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CHAPTER VI. 



The Age of the Horse. 



Introduction. — The only reliable method of ascer- 

 taining the age of a horse is by reference to its 

 teeth, such evidence being afforded, first, through 

 the shedding of the milk teeth at regular or fairly 

 regular periods ; secondly, by the changes that take 

 place upon the cutting surfaces, or tables, of the 

 incisor teeth, together with the cutting and devel- 

 opment of the molar teeth. It is necessary to 

 understand the difference between temporary or 

 milk teeth and those which are permanent. The 

 reader should, therefore, make an inspection of a 

 foal and yearling, or, what is still better, examine 

 the mouth of a colt between two and three years, 

 because both temporary and permanent teeth 

 can be seen side by side. It will be noticed that 

 the temporary teeth are smaller than the permanent 

 ones ; that they are whiter, and have not the well- 

 defined groove so plainly visible on the front face 



