MEANS OF DETERMINING THE AGE. 115 



formed by those who have given to the subject some time, thought and 

 trouble." Sir F. Fitzwygram, " Horses and Stables" p. 427. 



The lower jaw of a horse three years old is marked by 

 two permanent centre teeth and two milk teeth on either 

 side. 



The lower jaw of a horse four years old is marked by 

 four permanent centre teeth and one milk tooth on either 

 side. If the horse is a stallion or gelding the point of the 

 tusks or tushes appears at a point somewhat farther back in 

 the bars of the mouth. 



The lower jaw of a horse five years old is marked by six 

 permanent teeth and the absence of the milk teeth. The 

 corner teeth are without any interior wall. In stallions and 

 geldings the tusks have become more prominent. 



The lower jaw of a horse six years old is marked by the 

 six permanent teeth ; the corner teeth have become filled in 

 the centre, and in stallions and geldings the tusks have be- 

 come developed. 



The milk teeth are smaller, whiter and smoother on the 

 surface than the permanent teeth. After the sixth year the 

 age is indicated by the number of teeth in which the dark 

 mark in the centre is absent, and the gradual change in the 

 shape from oval to almost square. At seven the mark dis- 

 appears from the two centre teeth, at eight years from the four 

 centre teeth, and by the time the horse has reached his ninth 

 year the mark has usually disappeared from all. The pres- 

 ence or absence of these marks may be affected by influences 

 other than those of increasing age, and therefore they can- 

 not be depended upon to accurately determine the age of 

 the horse. 



