He was sedated, but look at that drill.

Buchanan's Stephanie Surprenant, EqDT (equine dental technician), has a business card for Pro Floats that features a photo of her brushing a horse's teeth. It is very cute, humorous, really. But there is much more serious care going on for the animal than a comic photo op.

Horses occupy pastures and barns all over Botetourt and surrounding areas and without a good set of teeth, a horse can suffer a variety of ailments that can cause critical declines in health.

Recently, Surprenant and Salem veterinarian Dr. Tanya Hatchett of Clover Creek Animal Health Clinic were in Bedford County treating an 11-year-old show horse and stud named "Mac" who had become seriously malnourished because his teeth had sharp edges and a catch. The situation kept him from making the typical grinding sound that healthy horses make when they are eating. Thus he was unable to masticate the food into an acceptable digestive material, and he began to lose weight.

Surprenant had been a vet assistant for seven years at an equine clinic in Daleville prior to going to the American School of Equine Dentistry. She has been an Equine Dental Technician for the past two and half years. She and Hatchett work together all over the area.

At Bedford's Triple MMM Farm, the duo worked diligently to file away Mac's rough edges and give him back his grind. Surprenant used a huge drill with a grinder on the end. In horse circles this procedure is referred to as "floating" the teeth. Hatchett had sedated Mac and he was standing, neck outstretched, looking like he had run 100 miles. He was fitted with a mouth brace and Surprenant with her head lamp flaring blue into Mac's mouth steadily ground away his rough edges. It sounded just like a human dentist office, except louder. Hatchett held onto his mouth while Surprenant plied her patient with the drill.

Mac awakened a bit so Hatchett had to give him some calming medication while Surprenant surveyed his bite. He required a great deal of work, so she continued to run the drill. As the owners watched, he extended his neck and with a medical roll-like bit in his mouth, stood quietly for her to finish while Hatchett held him firmly under the neck.

"Every horse should have a once per year exam," said Surprenant, who is happy to be helping horses. She has been in love with them most of her life, she said.

Hatchett added, "It is better to practice preventative care than have us come out for a visit like this one, which can be expensive." Not to mention what had happened to Mac due to his malnourished state.

Hopefully, now that Mac has the right combination in his bite, he will be able to digest his food and regain the weight he has lost. He has been a racking show horse and his beribboned stall door speaks to his abilities prior to the weight loss. When he returns to good health, Mac will once again be a reasonably young horse with a bright future.

For more information on Surprenant and equine dentistry, go to www.profloats.com, or call Surprenant at 537-4442.