How Many Teeth Do Horses Have, and What Are They Called?

By Dr Duncan Houston

A horse’s front teeth are easy to recognise when they reach for a carrot. But much of the work happens further back, where large grinding teeth break down grass and hay.

Knowing the different teeth helps you understand your horse’s dental chart and why regular dental checks matter.

Quick answer: Adult horses usually have 36 to 44 teeth, depending on whether they develop canine teeth and wolf teeth. Young horses have 24 baby teeth. Two healthy adult horses can have different totals, so the number alone does not tell you whether a mouth is healthy.

A complete adult set includes 12 incisors, 12 large grinding premolars and 12 molars. Canine teeth and wolf teeth account for the usual variation.

Wolf teeth are technically the first premolars. They are listed separately here to distinguish them from the 12 large grinding premolars, without counting them twice.

The incisors sit at the front of the mouth, with six in the upper jaw and six in the lower jaw. On each side, working outwards from the middle, they are called the central incisor, intermediate incisor and corner incisor, or I1, I2 and I3. These teeth help your horse nip off grass before moving it backwards for chewing.

The canine teeth, sometimes called tushes, sit in the gap between the incisors and cheek teeth. They are generally more prominent in stallions and geldings. Mares often have none, although some develop small canines.

Their presence does not mean a horse eats meat. They are associated with fighting and defence, rather than grinding forage. Canine teeth and wolf teeth are different teeth.

The wolf teeth are small first premolars, also called P1. When present, they usually sit immediately in front of the large cheek teeth. They are more common in the upper jaw, although lower wolf teeth also occur. Both male and female horses can have them.

A horse without wolf teeth can be completely normal. Their absence is different from unexpectedly losing a large grinding tooth.

The large premolars and molars form the main grinding surface. Each quarter of the mouth normally contains three large premolars, named P2, P3 and P4, followed by three molars, named M1, M2 and M3.

Together, these make 24 grinding cheek teeth. Their textured surfaces and the horse’s chewing movement help break down tough plant material. This explains why a horse can have tidy-looking front teeth but still struggle with a problem further back.

Young horses have a different arrangement. Their 24 deciduous, or baby, teeth consist of 12 incisors and 12 premolars. They do not have baby molars, canine teeth or wolf teeth. The permanent molars emerge as additional teeth rather than replacing baby ones.

The transition takes several years:

• Baby teeth appear progressively during the first months of life.

• The first permanent molars appear at around one year.

• Replacement of baby incisors and premolars begins at about two and a half years.

• Most permanent teeth are present by around five years, although timing varies.

You may hear the term dental caps during this stage. These are remnants of baby premolars sitting over the emerging adult teeth. Most shed naturally, but retained caps can cause discomfort and need professional attention. Do not try to pull them off yourself.

Horse teeth also wear differently from ours. Their incisors and grinding cheek teeth have long crowns, with a substantial portion initially hidden below the gum. They gradually erupt into the mouth as the exposed surfaces wear down.

That reserve is finite. Older horses can eventually have very worn, loose or missing teeth, affecting their ability to chew hay. They may need a carefully planned alternative forage diet. An adult tooth that is lost does not grow back.

Dental care should begin while a horse is young and continue throughout life. Most horses need a dental examination at least annually, with more frequent checks for growing horses, older horses and those with existing problems.

A thorough examination usually involves sedation and a mouth speculum so the clinician can inspect the back teeth safely. Looking at the incisors alone cannot assess the whole mouth.

Owners often call routine treatment floating or rasping. This removes harmful sharp points or overgrowths when needed. The examination determines what treatment is appropriate; the aim is comfortable, effective chewing while preserving useful tooth structure and grinding surfaces.

Between appointments, watch how your horse eats and behaves. Reasons to arrange a dental assessment include:

• Dropping partly chewed wads of hay, known as quidding.

• Taking longer to finish meals or struggling to chew.

• Unexplained weight loss or declining body condition.

• Excessive drooling or an unpleasant smell from the mouth.

• Facial swelling or persistent nasal discharge.

• New head tossing, bit resistance or reluctance to accept the bridle.

These signs can have other causes, so an examination is needed rather than assuming a particular tooth is responsible. Do not dismiss a change in behaviour as stubbornness.

Possible choke needs immediate veterinary attention. Coughing, repeated attempts to swallow, and feed or saliva coming from the nostrils can indicate an oesophageal blockage. Remove feed and water while contacting your vet, and do not syringe water or other liquids into the mouth. Dental problems that interfere with chewing can increase the risk of choke.

A few common questions are worth clearing up.

Does every horse need its wolf teeth removed? No. The decision depends on their position, associated discomfort and whether they interfere with the bit. Wolf teeth can contribute to problems, but their presence alone does not explain every case of bit resistance. Ask your equine vet to assess the individual horse.

Can you tell a horse’s exact age from its teeth? Teeth can help estimate age, particularly in younger horses with predictable eruption patterns. Wear varies with diet, environment and the individual, so dental appearance becomes a less precise guide as horses get older.

If my horse eats normally, can I skip dental checks? No. Horses may continue eating despite dental discomfort, and early problems can be easy to miss. Regular examinations help identify trouble before obvious weight loss or feeding difficulties develop.

Should I try to count all the teeth myself? Ask your vet to show you the dental chart instead. Reaching into the back of a horse’s mouth is dangerous, and counting visible teeth cannot reveal every fracture, painful pocket or hidden dental problem.

If you are unsure about your horse’s teeth, a change in chewing or the findings on a dental chart, ASK A VET™ can help you understand what to discuss with your equine vet. A hands-on dental examination is needed to assess the whole mouth and plan treatment.