Wolf- teeth and CrihUng 251 



WOLF -TEETH 



" Wolf - teeth " are small extra molars, frequently 

 found in front of the first grinders on the upper, and 

 rarely on the lower, jaw of horses. They are believed 

 to be rudimentary^ molars, pointing us back to pre- 

 historic horses, fossil remains of which are found with 

 teeth extending in an unbroken row around the jaws. 

 Probably one -half the horses under seven years of age 

 have them. There is a popular idea that wolf -teeth 

 make a horse go blind, but this is not true. They 

 have no more connection with a horse's eyes than any 

 other teeth do. 



It is a good plan to have wolf -teeth drawn (not 

 punched out), as they are of no use to the animal and 

 a bit may draw against them and make the mouth sore. 

 When these teeth are punched out, the roots are likelj' 

 to break off and remain in the jaw, and become a source 

 of irritation. 



CRIBBING 



Cribbing, or "crib -biting," is a habit that some 

 horses have of grasping some object, biting it lightly, 

 and at the same time contracting the muscles of the 

 neck and emitting a peculiar grunt, frequenth' sucking 

 in air at the same time. Such horses are called "wind- 

 suckers." Sometimes the horse will simply press the 

 incisor teeth against the object; and, in rare cases, he 

 will arch the neck and suck air without biting anything. 

 Cribbing is a habit or vice. In chronic cases, the front 



