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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
   
Location: Montana | Someone once recommended a power float to me, but I have not ever had one done on a horse before. What do you prefer, a power float or a hand float, and for what reasons? Which do you feel is easier on the horse? I understand they are sedated, but would imagine there is some difference in overall comfort, maybe? Thanks! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 503
| Powerfloat by far… People still do hand floats?? lol
ETA: Reasons for doing so is it's quicker, less stress for the horse and they generally do a much better job with less work.
Edited by LuckyNGG'sGirl 2014-03-27 4:40 PM
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | LuckyNGG'sGirl - 2014-03-27 3:37 PM Powerfloat by far… People still do hand floats?? lol ETA: Reasons for doing so is it's quicker, less stress for the horse and they generally do a much better job with less work.
They do hand floats still in my neck of the woods. I'm Montanan, born and raised, but we have a tendency to be less progessive than some areas.  
I'm all for quicker and less stress on the horse! Thanks for the response! |
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  That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| Power, it is now 2014! |
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 Special Somebody
Posts: 3951
Location: Finally horseback again.... | All types of floats are only as good as the hands they are in...
But, power floats will be more precise if done right with the newer type tools.
Hand floats in the right hands can be very good, unfortunately people that are really good are few and far between.
Me personally, I use both but primarily my work is done with power floats. I am able to get to the lower 11 ( farthest back molars) without damaging the tissue of the mouth much easier and do a better job with less stress on the horse.
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | Awesome, thanks guys! Very good to know. |
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 A Lady with Fight
Posts: 2701
Location: NC | Had two horses hand floated last year. Took forever it seemed.
Had my gelding power floated a few weeks ago and it took maybe 15 minutes.
Both were done by good vets well versed in floating.
I prefer the cost of hand floating but the speed of power! LOL
Edited by hlynn 2014-03-27 9:33 PM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 972
Location: Texas! | Honestly I think as long as you have an equine dentist or a vet who specialized in dentistry do it that's the most important. |
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 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
Location: Alberta | WYOracer - 2014-03-27 8:31 PM Honestly I think as long as you have an equine dentist or a vet who specialized in dentistry do it that's the most important.
 I agree, my vet does our horses and I trust her very much, she uses power. |
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Posts: 1365
Location: waiting for the thaw | Unless they are GOOD and I mean GOOD I won't let them use a power float. They can take too much in a hurry. I had a gelding with a big ramp at the back causing ally issues and eating problems because the vet yes real vet just went to town with the power float. Just cuz it's got a trigger doesn't mean you have to use high speed on every surface. KC Jones from Powel, Wy is the best I've seen. He travels and comes to Laurel are and up to Miles City as well.  |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I thought the front teeth need to be done by hand. I have one vet that uses both.
I also had one yearling the vet did by hand as he said the enamel is too soft and the power takes too much off.
I think it also depends on age of horse, and what the issues are. |
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | Last time mine were done I believe power tools were used for most of the work and then he did a little hand floating to finish up. |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | jiterbug - 2014-03-27 9:13 PM Unless they are GOOD and I mean GOOD I won't let them use a power float. They can take too much in a hurry. I had a gelding with a big ramp at the back causing ally issues and eating problems because the vet yes real vet just went to town with the power float. Just cuz it's got a trigger doesn't mean you have to use high speed on every surface. KC Jones from Powel, Wy is the best I've seen. He travels and comes to Laurel are and up to Miles City as well.
Thanks for the name, but I'm much further west and north than either Laurel or Miles City.
Thanks for all the info...very good to know! Can't be too informed to make the best decision. :-) |
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 Arriving at the last minute!
