Horse owners try to corral Oklahoma lawmakers on dental care

About 100 horse owners and ranchers fanned out through the state Capitol halls Tuesday to urge legislators to support legislation that would allow them to choose who provides dental care to their horses. "We think your animals or horses are your property, and you have the right to choose who works on them,” Rep. Don Armes told them after they jammed into a committee room. "These are not people, these are horses. There’s a difference.” Armes, R-Faxon, told the horse owners to tell legislators to support his bill, House Bill 3202, and a companion bill, Senate Bill 1999, by Sen. Mike Schulz, R-Altus. Both bills would allow equine dentists, or horse teeth floaters, to practice in the state without facing criminal charges. Legislation approved last year made it a misdemeanor for equine dentists to work on horses unless under supervision of a veterinarian. A law passed two years ago made the offense a felony; an equine dentist was arrested and charged last year, and horse owners during last year’s session successfully led efforts to change the law. The Oklahoma Farm Bureau states it supports a livestock owner’s right to lawfully perform traditional animal husbandry practices, including using equine dentists, chiropractors and farriers. Producers do not want to be charged higher prices for having a veterinarian supervise the person they choose to hire to work on their livestock, the Oklahoma Farm Bureau’s literature states...read more