Horses and Horsemastership. 99 



they, too, have vanished, and the horse is commonly 

 described as '' past mark of mouth," which simply means 

 that the black marks are no longer in evidence. 



But during these years (and, indeed, on to the end 

 of life) the shape of the teeth has also been altering, and 

 consequently^ the expert does not rely solely upon the 

 ^'marks'' to guide him. For instance, at five years old 

 an examination of the closed mouth will show that 

 although all the incisors are apparently in contact, yet 

 the corner teeth are not yet fully in wear. The tables 

 or biting surface of each tooth (excejDting the corner 

 ones) is distinctly oval in shape, and they are becoming 

 so. 



At six it will be observed that the corner incisors of 

 the upper jaw have become indented owing to the fact 

 that the biting surfaces have not hitherto entirely covered 

 those of the lower jaw, and the resultant unequal wear. 

 The oval shape of the tables has become less elongated. 



At seven the indentation of the upper corner incisors 

 has become mere pronounced, and the oval shape of 

 those we have had under observation less distinctly so 



At eight the two centre incisors of the lower jaw have 

 become more circular, while those on either side are 

 distinctly oval. It is at this age that the closed mouth 

 reveals the fact that the incisors are beginning to incline 

 outwards, so to speak : in other words, the regular semi- 



