Ep. 082: Understanding How Horses Eat and Its Impact on Dental Health with Dr. Stephanie Bonin

On this episode, co-hosts Dr. Tania Cubitt and Katy Starr chat with Dr. Stephanie Bonin, a principal and senior biomechanical engineer, about her research on the movement of how horses chew and why it matters, including:

• How horses chew long-stem hay or grass versus smaller pelleted feeds and forage
• How the height at which horses eat can affect their jaw movement and teeth alignment
• Potential dental management needs depending on the horse’s diet

For our more advanced horse owners and those asking for a deeper dive into the science – THIS episode is for you! See the notes below for a brief glossary on some terms discussed in this episode.

Have a topic idea or feedback to share? We want to connect with you! Email podcast@standlee.com

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Episode References:

~8:54 – Dr. Bonin’s image description in episode of the McPhail Equine Performance Center set-up with Dr. Hilary Clayton - https://hoofcare.blogspot.com/2011/07/research-clayton-and-bowkers-effects-of.html

~12:02 - Kinematics of the equine temporomandibular joint -https://www.researchgate.net/publication/7270686_Kinematics_of_the_equine_temporomandibular_joint

~27:49 - Comparison of mandibular motion in horses chewing hay and pellets - https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6311792_Comparison_of_mandibular_motion_in_horses_chewing_hay_and_pellets

Glossary of Terms:

• ~9:55 – Retroreflective makers – reflect light back in the direction it came, in this scenario, to the cameras
• ~11:39 – TMJ - Temporomandibular joint
• ~12:24 – Mandible – lower jaw, Maxilla – upper jaw
• ~13:01 – Caudally – in the direction of or situated in or near the tail or posterior part of the body
• ~13:05 – Kinematics – the study of motion without referencing any force that may actually cause the motion – how they’re moving, not why they’re moving, e.g. distance or displacement, speed or velocity, and acceleration.
• ~17:26 – Adbraded down – worn down
• ~17:32 – Atlanto-Occipital Joint – the poll of the horse which connects the first vertebrae with the skull
• ~19:47 – Ramus – the large bone of the mandible or lower jaw
• ~36:32 – Malocclusions – the misalignment between a horse’s upper and lower jaws
• ~42:00 – Lateral excursion– the side-to-side movement of the lower jaw away from the midline

Helpful Standlee Products:

• Standlee Certified Timothy Pellets - https://www.standleeforage.com/products/certified-timothy-grass-pellets/
• Standlee Alfalfa Cubes - https://www.standleeforage.com/products/alfalfa-cubes/
• Standlee Alfalfa/Orchard Grass Compressed Bale - https://www.standleeforage.com/products/alfalfa-orchard-compressed-bale/

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Stay connected with Dr. Stephanie Bonin:

• LinkedIn -