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RULE FOR JUDGING THE AGE OF 



THE HORSE. 



"Corruption wins not more than Honesty." 



To form something like a correct idea of the age of 

 the 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 questioiis as to its health, habits, 

 capabilities, &c. Many an aged horse has been doctored, 

 or to use the term, " faqued up," and palmed off upon 

 the unwary 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 in 

 frequent overdoses of the whip, freely and constantly 

 administered to the poor animal that has been worked 

 too early in life, 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 or systematically physic'd. 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 ; — and the universal system 

 is, never, under any circumstances to give a young horse a 

 full load. 



The simple rule for telling the age is by examining 

 the teeth. There are six permanent nippers or front 



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