THE AGE OF THE HORSE. 55 



years. The early maturity of a race horse, and its 

 dedine, occur within the time when, say, a Hackney 

 ought just to be beginning work in earnest — that 

 is, between five and six years. There can be 

 no greater mistake than that of working horses 

 too young. They become worn out before they 

 really ought to work at all, and no amount of 

 veterinary attendance can restore the shattered 

 parts of the anatomy. With the approach of old 

 age, grey hairs appear about the head, eyes, muzzle 

 and face of dark-coloured horses. Hollows appear 

 above the eyes, the teeth elongate, and the gums 

 shrink. Some old horses keep their condition 

 remarkably well, and look as blooming as a 

 youngster. But it is usual to find old animals 

 deficient in flesh. The spine sinks, the back-bone 

 becomes prominent, and the quarters angular. 

 The neck and the withers lose their stoutness ; 

 but, above all, an old horse, if it has done 

 much work, shows well-marked evidence of hard 

 wear about the fetlock joints, hock joints, tendons, 

 etc. The late Mr. Blain said that a horse of 

 five years may be, comparatively considered, as 

 old as a man of twenty ; at ten years, equal 

 to a man of forty ; at fifteen, to one at fifty ; 

 and twenty, as equivalent to one of sixty ; at twenty- 



