floater is already scheduled for the whole barnful in October. Getting him to come now to do just this guy would be REALLY expensive (he comes from four hours away) - if he's even available for a non-emergency type thing. Bummer!

How long does it usually take for the area to heal once they are pulled? Wondering how soon after I get it done that we can proceed?

[Forte]

Yes, definitely have the wolf teeth pulled first (if he has them). I usually wait at least a week (sometimes 2), before I put the bit in their mouth.

[Fantastic]

How about the Dually Halter, or some other side-pull type bridle? You could longline that way without hurting his mouth.

[SillyMe]

Any semi-competent vet can pop out wolf teeth or do like us western people and ride in a bosal or side pull. Control doesn't come from the bit...

[FriesianX]

Usually, they are healed within a day or two. Most wolf teeth have very little root (hehehehe, MOST - I've had two now that looked like MOLARS)... And agreed, most vets can pop wolf teeth out in a few minutes...

[ElegantExpressionsFarm]

Personally when I start longlining I use the halter over the bridle to teach the the concept of pressure (turning/stopping etc) without pressure on the bit. I find they take really well to a bit after you do that for a while...just a suggestion if you are going to have to wait until the fall to put the bridle on.

[chrissymack]

So what about horses in HB classes who are shown in a bridle at the age of "yearling"? Do they have their wolf teeth sought out & pulled out prior? Or have they not grown in and they just monitor and pull when necessary?

[ise@ssl]

We check our young horses and remove wolf teeth as soon as they can be removed. Some never get them - some get them on one side and not the other. We ALWAYS have the Vet check them prior to introducing the bridle to make sure if the Wolf teeth are there we can remove them first.

[Lesley Feakins]

We have our Vet remove the wolf teeth (if present) at the same time as castration and have him check the fillies teeth in the spring of the 2 yr old year when doing shots.
Pulling wolf teeth is really no big deal and heal over in a couple of days.

[FLIPPED HER HALO]

When we gelded by boy in November (7 months old) his wolf teeth weren't in yet.

[Samotis]

My colt had them taken out when he was gelded. He was 8 months old.