Many arbitrary practices such as training techniques and full boarding change natural functions in the horse's mouth. Dental problems can continually worsen unbeknownst to the owner or trainer. The horse may begin to resist the bit, not respond to common training techniques or even lose weight and the trainer may never consider that it may be a dental problem. Floating Unfortunately, cheek teeth tend to develop sharp enamel points even under normal grazing conditions. Because the horse's lower jaw is narrower than its upper jaw, and due to the grinding motion during chewing, sharp points tend to form along the edges.
Points form on the cheek side of the upper jaw and the tongue side of the lower jaw.
Floating may involve leveling of the molar arcades or rounding the surface of the second premolar to resemble the end of a thumb. The goal of floating is to maintain the symmetry and balance of the arcade and to allow free chewing motion. The techniques used to float teeth vary between practitioners. Some veterinarians will sedate the horse and use a full-mouth speculum to allow greater thoroughness in the examination and more precision in performing corrective procedures. But floating teeth is just one of many procedures that may be available from your veterinarian.