MISCELLANEOUS. 425 



TO TELL A HORSE'S AGE. 



There is only one sure way of telling the age of 

 a horse, and that is by an examination of his teeth, 

 and that only extends to a certain age, although 

 an experienced horseman can guess very nearly 

 for some time after that period. There are six 

 teeth in the front part of a horse's mouth, above 

 and below, called the gatherers, from which we 

 may judge of his age. When a colt is foaled, 

 he generally has no teeth in the front part of 

 his mouth. In a few days, two come in the 

 upper jaw, and two below ; and again, after a 

 few days, four more appear, but the corner teeth 

 do not make their appearance until he is four 

 or five months old ; these twelve teeth remain 

 unchanged in the front of the colt's mouth until 

 he is about two years old, when he sheds the 

 two center nippers. 



At three years old, a colt sheds the adjoining 

 teeth. At four years old, the under or corner 

 teeth. At five years old, the bridle tooth makes 

 its appearance. At six years old, the cups leave 

 the two center teeth below. At seven years old, 

 the cups leave the adjoining teeth. At eight 



