52 THE AGE OF THE HORSE. 



comparison of a horse at six and one at seven. At 

 seven years, the central incisors are more trian- 

 gular, and the ''mark" is shallower. It is not 

 so elongated in a horse at seven years. Again, 

 at the latter age the table in front of, and 

 behind, the mark is fairly well formed. At 

 eight years — which may be termed the age of 

 deception — the central mark has undergone con- 

 siderable alteration in its shape in the whole 

 of the incisor teeth. In the " centrals " it repeats 

 almost the outline of the table, being triangular, 

 whilst it is very much smaller in the " laterals " 

 and " corners " than in a horse of seven years. 

 After a horse has turned eight, it is usual to speak 

 of it as being '' aged," and any opinion as to the 

 animal's age after eight years, or thereabouts, can 

 only be an approximation. Galvayne's method 

 of ascertaining the age from ten years upwards, 

 affords a fairly reliable means of giving an opinion, 

 though a speculative one, as to the probable age of 

 an animal. Mr. Galvayne refers to a groove that 

 makes it appearance upon the outer face of the 

 upper " corner " incisors at the age of ten years. 

 This groove begins close to the gum, and it is 

 due to shrinking of the latter ; and the more 

 the shrinking of the gums the more the groove 



