32 



Centaur ; 



RULE FOR JUDGING THE AGE OF THE 



HORSE. 



Corruption wins not more than Honesty." 



form something like a correct idea of 

 tlie age of tlie horse, and at the same 

 time to test the veracity of the salesman, 

 it is usual to first ask the question — How 

 old is it ? then to look for yourself, not 

 only at the mouth, but the eyes, and the 

 legs, and in fact, to carefully scrutinize 

 and examine the animal all over ; at the 

 same time asking the owner a few ques- 

 tions as to its health, habits, capabili- 

 ties, &c. Many an aged horse has been 

 doctered, or to use the term, '' faked 

 up," and hurridly palmed off upon the imwary or over- 

 anxious buyer, who has set his mind upon that particular 

 steed, for a younger one ; and it is not unusual for a young 

 horse, shewing a good mouth, to prove dull, heavy, and 

 sluggish, after a little regular work, and to wear a languid 

 and listless aspect, which results from frequent overdoses of 

 the whip, kicks, and physic, freely and constantly admini- 

 stered to the poor animal that has been worked too early in 

 life, and neglected and badly cared for both in the stable and 

 out of doors. It is an easy matter in purchasing a useful 

 aged horse, to determine whether it has been over- worked, 

 systematically physiced, or properly cared for in good hands. 

 Some owners do not consider a horse equal to a fair day's 

 work until it is five years old, and that it does not gain its 

 full power of strength until it arrives at seven; the universal 

 system is, never under any circumstances to give a young 

 horse a full load, or to risk a long day in bad weather. 



THE TEETH. 



The teeth of a horse are hard bones placed in sockets in a 

 horse's jaw, which serve not only to facilitate the nourish- 

 ment, but likewise to distinguish the age. A horse has forty 

 teeth, including the tusks. The teeth are of a substance 

 much harder than any of the other bones, which is absolutely 

 necessary, considering their ofiice is to break and cut and 



