# How Should Dentistry Be Performed In Horses? - The Horse's Advocate Podcast #157 Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-horse-s-advocate-podcast-3416912/how-should-dentistry-be-performed-in-horses-the-horse-s-advocate-podcast-157 Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-horse-s-advocate-podcast-3416912/how-should-dentistry-be-performed-in-horses-the-horse-s-advocate-podcast-157.md Podcast: [The Horse's Advocate Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-horse-s-advocate-podcast-3416912) Published: 2026-01-21T09:30:00+00:00 Episode link: https://thehorsesadvocate.libsyn.com/how-should-dentistry-be-performed-in-horses-the-horses-advocate-podcast-157 Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/thehorsesadvocate/PC157_How_Should_Dentistry_Be_Performed_In_Horses_AUDIO-1.mp3?dest-id=1330034 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-horse-s-advocate-podcast-3416912/episodes/how-should-dentistry-be-performed-in-horses-the-horse-s-advocate-podcast-157 Duration seconds: 1996 ## Resource The debate over horse dentistry needs to be resolved before it escalates into an all-out war, leaving horses without the dental care they need. The two main issues fueling this conflict—hand floating versus power equipment, and the debate over whether only veterinarians or non-veterinarians should perform dental work—have been ongoing since the 1960s. I know this history well, as I began my own journey into equine dentistry in 1983. Like many forgotten histories, this discussion often pits people against one another without understanding past mistakes and solutions. Those involved focus solely on their own perspectives, turning the debate into a personal battle in which the horses are caught in the middle, suffering as their needs are misrepresented or ignored. As this conflict continues to play out on social media and in veterinary meetings, an increasing number of horse owners are opting not to have their horses' teeth cared for. Consequently, horses are left chewing in pain or struggling with the bit, only to see a dentist when the dental issues become severe, rather than receiving preventive maintenance. In this podcast, I will discuss this dilemma by examining the various schools of thought, which often rest on unproven theories and distorted facts. It's time for all parties to cease fighting and for veterinarians to expand their scope of care, offering more options for horse owners. By doing so, we can ensure that more horses receive the dental care they need, which is essential to Help Horses Thrive In A Human World™. ********** Community.TheHorsesAdvocate.com is a place to learn about horses, barns, and farms. Its information is free, and a membership option lets horse owners attend live meetings to ask questions and deepen their understanding of what they have… ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-horse-s-advocate-podcast-3416912/episodes/how-should-dentistry-be-performed-in-horses-the-horse-s-advocate-podcast-157/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-horse-s-advocate-podcast-3416912/how-should-dentistry-be-performed-in-horses-the-horse-s-advocate-podcast-157.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.