Ponies usually look a bit uneven when they start losing teeth: the baby teeth may look loose, the gums can seem slightly swollen, and you might notice small tooth caps or little gaps where a tooth has fallen out and the adult tooth is coming in. In young horses, this is normal around the time they begin shedding baby teeth, and it can sometimes cause mild trouble chewing or extra drooling.

What you may notice

  • Loose front teeth, especially the baby incisors.
  • Tiny tooth “caps” that come off as permanent teeth erupt.
  • Slight tenderness, chewing on one side, or dropping feed.
  • A temporary awkward look in the mouth while adult teeth are replacing baby teeth.

When it is normal

This tooth-shedding phase is part of growing up, and ponies can look a little messy-mouthed for a while as the permanent teeth come in. Young horses typically begin replacing baby teeth around 2 years old, and the process continues into the early adult years.

When to worry

If a pony is not eating well, seems painful, has bad breath, drips saliva, or keeps dropping hay, that can point to a dental problem rather than normal tooth loss. A vet or equine dentist should check it if the mouth looks swollen, bleeding, or if the pony seems uncomfortable.

Simple picture

Think of it like a child losing baby teeth: the mouth can look slightly patchy for a while, but the adult teeth usually come in behind them and settle things down.

TL;DR: A pony starting to lose teeth often has loose baby teeth, small gaps, and sometimes mild chewing changes, but pain, swelling, or not eating well means it should be checked by a vet.