This page illustrates the HUGE input that non-veterinary dental practitioners have had in Equine Dentistry.
In 600 B.C. the Chinese used the dentition of a horse to acquire it’s age for sale.
Non- DVM’s who wrote about equine dentistry:
- Xenophon 444 B.C.
Aristotle 384 B.C.
Varro 116 B.C.
Pliney 23 B.C.
Columella 42 A.D.
Apsyrtus 330 A.D.
Palladius 400 A.D.
The practice of equine dentistry dates back to 1207 A.D., predating the existence of the first veterinary college in the U.S., the Veterinary College of Philadelphia established in 1862, by over 600 years and the first Western Veterinary Faculty at Lyon, France established in 1762, by over 500 years. The College of Philadelphia was a private college and not associated with any university until 1879 when, the first U.S. veterinary college to be located at a university was established at Iowa State.
The earliest document known of depicting the floating of horses’ teeth is a wood block painting from English that dates back to the 1600’s .
One of the earliest dental charts of the dentition of a horse was produced in Germany in 1820 and is held at the Academy of Equine Dentistry in Glenns Ferry, ID. (Pre-dates first U.S. veterinary college)
Records show that hand made equine dental instruments by blacksmiths date back to 1650. Arnolds and Sons (non-DVMs) of England have been making dental floats and instruments since 1817. (Pre-dates first U.S. veterinary college)
In 1889, T.D. Hinebauch, M.S., V.S., Professor of Veterinary Science at Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana, personally published a book titled "Veterinary Dental Surgery for the use of students, practitioners and stockman".
In 1893, the book Horse’s Teeth, written by William Clarkes (non-DVM) was published.
In 1980, the first equine dentistry school, the Academy of Equine Dentistry, located in Glenns Ferry, ID, was opened by Dale Jeffreys, Master Equine Dentist (non-DVM). Dale and his brother Lloyd have been making and selling equine dental instruments since 1980.
In 1988, the first equine dentistry associtaion, The International Association of Equine Dental Technicians (now the International Association of Equine Dentistry, Inc), was incorporated by Dale Jeffreys, MEqD (non-DVM).
In 1993, the second equine dentistry association, The Canadian Equine Dental Consultants Association, was incorporated by Todd Williams, CEqD (non-DVM).
In 1996, the first comprehensive and complete equine dentistry book, Horse Dentistry, the Theory and Practice of Equine Dental Maintenance, written by Dale Jeffreys, MEqD (non-DVM) was published.
In 1997, the Association of Equine Dental Equilibration was incorporated by Dale Jeffreys, MEqD (non-DVM).
In 1998, the second equine dentistry book, Oral Biomechanics and Dental Equilibration in the Equidae, written by Dale Jeffresy, MEqd, (non-DVM) was published.
In 2000, the Horse Dentistry and Bitting Journal was incorporated by non-DVMs and is the equine dentistry industry’s own publication.
In 2001, the second equine dentistry school, the Texas Institute of Equine Dentistry, located in Weatherford, Texas, was opened by Randy Riedinger, MEqD (non-DVM).
In 2009, the Association of Equine Dental Equilibration was officially combined with the International Association of Equine Dentistry.
