Two issues I like to have addressed before putting a bit on a horse when starting them is having the wolf teeth removed and a bit seat. First impressions are so important, we have one chance to make it . The first time I put a bit in a horses mouth and draw the reins I do not want teeth stabbing them on the inside of the mouth.

The wolf tooth in comparison to all the other teeth is a small tooth most commonly in front of the top molars but can be in front of the bottom molars also and at times can be further away from the molars. They are not necessarily consistent in size or location. When the snaffle bit ring gets pulled in against the outside of the cheek it can put pressure on the wolf tooth and even loosen its shallow root.
A bit seat is a procedure in that the front molars are rounded off eliminating all sharp edges. As the bit is raised up in the mouth, and the reins are being drawn tight, the soft tissue on the bars and the inside of the cheeks is commonly pressed against the sharp molars.

Two year old horses will still have their baby teeth as front molars and these soft baby teeth are extremely sharp. Older horses will still have sharp molars also. Both of these scenarios can make it extremely uncomfortable for the young horse and in extreme cases hazardous for the rider when the horse is overreactive. It’s a relatively simple procedure for an equine dentist to address both pulling the wolf teeth and putting in bit seats so young horses can have a better first impression with the bit in their mouth.