page_title: Horse teeth
section_title: The teeth and the bit
hierarchical_section_title: Horse teeth / The teeth and the bit
caption_attribution_description: Arabian portrait
context_page_description: Horse teeth refers to the dentition of equine species, including horses and donkeys. Equines are both heterodontous and diphyodontous, which means that they have teeth in more than one shape, and have two successive sets of teeth, the deciduous and permanent sets.
  As grazing animals good dentition is essential to survival. Continued grazing creates specific patterns of wear, which can be used along with patterns of eruption to estimate the age of the horse.
context_section_description: If a bit is fitted to a horse, along with a bridle, the normally metal bar of the bit lies in the interdental space between the incisors (or canines, where present) and premolars.  If the bridle is adjusted so that the bit rests too low, or too high, it may push against the teeth and cause discomfort.
  Sometimes, a "bit seat" is filed in the first premolar, where the surface is rounded so that the flesh of the cheek is not pushed into the sharp edge of the tooth, making riding more comfortable for the horse, although the practice is controversial.
caption: Simple snaffle bit fitted to a horse, behind the incisors, but in front of the premolars
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