Off bites in young horses

[MiniWrangler]

Just wondering if it is pretty normal for a young horse (as in weanling and a little older) to go through a stage where they have an off bite as they grow? Not a terribly bad one, but say if it is just a little bit off. How often does this correct itself (assuming they get UTD dental care)? I know there are probably several factors that could change the outcome...but what have been your experiences with this? Would YOU buy a young horse like this who is otherwise correct?

Looking forward to your opinions....thanks in advance!

 

[Margaret]

Did you see the bite on both parents? Also Is the bite slightly over or under? could you slide a coin between top and bottom teeth when closed... Or is it not that much? All things I would consider..

 

[MiniWrangler]

This would be assuming that both parents had good bites, and the horse in question stuck out just a bit farther on bottom.

 

[horsefeather]

Most (not all) horses that I have seen with bites a little off, can be taken care of with dentistry. I just had 2 done today, bites weren't off yet, but might have been if I had let them go. If I liked everything else, I would probably purchase. You can usually tell if a horse has uneven teeth.

Pam

 

[Margaret]

Providing both parents have a perfect bite and I could not slip a coin between the sets of teeth, I would take a chance on it straightening out in time,_ if he had that "something special" that I was looking for. .. Although I would prefer that he had a perfect bite. But I have heard over and over that this is typical and can be normal in growing babies.. That the bite can go off a little and then back on again, as they grow.

 

[MiniWrangler]

bump

 

[justjinx]

I have a yearling that as a weanling would have a perfect bite one week and then off the next week, then perfect again. Her teeth only went off by 1/8" tho, not a tooth width or anywhere near that amount. If i noticed more than that I would see what the equine dentist felt was the problem. I would not, in general, buy a horse with teeth not perfect.

jennifer