218 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 



At this period it is not unusual for dishonest dealers 

 to deceive the unskilful with regard to the age of a horse. 

 If they happen to possess one that has been foaled a little 

 earlier than usual, probably in January, and which may 

 liave acquired bulk and strength, they punch or draw out 

 the central nippers, and the others appear some months 

 earlier than they otherwise would. This will allow the 

 teeth to rise much quicker than they would do naturally, 

 and three or four months may be thereby gained in their 

 reproduction ; consequently dealers who wish to take ad- 

 vantage of this may sell a colt for a year older than he 

 actually is. 



But we must look to the general form of the animal, and 

 when young it will be manifested by the small development 

 of the forehead. The second pair of incisors will still have 

 the mark, and it will also be much stronger on the corner 

 ones, and probably with an enlargement or irregularity 

 about the gums, in consequence of the teeth having been 

 violently forced out ; the first and fifth grinders will be 

 small, and the sixth will not have yet appeared. As it 

 is the teeth of the lower jaw which are usually consulted as 

 to his age, dealers who wish thus to impose seldom extract 

 the teeth of the upper jaw, therefore it would be well to 

 examine it also^ when all the signs will remain. Attention 

 to these points will enable any one to detect the true age of 

 the colt. 



A horse at three years of age will have the central per- 

 manent nippers growing with their edges sharp in com- 

 parison to the others. All the others will be in a state of 

 decay, and he will have six grinders in both jaAvs on each 

 side, the first and sixth of which will be level with the 

 others, and the sixth protruding. 



At three years and a half, or at least between that and 



