About me ...

Veterinary Dental Services

About me and my aims
What they say about my work
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I first became interested in equine dentistry when I saw an Equine Dental Technician (EDT) in action over 10 years ago. I had only previously seen the vet ‘rubbing’ teeth which was a battle of wills and involved wrenching the tongue out to the side of the mouth and very often some bloodshed – usually the horse’s! I was impressed by the way the horses accepted being treated by someone who was obviously more experienced than the average vet. Several years later, when I was competing my horse at advanced level eventing, I decided to get a professional EDT to do the teeth instead of my own amateur attempt – I was, by this stage working as a vet doing mainly horses. He improved so much in terms of rideability, and the EDT also advised extraction of the wolf teeth which had been present forever. The result was an instant cure for his tendency to go ‘deep’ on the flat, and also gave me more control cross country. He felt straighter and easier to bend in his stiff direction. I was a convert and after initial concern over spending £45 on what had previously been either free – myself – or £10 – other vet – I decided this was the field in which I wanted to specialise.

I took a class at an American Academy, the following year, doing an apprenticeship with a master EDT out there, after which I certified through their exam system. Subsequently I passed the BEVA/BVDA EDT exam becoming the only vet in the UK to be both English and American qualified. Over the past few years, I have adopted a method to do as minimally invasive work as possible whilst still providing maximum riding and eating performance. I believe that what is taken off the tooth is gone forever and so to err on the conservative side is advisable. I like all my patients to eat after treatment. As a rider I have competed up to 4 star level eventing and have had some success in affiliated dressage. I have felt no difference in the rideability of horses treated the ‘American’ way and my way. In fact, as the horses now have far less eating problems, I like to think they would perform even better because they were happier.

My aims ...

Better performance, from happier horses

I aim to provided top quality dental care to every horse I treat, to give excellent function and oral comfort so that horse/rider communication is facilitated This means addressing any overgrowths, rounding all edge, removing buccal cusps and bit seats where possible.

Generally, I will try (and more often than not, succeed) in doing this unsedated. If the horse is overly anxious, or has severe dental abnormalities, or needs extractions, it will be sedated. As a vet, I am qualified and insured to sedate. Sedated horses remain standing and drop their head and become less reactive to what is happening around them. Usually only one shot is needed and the horse will come round from the sedation at the same time the treatment ends.

After five years at vet school, I worked as an equine vet, and have specialised in horse dentistry for six years. I work with an assistant to help handle the horses. We both have over 20 years experience with horses, and I believe that this, along with my riding experience, allows me to understand the needs of each individual horse and his or her human. I also find that having a handler means only a very few horses need to be sedated.

By taking a pro active approach, we give the horse the best chance of living a full and productive life. You cannot tell what is going on in the mouth just by looking at the horse’s condition, they are programmed to put up and shut up in order to survive in the wild. Let good dentistry give your horse a head start and optimise your riding relationship.