The turf war between veterinarians and lay equine dentists rages on.

The battle line is clear: who should be allowed to float teeth–the removal of sharp enamel points from the surfaces of a horse’s teeth that cause discomfort and can adversely affect the animal’s health–a duly licensed veterinarian or a non-licensed practitioner? Veterinarians argue that equine dentistry is a branch of veterinary medicine that should be limited to licensed practitioners; lay tooth floaters counter that competent tooth floating is a skill that doesn’t require four years of expensive veterinary school and that they provide a valuable service to horse owners at a reasonable cost.

The most recent skirmish, in a Missouri courtroom, went to the veterinarians