Dentist gives horses something to chew on
Kevin Wirth’s life has been a latticework of life’s dreams – championship speed skater, Kentucky Derby jockey, professional fisherman, two-handicap golfer and horse dentist.
As a jockey, Wirth won the Jim Beam Stakes, the Derby Trial and the Susan B. Anthony Stakes. At age 17, he rode Mythical Ruler to 17th place in the 1981 Kentucky Derby, for which he remembers being paid $30. As he rode he also grew, reaching his present height of 5 feet 10 inches.
Living on one meal a day to keep his weight down, he knew his riding days were being reined in.
“Not having an education limited me in what I could do, so it had to be something in the horse industry," said Wirth, 53. "I was lucky to be around great veterinarians that got me involved in the dental business."
Another of his life’s dreams was to be a professional bass fisherman. So Wirth tried both simultaneously, figuring he could work when he needed and fish when he wanted.
“The dentistry career took over. It got so successful and grew so quickly and soon I was working seven days a week, 365 days a year," he said. "I wasn’t fishing at all, so I weeded out those that didn’t pay and my fishing career started to grow.”
He went on to compete in 208 events over 27 years including 13 Bassmaster Classics, the Super Bowl of fishing. He won over $2 million in purses and was ranked in the top 10 anglers in the world.
But the rigors of the road and a downturn in the economy brought him back. He now sees more than 2,000 horses per year.
Spending your day with your hand deep in horses' mouths is nobody's idea of a dream job, including Wirth.
A horse will lose its baby teeth between 2½ and 4 years. His job is to ensure the adult teeth grow in properly so that the horse can best utilize the food it eats.
Most days are spent pulling baby teeth, or “caps,” and filing adult teeth for proper alignment and to remove sharp edges.
Wirth rarely uses a scope on a horse, instead relying on his hands. What he feels and years of experience tell him the condition of a horse’s mouth. His fee is $100 per horse, per visit, with additional procedures adding to the total.
He sees all types of horses – Arabians, saddlebreds, family pets and thoroughbreds – including current Bluegrass Stakes winner Brody’s Cause, for trainer Dale Romans.
His other life goal is to play on the Senior PGA tour – and that’s straight from the horse’s mouth.
Pat McDonogh can be reached at (502) 582-4608.