THE AGE OF THE HOESE. 

 Fig. 13. 



To cover every case, it is almost impossible to put 

 down invariable rules for telling the age of a 

 horse. There are exceptions, as for instance : a 

 crih-liter will wear his teeth off faster than by the 

 natural course, which is about i to i of an inch per 

 year ; or of a thorough-bred horse, the strong struct- 

 ure generally makes the teeth also stronger than 

 those of a horse of a common breed of the same 

 age, causing the horse to appear younger than he 

 actually is. 



Horses change their first set of teeth, called the 

 milk teethy between the second and fifth year, for the 

 second set, called the permane7it teeth. During the 

 first period of its life, up to five years old, the animal 

 is called a colt. The second period comprises the time 

 from five years upward, when the animal has its 

 permanent set of teeth. From this age it is called 

 a ho7'se. 



The milk teeth are different in shape from the 

 permanent teeth, showing a well set-off body and 

 neck, and, on their front surfaces, grooves which dis- 

 appear from the centre nippers at the age of one 



