Long in the Tooth

I learned last night that horses have to have their teeth "floated." (I think I was picturing denture-like choppers floating in a tub of water when I first heard it.) Apparently, their teeth continue to grow, unlike our own, and they become sharp over years of chewing, and sharp teeth don't allow for a proper grinding motion. Instead, a horse will try to grab hay, for example, and will be unable to properly grasp and chew it. From the pictures I've seen, it appears as though their teeth may become a bit misaligned, too, and floating them balances everything out again. I'm assured that the horse doesn't exactly love the experience, but that while it may be unpleasant it isn't painful. (Those of us who grind our teeth probably have a pretty good sense of what it feels like.) Hopefully I will get the opportunity to observe the process at some point.