Informed Designs new

12/11/2025

When did your older horse last have a dental examination?

As winter approaches, and there is less grazing available, it’s really important to address the dental health of your geriatric horses.

Older horses are more susceptible to dental issues due to natural changes in their teeth over time, so regular check ups are so important to ensure their comfort and maximum chewing ability.

Common dental issues found in geriatric horses include: Sharp enamel points, senile diastemata, periodontal disease, wear abnormalities, displaced teeth, mobile teeth, absent teeth, infundibular caries and equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EOTRH).

Equine teeth naturally wear down over their lifetime due to having hypsondont dentition. As the tooth wears apically, the enamel thickness decreases, resulting in a thinner enamel layer on the chewing (occlusal) surface. Another structural change, which affects the upper teeth, involves the infundibula. Infundibula only extend through 80-90% of the reserve crown; over time these infundibulum will wear out. With thinner enamel and worn infundibula, the teeth become more prone to wear, leading to a faster rate of attrition. This results in smoother teeth surfaces, which can reduce the efficiency of chewing hay.
These age-related changes create irregular wear patterns, contributing to uneven crown height and therefore further compromising chewing effectiveness.

Another physiological age related change is the natural tapering of the teeth which will lead to the development of gaps between the teeth which can trap food and lead to periodontal (gum) disease, mobile teeth and even tooth loss. These gaps are called senile diastemata. In cases of senile diastemata, treatment should be on a case by case basis. Early identification and long term management is really important to ensure the comfort of your horse.

If your older horse does have difficulty chewing hay due to compromised grinding surfaces, dietary changes may need to be considered such as switching to fibre mashes to ensure adequate nutritional intake. It’s important to discuss with your EDT or Vet if this is the case.

Horses are known for their stoic nature, which means they often don’t show obvious signs of discomfort until dental issues are advanced. This highlights the importance of frequent dental care, ideally every six months for older horses, to ensure their comfort and identify any problems early to give them the best chance of prolonging their chewing efficiency.

Visit www.baedt.com to find a qualified equine dental technician near you!

30/10/2025

I am available for Bitting consultations now in Cheshire ! I am based at Somerford so I can either come to you or you can meet me at Somerford. I work with Hilary Vernon (informed design bits).
Don’t hesitate to contact me if you feel you haven’t got the correct bit yet for your horse or you are struggling with breaks when out on the cross country course or showjumping arena.

Please contact me on 07714495034

25/10/2025

25/10/2025

“He/she is too green”

This is something I often hear when people enquire and I send videos of suitable horses. These horses are 3/4/maybe 5yos…. I am glad they are green!! And I will never apologise for that.

It means they haven’t been overproduced and have spent lots of time in the field growing and developing between little bursts of work. It also hopefully means that they will go on to have long and happy lives as strong, sound individuals - able to do their jobs for as long as possible.

Yes - our young horses will always be “behind” others in their age group and those you see at the big sales/age classes at shows…. But what does “behind” really mean at that age? They always catch up with their peers by 6/7 if you have spent the time doing the basics correctly and have a well rounded, soft, supple horse who wants to work.

You don’t prove anything at 3/4/5 you just use up some of the finite number of jumps that I believe each horse is born with. That’s one nugget of wisdom I gleaned from a very experienced horseman in my formative years - don’t use those jumps up jumping pointless fences as a young horse.

Get out of the arena, go hacking, work on a variety of surfaces to build soft tissues and never be afraid to turn the horse away for a couple of months. They will come back mentally and physically stronger as a result. Let them into big open spaces with friends and allow them to just be horses for a little while longer.

There will be many years ahead to go competing if you take it slowly in the first few. Photo of Donal with a few 3 and 4yos growing slowly in the fields of Ballinasloe ❤️

19/10/2025

Bit measuring
A mouthpiece is measured from under and across the width measuring where the Horses lips would be not from end to end of the mouthpiece and not following the curve of the mouthpiece
Mouthpiece picture is a 5" Lozenge snaffle
A cheek is measured inside the rings
Two cheeks size pictures are Loose Ring Lozenge Snaffles 2 1/4" and 2 1/2" respectively
If you are unsure of what you need why not send WhatsApp pictures to make sure you are getting it right before you order

18/10/2025

10/10/2025

💚 World Mental Health Day – 10 October 2025 💚

Today is a reminder that mental health matters — every day, for every one of us.

In 2023, 7,055 people lost their lives to su***de across the UK.
In England and Wales alone, there were 6,069 su***des registered, the highest rate seen in more than 20 years.
Men remain most at risk, three times more likely to die by su***de than women. (Sources: ONS 2023; Samaritans 2021)

When a su***de makes the news, it always reminds me of Nigel, a friend from my early riding days who took his own life in his early 20s.

Please remember:
There is always hope.
There is always a better solution.
There is always help.

If you’re struggling or worried about someone else, reach out. You are never alone.
👉 Samaritans are available 24/7 to listen: www.samaritans.org