Did you know? Horses can develop hooks and ramps on their teeth!

Hooks and ramps are abnormal wear patterns that form when the chewing surfaces of the cheek teeth (premolars and molars) don’t align properly, or when the horse’s diet doesn’t include enough roughage to naturally file the teeth during chewing.

Hooks are sharp overgrowths that develop on the front edge of the upper premolars or the back edge of the lower molars. (These are not the so-called “7-year” or “11-year” hooks sometimes noted on incisors – those are age-related changes that aren’t necessarily pathological and should be assessed case by case.)

Ramps are sloping overgrowths that extend down the chewing surface, often on the lower molars.

Both occur because the horse’s upper jaw (maxilla) is slightly wider than the lower jaw (mandible). This natural difference, combined with uneven chewing, dental misalignment, or low-fibre diets, can leave parts of the tooth surface unworn. Over time, those areas grow longer and form hooks or ramps.

These conditions can cause problems such as:

Difficulty chewing and reduced ability to grind fibrous forage.
Sharp points that cut into the cheeks or tongue.
Resistance to the bit, head tossing, or discomfort under saddle.
Jaw restriction, making it harder for the horse to move the mouth naturally.
Weight loss due to pain or reduced ability to eat.

The best way to support your horse’s dental health is through a species-appropriate diet rich in long-stem roughage, which promotes natural tooth wear.

Access to long-stem forage of hay or pasture encourages constant chewing and helps keep tooth surfaces balanced.

Regular dental checks are still essential to catch issues early, but floating (filing) should be considered secondary measures when diet alone can’t prevent or correct problems.

By providing fibre-first nutrition and combining it with routine dental exams, we can keep horses comfortable and ensure their teeth continue to function as nature intended.

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