First, it takes me twenty to thirty minutes to set up my equipment, which includes power equipment and sedatives, charts, dental floats and lights. The heart rate at rest is noted.
Temperature is taken only if reason is seen to suspect an abnormality.
The amount of tranq. is not dependent on body weight nearly as much as on individual temperament, breed, and other factors, so the weight-tape measurement is just for comparison later. Now that horrible looking device, the full-mouth speculum, is applied to the horse's head. A strong light source is on the examiner's head to allow the depths of the mouth to be seen. All findings are noted on the dental chart and diagrammed there as well. That is why I strongly encourage owners to allow me to show them and even better to let them feel what is going on in the mouth of their equine charge.