132 HORSEMANSHIP. 



what is called " the mark in the mouth,^^ and are looked 

 upon generally as being the best criterion by which to 

 judge of the age of the horse. The gradual wearing 

 down of the permanent teeth obliterates this " marhy^ 

 and when it is not palpable in any of them the horse is 

 pronounced to be aged. In colts the tusks, or " tushes" 

 do not make their appearance until past three years old, 

 and in mares they are not visible until the period of old 

 age. 



TWO YEARS OLD. 

 At the age of two years all the surfaces of the teeth 



are considerably worn down, so that in the four centre 

 nippers the " 7nark " is nearly obliterated, and the outer 



