SELECTING THE HORSE. 



13 



triangular in form. At fourteen years the four front teeth have 

 become decidedly triangular, and the corner teeth partially so. At 

 seventeen years the lower nippers are all triangular, and the four 



Fiff. 7.— TEN TEARS. 



Fig. 8. — TWELVE TEARS. 



front ones very long from front to rear. The central enamel has all 

 disappeared from the upper nippers, and the "tushes" point for- 

 ward. From this time on the teeth continue to become flattened 

 from side to side, and longer from front to rear. Another mark of 

 age is the angular protrusion of the front teeth, which increases 

 rapidly after the eighteenth year. The teeth ai-e sometimes mani- 

 pulated by unprincipled dealers in a manner called '* bishoping," 

 with intent to deceive. But the trick is easily detected by close 

 examination. Where the cavity or mark in the center of a tooth is 

 artificially produced, it will have no enamel lining, but instead will 

 show the raw dentine inside. The gums of old hordes shrink away, 

 the under lip hangs down. 



For ordinary light driving four years is old enough to begin 

 with, but where heavy or regular work is required, the horse should 



Fig. 9.— FOURTEEN YEARS. 



Fig. 10.— SEVENTEEN TEARS. 



not be less than six years. There is clearly an advantage in buying 

 young horses, as they increase in value for several years, while 

 those which have passed their prime deteriorate in a still more 

 rapid ratio. 



Whatever may be the age or breed, it is essential that the horse 



