If your horse is tossing his head or hanging his tongue out while being ridden, going “behind the vertical,” or bearing into the bit, then bone spurs might be the reason. Bone spurs are inflammations of the membrane of fibrous connective tissue that covers the mandible. They usually occur between the corner incisor and second premolar (interdental space) of the lower jaw. The majority of these are caused by bit damage. However, with a simple surgery performed on the farm with the horse under sedation with local anesthesia, bone spurs can be removed and the horse returned to active work.

In his presentation at the American Association of Equine Practitioner’s Convention (AAEP) called, “Surgical Removal of Mandibular Periostitis (Bone Spurs) Caused by Bit Damage,” Thomas Johnson, DVM, a practitioner at Advanced Equine Dentistry in Grass Lake, Mich., discussed the causes and diagnosis of bone spurs, how the surgery is performed, and what is involved during recovery