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First let me preface by saying it's not just cold out there, it's **** COLD!!! My gosh I am frozen solid.
Anyway, Toby has his teeth floated this afternoon. That's filing for the non-horsey peeps.
The horse dentist I used isn't a vet. All he does is horse teeth. He has a degree in Horse Dentistry. He shows up and straps a halter looking speculum thinger onto Toby's head and his mouth. Toby's like, "okay, no prob."
Steve, the horse dentist, opened the speculum and inside is a little light so he can see inside the horse's mouth. He shows me the points of Toby's teeth and tells me to run my hand over them. Ouch. Poor guy. No wonder he's been tossing his head with the bit lately.
So Steve starts working on him. No drugs. I was amazed. Toby wasn't even held as Steve started filing away. The speculum kept his mouth open so Steve could work. He kept it open for a few minutes, then closed it and let Toby experiment with his tongue on his teeth.
Then Steve would open the speculum again and use a different file. Toby never backed away, he never threw his head, he stood there and actually relaxed, cocking his back hoof and lowering his head.
A couple of times when Steve let Toby rest, Toby would turn his head to me and seek comfort, almost as if he wanted me to let him know he was doing well. Then Steve would start anew and Toby stood there.
Once he was done, Steve had me put my fingers in Toby's mouth again and even my inexperienced fingers could feel the difference.
Fascinating stuff. I didn't know what to expect when I went there, but it was so cool to watch. :happy:
Anyway, Toby has his teeth floated this afternoon. That's filing for the non-horsey peeps.
The horse dentist I used isn't a vet. All he does is horse teeth. He has a degree in Horse Dentistry. He shows up and straps a halter looking speculum thinger onto Toby's head and his mouth. Toby's like, "okay, no prob."
Steve, the horse dentist, opened the speculum and inside is a little light so he can see inside the horse's mouth. He shows me the points of Toby's teeth and tells me to run my hand over them. Ouch. Poor guy. No wonder he's been tossing his head with the bit lately.
So Steve starts working on him. No drugs. I was amazed. Toby wasn't even held as Steve started filing away. The speculum kept his mouth open so Steve could work. He kept it open for a few minutes, then closed it and let Toby experiment with his tongue on his teeth.
Then Steve would open the speculum again and use a different file. Toby never backed away, he never threw his head, he stood there and actually relaxed, cocking his back hoof and lowering his head.
A couple of times when Steve let Toby rest, Toby would turn his head to me and seek comfort, almost as if he wanted me to let him know he was doing well. Then Steve would start anew and Toby stood there.
Once he was done, Steve had me put my fingers in Toby's mouth again and even my inexperienced fingers could feel the difference.
Fascinating stuff. I didn't know what to expect when I went there, but it was so cool to watch. :happy: