CHAPTER II 

 How to Tell a Horse^s Age 



The age of a horse is to be accurately de- 

 termined only by an examination of the teeth, 

 with a knowledge of the changes, w^iich, from 

 time to time, take place in them. The following 

 directions, studied in connection with the accom- 

 panying diagrams of the lower jaw, will enable any 

 one of ordinary acuteness and powers of observa- 

 tion to judge for himself, and thus to avoid that 

 most common of all the dealer's impositions, a 

 liability to be deceived in the age of horses held 

 for sale. 



The incisors furnish the chief indications ; and 

 to them the attention must be mostly directed ; 

 but the back and hook teeth should be observed 

 to some extent, as their condition may occasion- 

 ally serve to correct and more frequently to cor- 

 roborate the indication of the incisors. 



When first foaled, the colt has no incisors. 

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