Don’t Skip Dental

Training Tip Tuesday:

Don’t Skip Dental

Retired Standardbreds aren’t new to bits—but they are new to what you’re asking of them.

These horses have miles of experience in a race bridle, but the pressure, contact, and expectations of riding are a whole different conversation. If their teeth haven’t been properly addressed before you start that conversation, you’re setting them up for resistance, frustration, and unfair assumptions.

Even minor dental issues—like sharp points or uneven wear—can cause major discomfort when riding. That’s why routine dental care is non-negotiable.

Here’s what we recommend:
Annual dental exams for most horses
Every 6 months for seniors or horses with dental issues
Power floats offer precision and efficiency when done correctly
Hand rasping is gentler and ideal for touch-ups

The real key? A skilled equine vet or dental specialist who knows how to assess and balance the mouth for comfort, alignment, and function.

Dental care isn’t just a box to check. It’s part of the foundation for every soft transition, every quiet mouth, and every forward ride. You wouldn’t break in a saddle with a broken tree—so don’t start a retrain with a mouth full of pain.

Here at New Start, we do strongly recommend annual power floating if you can. We are often seeing horses who’ve been hand rasped consistently, but come to us with painful hooks and ramps at the back of the mouth—because the rasp didn’t reach or correct them properly.

A comfortable mouth is a kind start. Don’t skip it.