The horse’s teeth are crucial for proper eating/chewing and therefore a big factor in whether or not the horse obtains adequate nutrition.  Healthy teeth are important for good health and fitness.  Teeth also play a role in performance of an equine athlete because tooth problems can lead to pain, which can lead to certain behaviors that can affect performance.  Sometimes a performance problem may be subtle or not readily recognized as being linked to a tooth problem.  It’s important to figure these things out, with proper diagnosis and treatment, in order to address and correct the underlying issue.