How tooth wear varies between captive and free-ranging equids.

As more species are becoming threatened with extinction as the world changes, we are taking more animals into conservation. In order to help replicate the habitat of the wild and in order to minimise damage caused to animals that are being help in captive surrounding, studies are being carried out to compare the relative effects of captive and free-ranging living. These studies will help us to create the best possible environment for captive species to inhabit.

This study was carried out to assess the different tooth wear seen between captive and free-ranging equids. These include zebras, wild horses and donkeys. The study used dental casts of 228 museum specimens, where 122 were from free-ranging and 106 from captive individuals and were compared using the extended Mesowear method, among other indicators the presence of hooks was recorded.

As one would expect the captive equids showed less abrasion dominated tooth wear than their free-ranging compatriots. However the interesting finding in relation to the domestic horse and how we look after their dental health is the presence of hooks in the captive equids. The conclusion from this seems to be that the feeding position is causing this due to the angle of the mandible. Where captive equids are fed from troughs, nets or racks this problem seems to occur, if this correlation is true then the recommendation would be that all captive equids should be fed from the floor to prevent hooks.

In the domestic horse we can intervene and indeed all good horse owners should regularly get their horse checked by a a vet or equine dental technician to counteract the effect of their domestic life. However as much as possible we should try to mimic the horse’s natural patterns thereby optimising their health and minimising our intervention and the cost that this brings with it.

We should also pay attention to the food and forage that we feed our horses, as this study shows equids are evolved to graze throughout the day, their teeth are designed to be constantly grazing. Where possible make sure your horses get turned out and allowed to graze naturally. When they are stabled, if possible ensure that all feed and forage is fed from the floor to as closely mimic the grazing patterns of wild horses. This will help your horses’ dental health, and their overall health and well-being.

Taylor, L., Müller, D., Schwitzer, C., Kaiser, T., Castell, J., Clauss, M. and Schulz-Kornas, E. (2015). Comparative analyses of tooth wear in free-ranging and captive wild equids. Equine Vet J, 48(2), pp.240-245.