AND METHOD OF JUDGING THE AGE. 381 



dIfFerence in its size and strength ; and as thorough-bred mares, 



at this time, are kept in comtbrtable boxes, the inclemency of 



the weather is of httle consequence. In other horses, the plan 



of early foaling would not answer, in consequence of the want of 



sufficient pasturage. 



The following are the changes by which we judge of the age 



of a horse : it is unnecessary to notice the molar teeth, as they 



cannot be readily examined, nor the upper incisors, as their 



changes are very uncertain : — 



At birth, the nippers only have made their appearance. 



At one year old, the incisors are all visible, the corners having 

 appeared last. 



At two years old, the nippers have lost their marks, and both 

 edges of the corners are level. 



At three years old, and several months before, the permanent 

 nippers have made their appearance. 



At four years old, tiie permanent dividers appear, and the cavity 

 has nearly disappeared in the temporary corners. 



At five years old, the mouth is said to be perfect ; and, if a male, 

 the tushes are up ; the permanent corner teetli have ap- 

 peared, but the posterior border of the cavity is much 

 lower than the anterior; and the mark is much diminished 

 in the nippers. 



At six years old, the mark has disappeared from the nippers, 

 and considerably diminished in the dividers ; but the inner 

 edo-e of the corners is not yet level. 



At seven years old, the mark has disappeared from the nippers 

 and dividers, and the corners are level, though still retain- 

 ing the mark. 



At eio-ht years old, the mark has disappeared from the corners 

 also, and the horse is said to be aged. The face of the 

 teeth is becoming more oval, but the enamel, the remains 

 of the funnel, is still to be seen in the centre of the face. 



At nine years old, the nippers become rounder, and the dividers 

 oval; the following year the dividers become round, and 

 the next the corners assume this shape, the central enamel 

 gradually diminishes, and. 



At twelve yeai-s old, has disappeared : sometinics, however, it 

 remains several years. The marks in the upper teeth by 

 this time have disappeared; some say at eleven years old, 

 but this is vei-y uncertain. 



At fifteen years old, the nippers have become triangular, having 

 been gradually assuming this shape for the last two years. 

 The following year the dividers assume this shape, and. 



At seventeen years old, the lower incisors are all triangular, and 

 the central enamel has disappeared from the upper incisors. 

 After this, the face of the teeth lengthen from front to rear, 

 and diminish from side to side. 



