Study: Hooks on Horse Teeth an Age-Old Problem

Researchers recently discovered the first reported mandibular (cheek tooth) hook in a medieval horse.
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Study: Hooks on Horse Teeth an Age-Old Problem
The horse this hooked tooth belonged to was buried between A.D. 1300 and 1500 in what's now Levänluhta. | Photo Credit: Courtesy Dr. Suvi Viranta-Kovanen
The way people cared for their horses in different times and cultures across history is often a mystery. But clues come in all forms: ancient texts, drawings, bones, and even teeth. Case in point: Researchers just made an important archaeological discovery about horse management in the form of a hook—specifically, a medieval equine tooth hook.

“The medieval hook is just one piece in a puzzle to understand medieval horses and the equine husbandry of that time,” said Suvi Viranta-Kovanen, PhD, of the University of Helsinki Faculty of Medicine, Anatomy, in Finland.

“The presence of a high hook tells us that the horse was taken care of and provided enough high-quality feed to survive with a compromised mastication,” she said, referring to the horse’s ability to eat despite chewing challenges stemming from that hook.

Unlike human teeth, horse teeth keep growing throughout their lives, Viranta-Kovanen said. This is probably an evolutionary adaptation that allows horses to continue to have functional chewing surfaces despite their teeth eroding regularly on rough materials from grazing. As such, it’s the grazing on rough materials that maintains a balance with the growth. The teeth get eroded little by little as they grow. If, however, the horse has a diet low in roughage or if he has dental misalignments, the teeth won’t get eroded the way they should. The result is overgrowth, often a long section of tooth called a hook

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Passionate about horses and science from the time she was riding her first Shetland Pony in Texas, Christa Lesté-Lasserre writes about scientific research that contributes to a better understanding of all equids. After undergrad studies in science, journalism, and literature, she received a master’s degree in creative writing. Now based in France, she aims to present the most fascinating aspect of equine science: the story it creates. Follow Lesté-Lasserre on Twitter @christalestelas.

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