THE HOUSE 47 



absolutely necessary to be taken into account, be- 

 cause it is the only means by which one can de- 

 cide with certainty as to the age of a horse whose 

 teeth have become longer than they would have 

 been if set right and wearing regularly. 



The foregoing remarks and du^ections are based 

 upon the assumption that there is no peculiarity 

 about the individual animal or the breed to Avhich 

 he belongs that would materially interfere with 

 the principles laid down. It remains, however, 

 to notice that to those breeds of horses which de- 

 velop very slowly, of which the Spanish horse may 

 be cited as an example, the rules are a little more 

 difficult of application. The bones of these, and 

 perhaps of some few other kinds, seem to be harder, 

 and the teeth change somewhat later and appear 

 to wear down more slowly ; so that it sometimes 

 happens that such horses, after their fifth year 

 appear a year or two younger than they really 

 are ; but the same animals are apt to be more than 

 ordinarily strong, hardy, and long-lived, and to be 

 taken at a diminished age really detracts nothing 

 from their worth. 



The age of a mule is somewJiat difficult to deter- 

 mine with exactness, owing to the cause just stated. 



Deceptions may be practiced with very thrifty 



