22 EXAMINATION OF HORSES 



incisors should come into exact apposition ; " parrot 

 mouth," produced by the upper teeth overhanging the 

 lower, although not an unsoundness, is unsightly. 

 Should these teeth be in perfect apposition, and their 

 edges worn and broken, it may be from " crib-biting," 

 or from feeding out of an iron or stone manger. On 

 finding this condition, you will have to trace its cause. 

 Old horses frequently have the edges of the incisors 

 worn and chipped ; but you must inquire about the 

 material of the manger, unless you find, besides the 

 worn teeth, the marks of a cribbing strap that has been 

 worn. The molar teeth we too frequently fail to ex- 

 amine, though, as you have already seen, irregularity 

 in these is frequent, and sometimes interferes with the 

 horse's feeding. The gums between the incisors and 

 molars are to be looked at for evidences of injury by 

 the bit. If the marks are old cicatrices, and alike on 

 either jaw, the horse may be a ''puller;" or if con- 

 fined to one side, it is very likely he has that very 

 objectionable mouth, " hard," on one side. Either 

 condition, if exaggerated, amounts to a dangerous vice, 

 and is therefore an unsoundness. The tongue you 

 can seldom object to. 



You next pass your right hand beneath the jaws. 

 The intermaxillary space should be a hollow in which 

 you can lay your hand. We frequently meet this space 

 filled up, so that its surface is flush, or nearly so, 

 with the under surface of the jaw. This latter condi- 

 tion is usually due to a severe attack of strangles, or 



