Understanding snout and front teeth
Horses employ their front teeth to bite and grasp objects, be it grass in the meadow or tree bark. However, when presented with loose materials like hay or treats, horses exclusively utilize their snout and lips to transfer these items into their mouths. The horse's snout, a highly mobile part of its upper lip, serves as a versatile tool, akin to how an elephant uses its trunk for various tasks.
Challenges with existing slow feeders
Some conventional slow feeders incorporate a separate grid positioned on top of the hay. When a horse attempts to access the hay beneath this grid, it often resorts to tugging the hay through the grid using its snout. Because the grid isn't firmly secured to the hay, it tends to press the hay down, making it challenging for the horse to retrieve any substantial amount. Frustrated, the horse may eventually resort to using its teeth to cut off a portion, resulting in the teeth contacting the grid. While this occasional contact is typically harmless, repeated interactions throughout the day may lead to tooth wear or the risk of tooth fragments breaking off.
Grid material matters
The material used for some slow feeder grids can exacerbate tooth issues. Grids with rough or rusted bars, or those thermally galvanized with a thick, coarse zinc layer to prevent rust, can accelerate front teeth wear, particularly the middle front teeth. This wear can hinder a horse's ability to graze effectively in the pasture.
FeedingMaster grid: Engineered for tooth protection
The FeedingMaster grid has been meticulously designed to mitigate the risk of tooth wear or breakage:
Securely Fixed Grid: The grid is firmly secured, ensuring that hay is pressed against it. This allows your horse to effortlessly grasp hay between the bars without the grid or hay being compressed.
Optimal Bar Spacing: The bar spacing is thoughtfully selected to permit the horse's snout to comfortably pass through for hay retrieval. Learn how to determine the correct size here.
Smooth, Polished Steel: The bars are constructed from polished steel and furnished with an electrolytic coating, resulting in a super-smooth surface.
These features combined make tooth wear practically impossible when using the correct grid size, as contact between the teeth and the grid is minimized.
FeedingMaster: witness the experience in this video
Observe Fleur as she uses the FeedingMaster. She utilizes her snout and lips to savor her meal. For a tranquil auditory experience, turn up the volume and enjoy the soothing sound of a horse indulging in its meal without any distracting tapping noises.
Ensuring your horse's dental health
Always maintain regular check-ups for your horse's teeth and monitor them closely. Some horses may have conditions like EOTRH, characterized by extremely brittle teeth, which are typically detected during annual examinations by an equine dentist. It's important to note that the FeedingMaster is not suitable for horses with this condition.
Personal experience
Kyra, our mare, underwent dental evaluation. Despite years of using the FeedingMaster and its previous versions, her front teeth remained in excellent condition, with no evidence of wear from FeedingMaster usage.
At Valetudo Horse Products, we prioritize the well-being of your horse and aim to provide the best feeding solutions to ensure their dental health.
 |  |
