The Horse Dentist

Written by Andreína Longoria

David Magaña practices dental care for horses, inherited by his father.

An equine dental technician, he works at the racetracks in the city of Los Angeles, California, where his patients are racehorses.

“It is surprising for people when they ask me what I do; I am a ‘horse dentist,’ I reply.” This is how David Magaña began a talk for Así es la Nota, longing for those years when he accompanied his father to practice this beautiful profession.

“My dad took me to see the horses while he did the same, just as he also visited my uncles and my grandfather, they all had horses, some were trainers, veterinarians or jockeys; I remember that I really liked going to the racetrack and seeing these impressive animals, it was there that I acquired a taste for being a horse dentist”, explained David.

At that time, all the families that were dedicated to this trade worked at the Agua Caliente Racetrack, from his grandfather, uncles, cousins, and brother, until Jorge Hank Ron closed the racetrack, with thousands of races won.

“My father started out as a doctor’s assistant who did teeth for racehorses at the Agua Caliente Racetrack. The vet was older and taught my dad to stay in his place. My father is originally from Tijuana, of parents who came to these lands from San Julián, Jalisco. So, I was born here and raised as well. But what I remember I liked the most was smelling the place where the horses were since I was about 4 or 5 years old, they are very noble animals, I hugged them, slept with them, and kissed them,” explained the equine dental technician.

But it wasn’t until the age of fifteen that he began to help his father halt the horses and then pull teeth. At age 20 David earned his California license. “I began to study to be able to aspire to have the license and be an Equine Dentist Technician, it was not easy, they asked you many questions, the ones who qualified the job were a state veterinarian, another from the racetrack and a judge. Currently, I have been practicing this trade for 36 years, which has become my profession and what I live on. I still love living with them and hugging them, they are animals that understand, it’s like everything, someone gets angry; you can bring them without a chain, and they follow you with their voice,” he commented.

For them to eat better and give excellent results in a race, horses from the age of two have their premolars and wolf teeth extracted. And when they turn three, the second and third premolars are removed. Magaña has worked at different racetracks in California, such as San Francisco Bay Meadows, Golden Gate, Hollywood Park, Pomona, Los Alamitos, Turf Paradise in Phoenix, Arizona, New Mexico, and many more. In Canada Exhibition Park, Century Downs, and Woodbine. In Mexico, the Hipódromo de las Américas in Cdmx to Ranchos de Caballos pureblood.

“I am very proud of my legacy; I have been fortunate to fix the teeth of horses from one million to nine and a half million. On average I have tended to up to 5,000 horses per year, from Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, Arabians and more,” he concluded.