THE AGE OF THE HORSE. 51 



of judging the age, as we have shown, is 

 entirely based upon the replacement of the tem- 

 porary incisors by the permanent ones. From 

 this time onwards reliance must be placed upon 

 the wearing surfaces of the incisors, and the appear- 

 ance presented by the upper and lower teeth during 

 their apposition as viewed from the front and in 

 profile. At five years '^ off," the corner teeth only 

 show slight wear, and the posterior margins are 

 round. At six years ''off," the tables of the 

 " corner " incisors are well formed, and the 

 mark extends nearly across the long axis of the 

 teeth. There is often a good deal of trouble 

 arising at the ages of six, seven and eight, 

 because horse dealers commonly dispose of an 

 animal being eight years old as six, or a horse 

 that is ten years old they will sell as one at 

 seven ; and it is a common practice to dispose of 

 not only ''aged" horses, but those at twelve and 

 fifteen years of age, as being seven years old. One 

 has only got to ask a man what is the age of his 

 horse, and, if he is endeavouring to sell it, the chances 

 are that he will say six or seven years old. Disputes 

 often arise in this way. At seven years the " cen- 

 tral " incisor teeth are somewhat different in the 

 shape of their tables, rendered more obvious bv 



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