The Impact of Dental Work on Riding

In this video, Steve Edwards of Queen Valley Mule Ranch explains how to check if your mule needs dental work and why do it every year.

When a mule drops his head, keeping his nose on the vertical, it will round out his back giving you a nice ride. If a mule’s dental work is not correct, the mule won’t be able to drop his head or round out his back.

This is because the TMJ’s hang up in the mouth. The TMJ’s are right above the eyes. When you press against the mule’s outer corner of the eye, you can see the TMJ puff up like a balloon. If the teeth aren’t right, the mule will lift his head up which will hollow out the back. This makes the saddle hurt the mule’s back, making everyone uncomfortable

The reason you check the TMJ is that as the mule chews, the tendons will push them and puff out the area above the eye. If the balloon area is pushing up high, that tells me the tendons in his jaw is being pulled on and the TMJs are grabbing.

This shows if the mule needs dental work. The mule in this demonstration needs dental work.

The other way to tell is to hold the muzzle and push side-to-side on the jaw. You will hear the teeth hanging up if the mule needs dental work. When you have the dental work done your mule will be a lot happier. Then the mule will ride balanced; top of the head in alignment with the shoulders and withers. It should keep your mules nose vertical when riding, not sticking out.

It is very important to get your dental work done every year so your mule remains comfortable in the bit. This helps keep your ride safe and comfortable for both you and the animal.