Objective: This study attempted to determine: (1) if degree of dental malocclusion assigned prior to dental treatment was associated with equine rideability, assessed using a standardized score and (2) if performance dentistry improved this score.

Animals: Thirty-eight Franches-Montagnes stallions.

Methods: All horses were examined and assigned a dental malocclusion score by a veterinary dentist and randomized into two groups: sham treatment (Group S) and performance dentistry including occlusal equilibration (Group D). The horses were ridden twice before and three times after treatment by a professional dressage rider (unaware of treatment allocation). The horses were assigned a rideability score using a 27-point scale. The malocclusion score was compared to the average of the first two rideability scores using Spearman's coefficient of rank. Change in rideability scores over time was assessed by repeated measures ANOVA. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05.

Results: There was no correlation between dental score and rideability score prior to treatment (r_s = 0.06, P = 0.73). In addition, there were no differences in the rideability score between treatment groups or as an interaction of treatment group and time (P = 0.93, P = 0.83, respectively).

Conclusions: In conclusion, we were unable to show that performance dentistry improved equine rideability assessed by rider scoring. The addition of more objective measurement tools and a longer assessment period may help to scientifically prove what is anecdotally believed.

目的：本研究试图确定：（1）在牙科治疗之前分配的错牙合程度是否与马骑乘性相关，使用标准化评分进行评估；（2）绩效牙科是否改善了该评分。

动物：三十八种法国-蒙塔涅斯种马。

方法：对所有马匹进行检查，并由兽医牙医为他们的牙齿错合评分，将其随机分为两组：假治疗（S组）和包括咬合平衡的性能牙科（D组）。在治疗之前，专业的盛装舞步骑手对马进行了两次骑乘和三次骑乘（不知道如何分配治疗）。使用27分制为马匹分配了骑乘性得分。使用Spearman等级系数将错牙合位评分与前两个骑乘性评分的平均值进行比较。通过重复测量方差分析评估骑乘能力分数随时间的变化。统计学显着性设定为P <0.05。

结果：治疗前的牙齿评分和乘坐性评分之间没有相关性（r _s = 0.06，P = 0.73）。此外，治疗组之间的可乘性评分没有差异，或者治疗组与时间的相互作用也没有差异（分别为P = 0.93，P = 0.83）。

结论：总之，我们无法证明通过骑手得分评估，性能牙科可以提高马骑乘性。添加更多客观的测量工具和更长的评估期限可能有助于科学证明轶事。