Justin Harcourt Equine Dentistry

06/02/2026

All Customers and Equine Friends. Please take some time to read and complete the consultation. It will help Equine Dental Technicians chances of achieving legislation and protect horses dental welfare.

https://consult.defra.gov.uk/reform-of-the-veterinary-surgeons-act/consultation/ 🤞🏻

Support your equine dental technician‼️

UK Government Consultation – Your voice as a horse owner matters

The UK government is currently reviewing the legislation that regulates animal healthcare professionals. This reform could influence how Equine Dental Technicians (EDTs) are recognised and permitted to practise in the future.

We’re encouraging horse owners to complete the consultation survey. It’s your chance to contribute to how reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act shapes the future regulation of both veterinary surgeons and paraprofessionals.

The consultation is now open and closes on 25th March 2026. You don’t have to complete it in one sitting, you can save your responses and return to finish it whenever it suits you.

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Why this matters to you as a horse owner

• EDTs play an important role in your horse’s comfort, performance, and welfare

• Clear professional titles help owners know who is properly trained when it comes to treating your horse

• Recognised, equine‑dental‑specific qualifications are essential for demonstrating the practical training and competency of both EDTs and vets, giving horse owners the assurance they need when choosing appropriate dental care

• Good regulation protects horses from unqualified or unsafe practice

• Your experience helps decision-makers understand real-world horse care

What you might say

• You value having a qualified EDT provide your horse’s routine dental care, and you value having an equine‑specific, dentally qualified vet available to manage any complex dental issues. Most importantly, you value having the ability to make an informed choice about who you use.

• A regulated industry provides clear, consistent qualification standards that help protect both horses and owners.

• You recognise your qualified EDT holds high levels of equine-specific dental qualification, training, experience and day‑to‑day proficiency in routine equine dentistry.

Where can I find the consultation?

https://consult.defra.gov.uk/reform-of-the-veterinary-surgeons-act/consultation/

IMPORTANT - Modern consultations do use text-analysis and clustering tools to surface themes. While no official keyword list is published, analysis of UK government consultations (including Defra) shows that responses are commonly scanned for policy-relevant vocabulary, not slogans.

Core phrases to include. These phrases align directly with how Defra structures policy analysis.

“Veterinary Surgeons Act reform”
“modernising outdated legislation”
“multidisciplinary veterinary team”
“animal welfare and public protection”
“clear scope of practice”
“title protection”
“proportionate, risk-based regulation”
“public confidence and clarity for owners”

🦷 EDT-specific wording that helps categorisation. This ensures EDT views are not lost under generic “other comments”. Where relevant, try to include:

“Equine Dental Technician (EDT)”
“qualified / trained EDT”
“professional title”
“working within scope”
“competence-based practice”
“consistent standards across the profession”

🐴 Horse-owner language that carries weight. AI tools tag these as end-user evidence, which is highly valued.

“As a horse owner…”
“My experience using an EDT…”
“I rely on qualified professionals for my horse’s welfare”
“Clear titles help owners understand who is properly trained”
“Regulation should protect horses without reducing access to care”

⚖️ Balance words (important for tone scoring). Defra analysis tools look favourably on balanced responses. Useful phrases include:

“supports collaboration, not replacement”
“avoids unintended consequences”
“maintains access while improving safeguards”

These reduce the risk of responses being classified as oppositional or niche. Emotional or confrontational language, reduce analytical weight. If your response clearly mentions welfare, scope, regulation, and qualification, it should be picked up. Even short responses that include 3–5 of the phrases above are very likely to be correctly categorised in analysis of reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act.

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Thank you for taking the time to help safeguard equine welfare and ensure high standards of care for our horses.

14/10/2025

Check out the new youtube video below from the BAEDT.

Horse owners - have you ever wondered what dental problems your horse might be hiding?In this video, we’ll look at the top three dental abnormalities found i...

15/07/2025

https://youtu.be/77x9mVcCYCE?si=q9tn5iWrTjjRbkWv

15/07/2025

BAEDT have a new youtube channel. Please like and subscribe

01/04/2025

✨ Exciting news! ✨

Are you tired of your horse’s teeth ruining your selfies? We’ve got you covered! We are excited to announce we are launching a brand-new Equine Whitening Toothpaste to revolutionise your horse’s smile 🦷✨

✅ Removes stubborn grass stains
✅ Leaves breath minty fresh (goodbye, carrot breath!)
✅ Approved by… well, no one… but your horse will love it!

Don’t let your horse be the only one at the yard without a Hollywood smile!

Available from your EDT… today only… 😉

22/01/2025

Ponies definitely come with their own challenges when comes to 🦷. 😂

It’s easy to overlook the dental needs of small ponies, especially those on restricted diets for weight management. However, these smaller equines sometimes face unique dental challenges due to the size of their petite heads. These tiny heads must accommodate the same number of teeth as their larger counterparts, 12 incisors and 24 molars, however with limited space it can often result in significant dental problems.

Smaller breeds, such as Welsh As, Welsh Bs, and Shetlands, are particularly prone to:

• Overcrowding and tooth displacement: This can lead to diastemata (gaps between teeth) and painful periodontal disease.

• Uneven wear patterns: Misaligned teeth wear abnormally, leading to occlusal overgrowths which can impact comfort and chewing efficiency.

• Missing molars: Due to lack of space sometimes molars are absent, therefore the opposing teeth will hyper-erupt, leading to large, very uncomfortable overgrowths that will continually worsen over time if not addressed. These large overgrowths will cause a lot of pain over their lifetime and will cause difficulty eating.

Routine dental checks, at least once or twice per year, are so important for ensuring:

• Early detection of dental disease and discomfort.

• Proper maintenance of chewing surfaces to promote efficient mastication.

• Comfort from sharp enamel points and occlusal overgrowths, which are inevitable without intervention.

Since horses, ponies, and donkeys have hypsodont teeth (continuously erupting throughout their lives), dental issues will ALWAYS escalate if left untreated.

At this time of year, equine dental technicians frequently encounter older small ponies struggling to chew hay. Often, these ponies have been overlooked due to their reputation as “good doers.” Unfortunately, by the time their difficulty eating is noticed, their dental issues may be severe, causing unnecessary pain and possibly even malnutrition.

By prioritising regular dental care, we can improve the welfare of these animals. Together, we can ensure they remain comfortable, healthy, and able to enjoy their food as they age.

09/01/2025

🥶🥶🥶

As temperatures across the UK drop below freezing this week, we kindly ask that if you’re expecting your EDT, please provide a constant supply of hot water.

In these sub-zero conditions, dental equipment can freeze, making it impossible for your EDT to carry out treatment without access to hot water.

Thank you for helping us ensure the best care for your horses, even in the coldest weather! ❄️ 🥶

11/11/2024

Remebrance Day today. Not only remembering the people who lost their lives in World War I but also the 8 million horse who also fell.

24/10/2024

Last day to vote for Loretta Joynson, Loretta Joynson Coaching

Final call! Voting for the Horse & Hound Awards, in partnership with NAF and Agria Pet Insurance, closes at 11.59pm this evening (Thursday 24 October). Don't miss your chance to have your say. View the shortlists and place your votes now at https://trib.al/1xDAe4C

17/10/2024

So proud to share my partner Loretta Joynson has been nominanted and made the shortlist. Please share and vote.

Who has inspired you this year with their determination, spirited achievement or fight against the odds? Nominate them for this award

25/12/2023

Merry Christmas 🎄. Hope all clients, friends and family have had a great day. Time for a little rest and relaxation. See you all in the new year!