ASCERTAINING THE AGE OF HORSES. m 



and look yeillowisli and dirty; tliey furtlier possess a vertical 

 pfroove down tlie centre of their external face, which is not 

 present in the milk teeth. 



The IncEsor Teeth in each jaw are divided into three 

 pairs, known respectively as the " central," the " lateral," and 

 the " corner " incisors. The positions of these various teeth 

 are shown below. At birth, a foal possesses its milk teeth 

 in a rudimentary form, and they break through the gums 

 at certain intervals. TJie central incisors appear soon 

 after birth, while the laterals generally make their appearance 

 Aviien the foal is about a month old. The corner incisors, as 

 a rule, break tli rough the gums a£ nine months old. A year- 

 ling foal, tlierefore, has a complete set of milk incisors. 



ConkCH Lf^rERAL. CB/vrTfAlS. LATe^AL. COKNlR. 



aOaDDD 



OOOODO 



Upper jaw. 

 (Typo ) 



Lower jaw, 

 (Type ) 



COIfNER. LAT£KAL. CEH)lTRALS.LA T£ If A L .COtiliE.R . 



Diagram showing Position and Names of Teeth. 



Age Indicated by Cha.ng;es in the Teeth. — The 



njilk teeth are shed, and replaced by permanent incisorS', in 

 pairs, and at intervals of a year. First of all, the centrals are 

 slied, next the laterals, and iinally the corner incisors. The 

 centrals are changed when tlie young horse is two and a-half 

 years old, or somewhat earlier or later, according tO' whetlier 

 the animal in question is forward or backward in condition. 

 Twelve months after the permanent centrals have appeared, 

 the permanent laterals make their appearance, and take the 

 place of the milk laterals; Avheii tlie cliange in the lateral in- 

 cisors takes place, the horse is therefore about three and 

 a-half years old. Again, twelve months later, wh<^n the animal is 



