Advanced Equine Dentistry & Vet Services Inc

Rostral hooks are an overgrowth of the first premolar 1/6 or 2/6. It is the first upper tooth visible.

In most cases I have seen, if a rostral hook is present, it is very likely that a caudal hook is present (aka a "ramp").

A lot of horses with this problem tend to have an overjet or an over bite. This is usually completely correctable!

It can be caused by the height at which the horse is fed. If the horse eats off the ground, then all the teeth are in the natural position. Once the horse is fed up higher, as seen in a lot of show barns using hay feeders, the jaw/mandible shifts back, therefore the teeth grind out of occlusion causing rostral & caudal hooks.  

Example of a rostral hook                                    

After hook was reduced in height