Posts: 5148
Location: Kansas | It I have a choice I think someone with the hand floats that work on the horse from lower down and no dedation is the very best way to go. As a person that have had many catastrophes with dentals with power tools I am very leary! But if someone is truly responsible with the power tools they are great! |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | I hate power floats......much prefer the hand floats and the guy i use is one of the best.....power float takes way to much off..good or not and they crank the head up so much itmakes the jaw uneven....hope that makes sense what im trying to sayM |
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Special Somebody
Posts: 3951
Location: Finally horseback again.... | mruggles - 2014-03-28 8:53 AM I hate power floats......much prefer the hand floats and the guy i use is one of the best.....power float takes way to much off..good or not and they crank the head up so much itmakes the jaw uneven....hope that makes sense what im trying to sayM
No one should be cranking a horses head up in the air!!! It will pull them out in the poll and atlas as well as them getting dizzy.
Good ones will have holder to hold their head in a natural position and allow them plenty of breaks to close their mouth and drop their head to relax.
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | Well, my mare isn't having major issues. She gets a little fussy with certain bits (and that may not be teeth related, it could just be her but I'm not ruling it out) and is starting to lose some of her grain when fed.
One of our local vets had an article about her in the paper a while back, and she does both hand and power, and she is respected around here as an equine vet. But, to my chagrin, until someone mentioned a power float to me I wasn't really aware that there was anything besides the old type of floating.  Bad horsey mommy, I'm sure. But, I'm not afraid to learn! |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | I'm kinda "new-ish" to having my horse's teeth done on a regular basis after I finally finished college and could spend my own money on what I wanted.
My horse Red has been done twice and my colt Shotgun once. Red's first time was by a different vet dentist (VERY highly respected .... just retired). And both my boys were recently done by my current vet.
All were power floats.
I've never seen one done but I cannot possibly imagine doing it by hand.  |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 956
Location: Washington | I prefer power floats, I have never been fully satisfied with any of the vets who did them by hand. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 825
| I prefer hand floats. Too many bad experiences with power floating, last one ended in systemic infection. I realize that power floating may be the thing nowadays, but hand floats usually don't do as much harm as the power tools can. To each their own though :)
Edited by threecanman 2014-03-28 2:47 PM
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 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | Canchasr1 - 2014-03-27 4:49 PM All types of floats are only as good as the hands they are in...
But, power floats will be more precise if done right with the newer type tools.
Hand floats in the right hands can be very good, unfortunately people that are really good are few and far between.
Me personally, I use both but primarily my work is done with power floats. I am able to get to the lower 11 ( farthest back molars) without damaging the tissue of the mouth much easier and do a better job with less stress on the horse.
^^ This.
It isn't so much about the float, but the hands controlling it. I want a perfectionist to be really careful with my horse. Lots of breaks for the horse to close their mouth and rest. |
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Impressive!!
Posts: 1954
Location: Idaho | I personally msg you so you know what I said in the message, but after reading peoples responses, I thought I'd chim in. I have and use the very best certified equine dentist in the west. He uses power instruments (they are not called tools) and as well as hand instruments to work on the canines (round them off) and also on the insisors if the horse is not handling the vibration of the instruments. He is extremely knowledgable and has been doing it for 25+ years. He takes his time, he educates the owners and he takes good good care of his clients horses. I do regular dental exams and consults to prevent issues from happening. My performance horses get done every spring and checked in the fall. My colts 3-5 get done twice a year. I have NEVER had an issue with him or my horses mouths. I get to look in there, feel in there, see what he is doing, infact I had the honor of traveling with him some and helping him, it was an extremely educational experience. So my 2ç on the subject, is educate yourself, get references on the vets or equine dentist out there. I am sure, just like a farrier or even a vet, an equine dentist can do a BAD and damaging job. I truly believe dentistry is extremely important not only for performance reasons but health reasons. |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | Thanks all! Very good info to know. :-) |
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 Semper Fi
Location: North Texas | threecanman - 2014-03-28 2:46 PM
I prefer hand floats. Too many bad experiences with power floating, last one ended in systemic infection. I realize that power floating may be the thing nowadays, but hand floats usually don't do as much harm as the power tools can. To each their own though :)
Precisely! Remember, One can always remove move material (hand float as required) but One cannot replace material (too much material removed by accidental power float). |
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Power float vs. hand float?